You are gonna get a lot of love for the Cross Check around here. The Handsome is very similar and also a Local Minneapolis outfit so I like that too. My unscientific data suggests that around here in MPLS I see more cross checks under the committed commuters than any other one model of bike by far.

Aluminum? I think not. The versatility of the CC for me is it's strength. You can build exactly what you want with it. You might not choose it but you cant go wrong if you do.