carbon bars & handling

[Eden]

I loved my carbon bike a whole lot more before I got my ti frame. So I would suggest you not test ride a ti or steel bike I do have a steel surly pacer and I can't say that I like it anywhere near as much as the ti or carbon - so maybe don't test ride a surly pacer as representative.

The bf far prefers his ti frame to his carbon - and tends to complain overly much about the dead feel.

Feel of a bike has as much to do with the design of the frame as it does with the material. I know someone who had to get rid of their Ti frame because it was too harsh. I also know people who have cushy riding aluminum... My carbon bike certainly doesn't feel dead.

I have cheap-o second hand aluminum bars on my ti bike and I can't say I notice much road buzz. I did however replace the cheap-o second hand seat post aluminum that I put on it originally with a carbon one and that made a big difference (not to my hands... but to my backside at least).