My current bike is a classic steel. It fits great--I'm really comfortable on it. But it weighs 24 pounds, has old-style gearing (42/52 up front and seven cogs on the back), and it isn't exactly zippy. So I've started wondering if it's time to upgrade.

My problem is that here in Chile, the options are aluminum or carbon. That's not what I would choose if I lived in the States. I've always had a bad impression of aluminum, and carbon is really expensive. I looked at the Madone 5.1 (14% over MSR) and 5.2 (20% over), but they seem like a lot of bike for someone who does maybe 5,000 kilometers a year and has very few options for organized rides (although it sure is tempting). The other carbon option I found is Fuji--I wasn't impressed, and they were 30–50% over MSR!

So, I'm wondering if aluminum is worth considering, despite my bias against it. I suppose I'd be getting something in a comparable range to what I have now (in terms of quality at the time of purchase), only with modern components. Is it worth it? Will I hate the ride compared to steel? Or will the lighter weight have me zipping up hills? Any thoughts?