id be curious to see pictures. I love those old finest bicycles. I have never actually seen a newest in real life up close but i have seen a few finests and enjoy them. All finests i have seen were still running the sugino cranksets.

I would really like to see some bike boom era documentaries made from the big companies of the day before the old employees are no longer around. Places like SUNTOUR, SUGINO, SR, etc etc. You dont hear much about them at all. All you hear is Campy this and Shimano that.....
Suntour had the market back then and they fouled it up. They had the superior products though........cyclone was amazing.....actually most of it was. I still very much love seeing old components still being used today. That really says something.

I may be a bit old fashion but i dont understand the argument that newer is better. Yes things are lighter but who cares? I dont live where it is too hilly. It likely matters there to a certain point. I have never been on a modern bike that i have really enjoyed at all. IT all seems to be a "look at me and my new shiney bike" contest....and yes a lot of them are really nice to look at. Perhaps some folks are faster and more comfortable on a newer machine. I dont know. Perhaps it is just marketing at work. The industry / business needs that to work so that would make sense.

I figure you are only as fast or as light as how hard you train and how much you weigh. You are the biggest factor on the bike you are on.
Eddy Mercx was pretty fast last i checked and he only had a 5 speed freewheel. I am not sure i ever will be faster than he was....ever. Nor will anyone else. I dont ride to race. I do know though that once i throw my leg over the right bike / setup and it feels fast or fun, i am in love. Most bikes today just dont. Its always the old ones for me....always. I guess that is good because it keeps things on the cheaper side of the hobby.....and there were some amazing bikes back in the day even in the middle of the range with some amazing components........and they still are.

Maybe some day ill find a modern machine that i like but until then, i love the old stuff.