My fiancee's bikes are carbon (a Calfee Luna Pro road-bike & Trek (i never can remember the model #) hardtail MTB) He had a GT full-suspension MTB and cracked the frame...has never had a problem with his Trek carbon...They have both experienced normal wear and tear and fortunately have not experience any major wrecks...

I do know however that when carbon is bashed or wrecked (should I be saying that outloud ) they splinter up beyond repair...I would look deeply into the warranty of any carbon bike!

My roadie is steel, in our wreck I layed it down and the rear derailler took a hit, because it was steel we were able to just "un"bend it...now if it were a carbon bike the rear derailler would have been set up differently and most likely just "broke" off so a new one would have had to been bought. Chris was able to "roll" keeping his bike from taking any impact (OK, he is a better "faller")

My knowledge is limited and I am still learning about the techs and specs of it all...I would get more opinions (of course...that is what you are doing here!!!) I will get his input and see if he has anything to add...

I do know that when I was looking, many,many people told me that because of the compact size I was looking at at (I am 5') that carbon would be a more rigid ride than steel (aluminum still being worse) because in order to make carbon that small it has to be compacted so much it does not give you the flex as it does on the larger sizes...i do have a carbon fork though!

Good Luck...and the ruby is a schaaweeeeeet looking beauty!!!!