Its not about the material. It really isnt. I have ridden carbon bikes that were stiff as a 2x4 and I have ridden Carbon bikes that felt like a barcolounger. I have also ridden steel bikes that truly felt alive only to flex so bad they would ghost shift at any hint of power and I have ridden other steel bikes that were very stiff in fact one of the best riding bikes I have ever owned was an old aluminum S-Works E5 bike........