I'm just WOW. This discussion makes me want to buy a modern bike. Do we have a personal account from a BFer who bought a modern bike and found that it cut their times substantially on his or her favorite hilly 50 mile course? Thus eliminating the unknowns w/r to fueling or doping? I'm still riding my 2000 vintage Trek 5200, which I have really enjoyed and put a zillion miles on. Of course, it's a triple with GI from 128-31 and I use all of them. Our tandem, also a triple, has GI from 130 to 18. When one needs that much range, close spacing is important.