Don't get aluminum unless you are a racer, aluminum is not made for anything other that racing, the new S&M L.A.F (light as fu*k) frame is if not the lightest, one of the lightest frames on the market, its realy nice and weights in a 5 lbs. alot of good features to, like integrated head tube and the chain stay tubes are welded lower on the bb shell to accomodate a chainstay mounted brake and still run a small gearing