So....
In the spirit of conversation Fabs, I'm only assuming because of all of the technological headaches that researching has caused you over modern bike components and bike racing in general that you have opted, in the name of simplicity of course
, to just slug it out competetively with that 20 year old bike, huh?
Of course, your new training regiment of only liquid protein shakes combined with your 3:00am-3 hour daily marathon sprint sessions, followed by an hour of intense stretching and pilates immediately folllowed by a half hour shaving of all bodily hair follicles (wind resistance you know-your enemy) should compensate for the lack of a carbon frame and some killer rims.
We'll compare your larger, more competative racing venues with say...a P&Y/B&C animal on a trophy hunt. Sure you may fare well than some others by not adapting with the technology. You may even win an occassional race through nothing other than your intense conditioning, training of the course, and knowledge of your craft but up against another cyclist with the same level of skill but armed with technologically superior components at their disposal, you would be hard pressed to win with any degree of consistency.
An archer shooting a longbow or recurve has more considerations/limitations along with a much longer learning curve in general than the easier, more forgiving, and powerful compound bows churned out today. (I just started shooting a recurve and will not hunt with it this year because I do not feel that my competency is what it should be at this point for hunting game)
You are absolutely right about this forum though Fabs-
We'd still be moaning and griping about the kings, chiefs, etc. or whatever form of polical hierarchy ruled the roost in the Almost Anything Goes forum. Val would still be lassoing gators.
I don't think that rope has changed that much, but who knows? Rocky would still be providing his reloading data from his cave and LilRed would still be ranting about some booger Neanderthal type that made her come to work the quarry on the hunting opener!