I'm wondering what people think of today's bikes ride-wise and technologically versus their oldies.

I haven't ridden the black Typhoon yet, still a little more assembly and adjustment to do. The Mistral has got better as I have gradually collected period correct parts and fitted them. It's got a longer wheelbase than your Super Mistral and I'd guess gives a softer ride. It's a perfect fit for me, which helps a lot and is my bike of choice for longer distances. Fast, smooth and responsive, good up hills but not as lightning fast on downhill corners as my own 90's Viner (Columbus SLX with carbon forks) or more modern carbon frames. The changes that made the most improvement are the tubular tyres on sprint rims, the Strada crankset and unused Campagnolo 7 speed aluminium freewheel block. The latter was a real find - in a bag of old bike "odds and ends" I bought on e-bay for under £5 from a seller who was clearing the contents of a closed bike shop! Haven't weighed it recently but it feels a LOT lighter and faster than when I first built the frame up with modern parts. Interestingly, another of my bikes with a similar 'feel' is my 1935 Claud Butler Super Velo. This is built from Reynolds 'High Manganese' butted tubing, the forerunner of 531 and Accles & Pocock 'Kronos'. The Claud has the biggest fork offset I've ever seen on a road frame, with tapered round section fork blades and it seems to float over rough surfaces. My Viner and very similar Columbus Massi Mega Team ride a bit quicker but are harsh in comparison, despite their carbon forks.

I agree about the old-style slotted shoe plates - used to use these for racing back in the early 1970's and my knees would ache a lot for a day or two after a race. No such problems with Shimano SPD's, Look or Campagnolo Scottia Record clipless pedals (although the latter weigh a ton!), but my favourite set-up is with Campagnolo Record quill pedals or similar, chromed toeclips with leather straps set fairly loose and old-style leather cycling shoes or modern lightweight narrow running shoes with plain sloes. Enough stiffness to avoid foot pain but plenty of float for my old knees.