Well, I am biased towards old steel; let's put that out front. Sometimes I think the fixie thing is fashion, sometimes I think it's pure cheapness, and sometimes I think it's a reaction to the stupid complexity of modern index shifting (seen an exploded view of a Campy ergo power brifter lately?). So I go friction, which requires less maintanence, and once you get used to it, is great. Kills the complexity complaint; they're easy to maintain and repair. To heck with new components. A good steel frame is a pleasure; if they're braze on free, I like 'em even more. I like the early Treks, for example, pre-1981; I don't even much like brake cable braze ons, though I'll deal with 'em. That's an aesthetical type complaint. Here are some fave things on such a ride:

1) Simplex retrofriction shifters. Bombproof, super-functional, and beautiful, my fave bike component ever. Best shifters ever made. Nothing else is close. Not indexed. Thank god. Bernard Hinault rode with 'em. Greg Lemond rode with 'em. Amoung others.

2) Suntour Cylcone mechs. There is a reason why Campy and Shimano hacked Suntours derailleur patent once it expired. Pretty much the basis for most modern mechs. Plentiful and cheap. Durable, too.

3) Suntour power ratchet bar-end shifters. If you can't find #1.

4) Sunshine pro-am hubs. Superb campy knock off. Shh! Don't tell anyone.

5) Lyotard Berthet pedals. Failing that, Suntour Cyclones or Superbe.

On other notes, the Grant Peterson Bridgestones are nice, but ain't cheap.