Originally Posted by
pat5319
Try for a steel frame , it fwon't beat you up like an aluminum frame will , stell read far smoother and will "soak up" bumps that alu will not , and that will more than make up for any small "weight gain"
This is one of the greatest myths in cycling... frame material has very little to do with ride quality whereas things like tyres, the saddle, and the bars do the most to add to ride comfort.
Choice will really depend on what style of bike you want and need and the price point.
My wife and I bought an Electra Ticino and she absolutely loved it save for the fact the wheelbase is too long for the racks on the buses so it wasn't suitable for what is a multi modal commute.
It did make for a very comfortable and quick ride... hers was the 18 speed model.