OK since Jan broke down the barriers I will also admit to finding my modern bike more comfortable, efficient and overall just much more enjoyable to ride than any of my vintage bikes. I have a Giant Defy Advanced. This is a super modern bike with all the buzz words - BB96 bottom bracket, tapered head tube, carbon everything including hybrid carbon aluminum clincher wheels. Full Dura Ace 7900 group. And yes sloping top tube "compact" frame, ergo bars and STI antlers. I love to work on the vintage bikes and have a much deeper emotional attachment to them - I freak out over a scratch on a $2000 vintage bike but throw my $6000 modern bike around like I really don't care - but they simply don't feel as smooth or efficient. Some of it is weight (6-8 lbs lighter depending), some of it is index shifting with brifters, some of it is having twice the number of gears so finding the perfect one to maintain cadence in any situation is easier. I too climb much, much easier on my modern bike. Sorry for the blasphemy.