Am I so out of touch with modern cycling?

[bagpuss]

<tilts head in royalty mock sympathy pose>

Were your brakes so badly set up before that?

Nope , I was club freewheel champion two years on the run . This used to take place at either Longcliffe or piston hill both of which are in Derbyshire.
Cranks had cotton tied to one of the seat stays to prevent any cheating.