At the end of the day, it is probably about the ‘umami’ (poorly translated from Japanese, it’s the ‘savoriness’) of any particular ride. All materials will have different characteristics, and it’s up to you as to if that is what you like.

It’s been a long time since I’ve ridden a steel bike – so I can’t compare. I can compare vs. a lower end aluminum bike, though – and the difference is extreme. I also compared my Ridley vs. some entry level carbon bikes (a Lapierre and a Wilier) and I really felt the difference. I bought the Ridley because it had a responsive snap to it that made it feel like it accelerated on it’s own. A downside? I can certainly feel big bumps!

When it comes to weight, worry most about rotating weight – not static weight. Physics shows you that anything that moves in a circle gets magnified by how far it is from the axis. So – if it spins, make it light. That’s where you’ll get the biggest bang for the buck.

Hmm.. guess that means I need new wheels..

-Mark.