Well, point was just that the shoes you have were part of the problem, but it sounds like you've got things worked out.
Nothing wrong with your bike or what's on it, but [MENTION=42883]surgeonstone[/MENTION] had said something about how your straps and toe clips were an old system he didn't think anyone but vintage enthusiasts used. Turns out, your bike is actually what some people have in mind when they talk "vintage," and the downtube shifters in particular have "ceased to be used" on new bikes. Again, nothing wrong with that.
Many of us enthusiasts live in a little world of riders like ourselves and forget or lose sight of the fact that not everyone has to have the newest, flashiest bike or the the coolest kit. But then there are times like on Saturday's big event ride in the city (full or metric century) when our eyes are opened, and we might even feel a little out of place, if not silly, riding around on a fancy bike in a team uniform while so many others are in t-shirts and loose shorts on some beat up old bike they've had for years. But at least we weren't riding around town on a TT bike with an aero helmet like one guy.