I'd like to preface this by saying that I don't have a lot of experience with French bikes...

I've noticed that a lot steel frames with the same build feel noticeably different, maybe not to everyone, but to me. What I think most of the ride/response differences come from are two different things:

- frame build qualities
- tubing thickness

When I say build qualities, I don't mean workmanship. I mean, the shapes and placement of the tubes. For instance: a steel frame with largish diameter chain stays and seat stays will often feel more solid. Pencil thin seat stays and tapering chain stays often feel more bouncy. Beefier forks with a more rounded profile tend to be more resistant to braking forces, and feel more resistant to cornering forces, but they also seem to transfer hard shocks more, too. The curvature and thickness of the blades makes a very noticeable difference to the way the bike feels. I'm of the mind that the fork easily accounts for as much as 50% of the bike's handling and ride characteristics, rake notwithstanding.

Another thing.. I think that the main differences in feel between tubesets, has to do with the thickness and type of butting. Though, I wonder if two framesets with identical geos, lugs, tubing shapes/thickness/butting; one out of Columbus SL and one out of some other alloy, would have the same 'snap'. Or, would the difference still exist in a noticeable amount, due to the difference in alloy.