r/VintageCycling

Can someone comment about cyclist's diets now vs. the 1980s, or at least before 2000-2010?

If you compare cyclists back in the day they looked different. It's not just the kit or overall body fat. Riders had more muscle and looked older. They were just bigger. It's hard to imagine someone with Hinault's build ever winning a tour today, but he crushed everyone.

I know everything is more extreme now, there's better training, gearing is different, and I don't want to discuss what drugs people are/aren't dong. I'm just interested in diet, because it must have been a significant factor.

I recently got my hands on a gorgeous vintage road bike Reynolds 531 steel frame, Dura-Ace brakes, Mavic tubular rims, probably late 70s/early 80s. It’s in great shape and I want to ride it regularly, but the tubular tyres are killing me. Getting a puncture on the road basically means you’re done no easy roadside fix.

I want to swap to clincher wheels (normal rims that take a standard tyre + inner tube) so I can actually fix punctures like a normal person.

Here’s what I need help with:

The frame has vertical (bolt-type) rear dropouts typical of the era, what rear axle spacing should I be looking for? (Likely 120mm or 126mm need to confirm)

The brakes are vintage Dura-Ace dual-pivot — will modern 700c clincher wheels work with the existing brake reach, or do I need to check clearance?

I want to keep the classic look silver/chrome rims preferred, nothing too modern-looking

Anyone done a similar conversion? What did you go with? Any pitfalls to watch out for?