Originally Posted by ViperZ
"...I was going to put new parts on to my Vintage frame, but now I'm caught in the allure of the old 85 C-Record Gruppo for my build, sure it shifted crappy in index mode, and sure the Delta brakes didn't stop worth a damn, however that's not what I'm after this time. I already have a bike for that purpose, I need something with all the idiosyncrasies of the olden days of my youth..."
-0¿0- Bravo!
I think it is good, and possibly even "important" to keep some bikes in their appropriate period components. It's often a tough call. And it's more than just a consideration of their "restored" monetary value. I have a couple of old road bikes which I did picked up as beautifully restored framesets. They are now built up as they might have been ridden back in their day.
I realize that if I had set them up with smooth and efficient modern components I would surely ride them more - which is always what I think should be done with ANY bike. However, there is nothing like reaching down beside a seat tube, to actuate a 1950s lever operated front changer, to truly remind me of just how far we have come to reach the current plateau of ergonomic, supremely smooth, mechanisms which we so easily tend to take for granted today.
When fighting with those Campy Synchro shifters to move your beefy chain over those un-profiled cogs... just enjoy the struggle!
Personally, I wish I had an old car that I had to get out and hand-crank just to start. Then I could truly appreciate gliding over the mountain passes in a fuel injected, climate controlled, surround-sound wrapped modern "environment" all the more.