Race Geometry: Am I crazy?

[Cataboo]

I can't really speak for steel 'cause I've never really had one... my bf's got a titanium litespeed and he loves it because he says he can feel the road beneath him... if he rides over a pebble, he can feel it etc.

It's unfortunately too big for me to actually ride, but I did coast down a hill with it once - and it's buzzy. He says they're not annoying or painful vibrations and he likes them - they're not jarring or uncomfortable like aluminum.

He thinks my carbon or aluminum/carbon bikes feel dead... Which has been my goal. Whereas, with titanium or steel you get the road feel.

I need to test ride a titanium road bike in my size sometime to see if I'd like it.

[Eden]

It's about geometry and the style of the frame as much as the material.... a stiffer, lighter bike will give a more harsh ride regardless of the material, while a bike with more touring style geometry will be more forgiving. You can make a harsh ti bike (ti is usually known for giving a smoother ride) and a plush aluminum one - there's just give and take with weight and handling.

[Miranda]

I can't really speak for steel 'cause I've never really had one... my bf's got a titanium litespeed and he loves it because he says he can feel the road beneath him... if he rides over a pebble, he can feel it etc.

That's what my carbon loving guy friend said too about Ti. He said on a hard climb he could feel the bike 'flex' underneath him and he didn't like it. One of the shop guys said about carbon is that "you are one with the bike".

It's about geometry and the style of the frame as much as the material....

Makes sense. I think it's a trade off of what you prefer in the end. For me, I know some things I certainly do not like. But, on some other things I'm undecided as of yet.