Originally Posted by Sprocket Man
I say that your bike shop owner friend generalizes too much. Carbon is the most frequently used frame material in the Tour. If it were smooshy, they wouldn't waste their time riding it.
Ti is around... and probably costs more to make a Ti frame than a molded CF frame.
Plus CF has a natural obsolescence... ride it hard and you may only get 5-7 years out of it. Steel on the other hand lasts a long time... I am riding a 20+ year old steel frame too.
Check out these fine Ti machines.
http://www.merlinbike.com/2005/home.aspx