I've ridden hundreds of bikes and owned dozens - I like steel, I don't like Aluminum. I was "forced" to buy an Aluminum bike, ( for temporay use when I lost my good stuff ), that had carbon forks and chain stays. The price was good and it didn't feel as "rough" as other aluminums on the test ride. I hated that bike!, it beat me up on long rides and I could never get it to feel very comfortable