Swap my Vita Comp aluminum frame for a steel frame?

[Catrin]

Hi Ladies, I'm looking for some advice here.

After years of riding an old steel Trek 730 (I still love that old bike), I bought a new Specialized Vita Comp this year. I have a love-hate relationship going with this bike. I LOVE how zippy it is, love how smoothly it shifts. I hate the aluminum frame. After I ride this bike I feel like my whole body has been rattled and beat up. I hate the stiff ride. And I paid extra for the Comp to get the carbon seat stays and the carbon fork, and I still can feel a lot of the road buzz.

I was thinking of selling my Vita Comp and return to a steel framed bike. To make matters a bit more complicated, I don't want drop handlebars, which is one of the main reasons I picked the fitness style bike. I looked at the Jamis Coda femme, which is steel, and I've read good comments on it here. But the componentry for that bike is a few steps down from the Shimano 105 componentry I have on my Vita Comp.

Now I'm thinking of buying a steel frame and swaping out my Vita Comp parts to the steel frame. My LBS says it would be possible, with a couple of issues such as I'd need to buy a traditional headset.

I'm looking at the Surly Cross Check or the Soma Double Cross. I use my bike for light touring, paved trail rides, no racing. I'm going for fitness style/hybrid style usage with a more upright position (but not as upright as a compfort bike). I don't plan on doing long touring, so I've eliminated the Surly LHT. I've eliminated the Gunnar and Waterford due to price (although I'd LOVE to have one). The Surly Cross Check runs around $440 and it includes the fork. The Soma Double Cross with Fork runs close to $500.

I'd love to hear your thoughts. Should I just sell my Vita Comp and buy a Jamis Coda? Should I swap out my Vita Comp parts onto a Surly or Soma frame? Help!

Ciao

I wouldn't disregard the Surly since you won't be doing any touring. That is my bike and it is a fine all-around bike. Ride is as smooth as silk and the frame is designed to take either road or flat bars. She isn't the fastest bike in the world, but she is great, and you couldn't go wrong with the Cross Check either. One thing to consider, you would likely get more for a complete bike than selling the frame. I may well be wrong, but that is why I decided to sell my Trek rather than just the frame.

[Crankin]

I have the Coda and the components have never been an issue, although I do not ride this bike very much. It shifts fine going up the big hills and has low gears to do that. It rides well with one very full pannier. But, it's slow.
A good friend has the Vita. I rode with her at least once a week this summer and she had continual problems shifting. The bike was being adjusted frequently (it's a 2009). She likes the way it rides, but will be getting something else and use the Vita as her 2nd bike.