Bumbling around on here, I came across this page: FREE SITE 1. This fellow talks about how fragile quality old road bikes are a lot, and numerous examples of small damage ruining a bike. I guess that doesn't really scream "quality" to me.
I am the fellow and, unless my memory serves me incorrectly, I said that road bicycles are fragile
when compared to all other styles of bicycles. And make no mistake about it - they are! This top of the line, lugged butted chrome moly steel with a carbon fiber core is wayyyyy more easy to damage, break or wear out...
...than this old antique...
...or this roadster...
...or any mountain bicycle...
You can't have light, and thin and expect durability. Even the most entry level vintage road bicycle is more fragile than a similar roadster, or antique, or mountain bicycle.
But that does not mean don't ride/trust them. Learn how to ride the old road bicycles. Learn how to maintain old road bicycles and you will enjoy thousands of miles, each year, riding here, there and everywhere.