Yeah, regular old non-aero levers on narrow, Maes-bend drop bars. Lots of different hand positions, and each one a new way for your hands to ache and feel like you do not have secure control of the bike (and/or quick access to the brake levers).

First time I put my hands on a pair of bars anatomic bars with fat, padded brifters, I thought, Oh, yeah! Sort of like the iPhone realizes the promise of modern mobile telecommunications that had been implied since the invention of the internet and the cell phone, the modern brifter realizes the promise of comfortable, efficient bicycle controls.

I still vastly prefer how the old levers and dt shifters look, though. But if I was genuinely going to ride more than 20 miles, which hasn't <cough> happened in a while, I would go for the new control technologies.

I don't miss:

gaspipe seat posts and that abominable separate clamping assembly. Period.

steel handlebars, but I wonder if I'll say the same about alloy someday.

most side pull calipers, but my 105's are pretty darn nice, as are my DC BRS500

cottered cranks, but I wonder if I'll say the same about bearing BB's and square taper someday.

galvanized spokes. Period.

turkey levers on non-aero levers. Period.

rubber pedals. Unless I'm wearing Vanns, dude. What are Vanns, anyway...?

old chain lubes, unless 3-in-1 wasn't the best thing going in 1975

non-QR axles. I don't have track bikes.

center pull parts that get lost. There ought to be a way...

unlined cable housing. see below.

galvanized cable. belongs in the same bin as the spokes.

squeaky brake pads, probably had something to do with 26" and 27" chromies.

mongo tires. Best upgrades in ride quality, IMHO, are wheels and tires.

I like all my lugged steel bikes, even those with little "improvements" over OEM.

Hard to say if I'd keep one of those over a custom Ti with SRAM and modern Mavics...if I could only have one.

Jeez...After reading this thread I wonder why anyone rides vintage at all:(

Steel toe clips and straps. Liketh not. Galvanized spokes. Everything else is workable for me. My amazingly crappy gas-pipe framed single speed with execrable brakes was a joy to ride. The sum was greater than the parts. It's now being ridden by soemone who fell in love with it just as I did.

I enjoy riding and looking at classic bikes. Though if given the option to ride a brifter/clipless bike or a Raleigh International, I'd ride the brifter/clipless bike.
I just don't think I could ride a full Nuovo Record International with a Brooks for any more than 10 miles without wanting my hands to be able to tap to shift. It's a luxury, yes. But, oh well. It's nice.
But, riding friction DT's has it's benefits as well. There's a certain feeling about it you don't get with brifters.
Problem, is that I just don't feel as efficient with anything other than brifters.
-Gene-

I'm perplexed as well.

+1...sort of

I will admit that I really do like Look clipless pedals. Add to that the fact that the old quill pedals don't fit my wide feet so that works out just fine. But Look came out with their pedals in 1984 IIRC so that isn't really new. And I use old school MKS touring pedals on my commuter. I did use clips and straps back in the day but never with cleats.

Add I use modern lighting on my commuter (the '88 Panasonic) but don't really consider it true C&V anyway. I tried using a clamp on bottle generator light last year on the Starlight Spectacular midnight right and it TOTALLY sucked. I had to cut the ride short to avoid the darker places. This year I will borrow the lights off the Panasonic.

Well, because they're cool.
:thumb:

My '68 Camaro was a great car, mainly because of how it looked. There are many upgrades that came out since that would make it a better car, overall. It's still cool.
:thumb:

I wasn't trying to be pissy.. I was just kinda overwhelmed by the breadth and amount of items posted as unliked. It seemed as though everything but frames and Dura Ace is dispised. For me it comes down to whats in my comfort zone. I drive a 75 Chevy truck, use a 56 ford tractor on my place and all my stereo equipment is vintage except for the cd. My wife has all the new rides in the family... About the only area I stay current is my phone & computer but mainly cause it's business... otherwise I just like simplicity.

Exactly, like a 2010 Camaro (ducks to avoid flaming barbs) ;) :D