...I just spent a couple of weeks, on and off, dismantling this bike (which I've had for years now), and repainting then reassembling it, with a few tweaks like a shorter stem. To me it seems to have more pride of craftsmanship and cache than a quality modern bike that was popped out of a mold somewhere and hung with a group of components that are slightly more complex, and will allow me a moderate increase in top speed and acceleration, and several more choices in picking a gear for cadence. But I only ride for enjoyment and exercise these days.

These are the bicycles that got raced by amateurs back in the day they were new. They are still plenty fast enough for the vast majority of us old farts. And I know it's a cliche by now, but I just can't see myself riding along on a bicycle that has the silhouette of a dog pooping. It's an aesthetic choice, and there's no rational argument for taste.

.