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@clubman
Don't forget Williams, Chater-Lea and BSA.
In 2001, after a bit of a lay off and not taking things too seriously, I did a couple of 25's which were sufficiently fast to make me optimistic enough to think I might get back to my best times.
The bike I used was built on a truely antique frame with a Chater-Lea bottom bracket which made cottered cranks obligatory. I was using six and three quarter BSA's with a TA 5 pin chainring cobbled onto them, at the other end I had a Sturmey AM three speed hub giving gears of 79.5, 90 and 104. I did have fairly good rims and tyres, and clip on bars.
At the time I thought that I was obviously giving away a lot with my antique kit, and since then I have made numerous attempts to improve by modernising (although I must admit I have not spent money as freely as most other TTers).
I have never got back to those 2001 performances, even though at times I have felt pretty fit and seemed to be going reasonably well.
My conclusion is: 'it's not about the bike.'