The average height of men has grown from 5'8 to a shade over 5'9" in the U.S in the last 40 years. His weight has gone from 166, on average, to 191 in the same period. The average height of women was 5'3 in 1960 and her weight was 140. The average height of women is now around 5'4" and she now on average, weighs 164. The most popular (mean), pants size for men is now 38. Years ago it was 34. I suspect the average weight of most athletes including cyclists has gone up too. I have noticed a difference between Euro sized medium mens' cycling jerseys and what we would call a medium. It is apparent that the European men are not as large or heavy as American men are today, and from what I am seeing of modern cycling clothes, a European Large fits an American medium, which to me suggests that European cyclist men are either less bodybuilding/weightlifting obsessed than Americans, or they just carry less fat. In this way European men more closely resemble the older averages in physiques. Perhaps some have noticed the trend too, while scouring Ebay for old style jerseys in the states.
The recent discussion of older Peugeots being vibration prone, and lighter than the Italian bikes of the same period, may have something to do with the intended weight of the population at that time. Perhaps the Masi was a shade overbuilt, while the Peugeots were less overbuilt, but still very suitable for the average men who were purchasing these bikes four decades ago. It is probably not true that accomplished racers today are any heavier than those of the 60's, but I do believe that a lot of men who cycle seriously but not professionally today seem quite a bit heavier and more muscular than I remember of the same population years ago. It seems that every other cyclist I see now, also visits the gym more than occasionally. This seems to result in larger chests and arms than previous years, and so the larger cuts we now see in cycling clothes compared to the 60's.
Garth Libre in Miami Fl.