I wanted to get into road biking after having bought a new/used 1984 nishiki international touring bie for commuting with new wheels and 7speed shimano DT I bought a 1981 Nishiki comp II on ebay. I took it out for the first ride and realised that 54/44 and 13-24 would not do at all, and neither would the narrow handlebars, crap saddle and crap shifting. I immediately started to investigate (only after I had caught a bit of vintage fever over here). I bought a new take off 2006 centaur 10s group which went from a schwinn premis (never road it) to a 1992 marinoni special (already 130mm lugged steel). with cheepo ambrosio radar 32h wheels. Now I could get back to my vintage fever, over the next few years I bought and sold bikes feverishly lusting after a full super record bike. I have it now... a 1981 gazelle champion mondial, fully period correct with 180mm cranks and 65-44 cinelli bars everything just how I wanted it, I hardly ever ride it. And I just finished restoring a 1971 full period correct nuovo record bike, I won't ride it till next summer, my girlfriend has a mid 1980s GIOS professional, and I also have a 1981 Marinoni Pista that I would ride if our velodrome wasn't fenced off and there wasn't a war on between the west shore parks asso. and the GVVA. Back to what I do most of my recreational riding on. This summer I was lucky enough to score a 2000 Marin Treviso (Billato built... sweet) and have since made it my main ride.. all centaur... the ambrosio wheel, though I'll be looking to upgrade to something like fulcrums or hed ardiennes next spring and throw on an easton EC90SL fork (this is a columbus Nemo steel frame (.7-.4-.7 approx.)... I just installed a phil wood titanium magnum cartridge BB and finally have a good chainline with my 185mm TA carmina compact double crank set.. bike weighs in around 22lbs (heavy!) a new fork and wheels should get it close to 19lbs (lots of weight in those wheels and steel forks). So I hang out here, I have 4 classic period correct bikes, I have a 1975 fixed gear running upgraded vintage gear (campy side pulls, phill wood hubs, superbe pro pedals etc..) and my girlfriend rides a Guerciotti single speed. I love classis, but like you I know a new bike can really up my performance and if I want to ride with friends and the guys from the shop I have to be able to keep up, unfortunately record friction shifters and regina chains and freewheels are going to low me down. For performance I go with technology. I also recently got an alloy cross bike... I have realized the power of the DARK SIDE.