Help me ladies. Ever since my bike friday was stolen I've been plucking down $200 in airline fees to take a trip. Recently I picked up a never been built 2003 reynolds 853 steel terry isis for a song on ebay. I plan to install S and S couplers and build it up as a travel bike. However, I ran into a snag finding a suitable fork. Its a 24" front wheel, so my two choices are waiting for Georgena's new order of carbon forks to arrive early next year, or have the frame builder that is going to install the couplers make me a custom steel fork. He told me the weight difference will only be ~4 ounces. While I was planning to go with carbon, since the idea is to have a go fast bike that travels rather than touring bike, does it make more sense to go with steel since I could get it done sooner and stop paying airline fees, and that steel is more robust for traveling? Is carbon really make for a smoother ride? Would I notice a 4 ounce weight difference? To me, my titanium Isis with carbon fork is just as comfy as my all steel classic, but the ti isis weighs less and has a racier geometry, so feels racier to ride. Steel is Real, right?