Thank you for the comments everyone! I should have clarified that yes climbing hills is a big part of it. I can keep up everywhere except when we get to the big climbs and then my 24 tooth rear maximum on a 40 something front just simply doesn’t allow me to hang with the guys that have such a wide range of gearing. I don’t want to bend my frame in order to fit a modern rear end but I have considered getting an old steel frame and building it with modern components.
Maybe it’s just that itch to have something new. I love riding the old bikes, but technology has made modern bikes and components far superior.
The Falcon is 531 and the SR is Tange of some variety but in its day the Falcon was a much higher end bike.
I’m also 50-something and very fit, lift weights & cycle so it’s not trying to keep up with fitter people.