I'm going to go out on a limb since this was a time before Strava, but I kind of feel like the American crit scene has gotten a little slower and more reasonable. Even with all the equipment improvements, it just doesn't feel like the super charged era. In addition, there just aren't as many big teams with 10 riders whipping it up at the front like in the era of Saturn and Mercury. I just remember riding Visalia and going consistently riding at 56-58 on the home straight, 48-50 in the technical sections and wondering who was on the front.