If you had your old bike next to a new bike and compared. My old bike my Masi rides very nice and I thought it was the nicest bike I would ever own. It weights in at a hefty 21.5 lbs the gearing is set up for racing. I jump on my Merlin and it weighs in at a little over 17lbs. I no longer race anything and don't have time to stay in shape the modern bike gives me a 39 53 in the front and a 12 28 in the rear with 10 gears to choose from it shifts perfectly and effortlessly try to get that gear combination to work with Super record. The brakes work in the rain and can throw me off the bike - the tires are almost as nice as tubulars but much easier to change a tube when you are 35 miles from home and for much less money. Ended up in the hospital over a strap I could not get out of at an intersection my speedplay pedals never let me down. Just remember a 1965 Mustang is cool but a 2001 Cobra is still a cool car each has its place. I am almost done with my fixed gear project I will let you know how much that punishes me once it is done. Sam DiBartolomeo