When I started racing as a Cat IV in 1977, I already knew that lower weight (particularly on the wheels) was very desirable for sprinting and climbing as it equated to lower inertia/higher acceleration. When it comes to comfort, I've yet to ride a modern carbon fiber frame that approaches the comfort/road handling qualities of a good Columbus SL or Reynolds 531 steel frame. Weight isn't everything, and I know that from having watched a 28-spoke wheel disintegrate during a hard sprint at the Arkansas State Championships in 1977. To win, you have to finish.