Originally Posted by
San Rensho
A frame is geometry, period. Different geometry makes a bike handle different. A $10k bike and a $1500 bike with exactly the same geometry will handle exactly the same. People say different materials make the ride "feel" different but I don't buy that. I can't tell any difference between a stee frame and an aluminum frame (which is supposed to be very stiff). The biggest factor in bike "feel" are the tires, wide v skinny tires and tire pressure, soft v very hard.
I agree with you on the geometry but totaly disagree on the feel of the bike. My Trek XO1 was brutal to race cross on. I got a steal Lemond two years ago and I can feel the frame flex and absorb some of the hits, a world of difference. I can feel my vintage Guerciotti flex too while my other AL and Ti bikes feel differently. I love flexy frames.