This thread makes me want to shop for bikes.....

As Grog said - TRY the bikes. I rode a 600k brevet on an aluminum (scandium) Eddy Merckx Team SC (the old Lotto race frame). The only thing that really bugged me at the end (besides my BUTT ) was the bar height - I've remedied that issue with a proper fitting. I figure it is probably the only Merckx scandium bike that's done a brevet of that distance... But the ride was not harsh. This bike has done 6 double centuries and many rides over 100 miles.

Few folks have mentioned ti..... What I love about that (it's what my other bike is) is that it is indestructable. It is pricey, though.

I decided a while back that I am too clumsy for carbon. I have crashed in the past, and if I crashed and trashed a frame, I'd be very sad. It's probably not likely to happen.