Dutret I don't doubt that there is some weakened version of your claims that is correct. However there's lots of anecdotal counterevidence to them as is---for example, the cutout saddle and ergo bars that were on my tourer when I bought it caused numb pinkies and dong bone on rides over 75 km, and the noodles and b-17 that are now on that bike do neither. Anyhow, my first post was primarily about the practical riding position that Riv style setups afford. Of course Rivendell style retro tech may not be the best possible way to achieve that goal; but it does it pretty darn well relative to everything else on the market, and it's pretty to boot.