My commuting rig consists of 2 bikes. One is steel and one is aluminum. The aluminum one is multi-geared w/rack, panniers, full fenders, etc. 2x9. It's a BD bike and is over 3 years old w/17,000+ commuting/utility miles w/one complete overhaul and regular lube/maintenance.

The steel one is a fg conversion of a 80s Fuji Del-Rey. Set up w/a seatpost rack/trunkbag combo. SKS Raceblades. (Just enough coverage to be annoying...) 48x15 gearing.

They both do the job for which they are intended for my needs and require regular maintenance beyond just a few cursory adjustments. My rt commute is 42.2 miles of rolling terrain, so they take more of a pounding than bikes of similar quality covering half the distance per week.

The main thing is they give me alot of flexability if one goes down. In using dual-sided spds they're both set up to use any of several pairs of shoes.

So, in conclusion I guess that I don't find any noticeable difference in the ride quality of either one. They're both loaded to a certain degree even when empty. The steel seems a little more responsive, but that may be due to the fact that it weighs 5-7 lbs less than the aluminum rig when empty. Oh, yeah they're both equipped w/700 wheels.