I've wondered this same thing. Wouldn't the stronger rider be the one who has trained on an older heavier bicycle? He trains on the older heavier bicycle, thus making the lighter 2003 Litespeed more, well, potent. I've heard of some professional riders - ie. Eric Wohlberg - training with a weight attached to their current road racing bicycles(newer bicycle) in order to receive a better training effect. It just seems to me that the stronger rider would be the one training on an older heavier bicycle - more effort, greater strength, better utilization of effort, etc. But, I could be wrong. Just my 2 cents.
Rodney Cox
Chico, California
A question I ponder now and then is this, does a modern 2000's racing bicycle like say Litespeed with all the modern components versus a say 1970's Masi with all Campagnolo record components made a full time bicycle racer a stronger physical rider? I can see and have experienced riding my 1973 Bob Jackson versus a rider of equal ability riding his modern 2003 bicycle being a bit faster due to better shifting, lighter wheels resulting in less mass to accelerate and lighter weight to move forward but does it result in a stronger rider? I can see perhaps a professional racer being less tried at the end of the day with less loss of physical and mental fatigue to recover from but does that result in a stronger rider ????? Or is it the racer riding an older bicycle the stronger physically or mentally or both.
Charles Nighbor in Walnut Creek, CA building up a set of Mavic MA$)'s rims , Campagnolo HF Record 28H, 14/17 spokes front and 14/15 spokes right side and 14/17 left side all 3X