Steel bikes with carbon forks? (How much more durable than all-carbon?)

[mariposa]

You gals have been so helpful, so far!

I've found what has helped me the most has been to just visit as many shops as possible, try different rides and absorb the varying advice/opinions I get.

I neglected to mention that I do have a steel bike now...it's a retro Terry bike...very durable, just wayyyyyy too heavy and under-geared for all the time I spend in hills. I also do triathlons. What I'm seeking now is to replace the Terry with just *one* bike that will take care of *all* of my needs: Hilly rides; group rides; centuries; clip-on aerobars for triathlons. (I'll prolly keep the Terry, put fenders on it and use it as a commuter...)

The bikes in the shops...the first thing I've done is to take them up into the hills! The carbon bikes have been by far the most fun to "climb" on. I've tended to like the carbon bikes that have slack-ish geometry. The Specialized Ruby is a good example. It feels like a fabulous double-century type of bike, but I can tell it certainly feels "fast" as well for triathlon purposes. Not the very most aerodynamic of the ones I've tried, but that's not my primary criteria for an all-around bike. (I also liked the Orbea Onix Dama - has similar, semi-slack geometry.)

Steel...I'd been avoiding that just 'cause it's what I already have. And I didn't like the first 2, all-steel bikes I tried in shops. But from the Bianchi I could tell that steel is a way different animal now than it was when my Terry was made...There is some relatively light steel out there so I'll give it more consideration...whether or not it has a carbon fork.

So: Anyone have recommendations for ALL-STEEL bikes to try in the shops? (Price range about $2000 and under.)

Mariposa

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Might be hoping for too much to find one bike that does it all well.

My impulse would be to look for a touring type bike to do centuries in, and then also have a fasty triathlon bike.
You could have major triple gears on the touring bike which would be good for long hilly rides, and use the fasty bike for club road rides.
You could commute on the more comfy upright posture touring bike. Or use your old Terry for commuting, as you said.