Quote Originally Posted by boy in a kilt View Post
I can't let the steel v. aluminum discussion go.

I've owned a good mixture of steel and aluminum bikes. My assessment of the difference: doodly squat. (I've never ridden any serious miles on a Ti or carbon fiber bike so I won't discuss those).

Frame builders make their money by imposing their will on the materials they have at hand. A good builder can give a frame the handling characteristics of a wet noodle or make them lively and responsive regardless of materials.
+2.

How the bike is put together (geometry, components, FIT) makes such a difference compared to materials as to how the bike will respond and feel on the road. I rode my not so cheap aluminum bike in a 600k brevet, and have no complaints about the ride (only my mental state for wanting to do such a thing.) My ti bike, on the other hand, has a harsher road feel than the aluminum bike. And it is heavier.