I'm with impreza on all he said. I sell bikes for a living, haven't been in it as long as some. But I do. I'm also a racer. From both aspects I see there are so many different things people like. Us on the forum can only tell you what each is like, and why we like it. The best thing you can do is go test ride, test ride everything you can get your hands on. Every bike shop in a 50 mile radius, all your friends bikes, and all your friends friends bikes. It is the only way you can find out what YOU like.

I love a steel bike, but I also like a bike with some carbon in the seat stays and what not. I've road some aluminum bikes that feel nothing like a normal aluminum. I swear by campy, and hate any petal that isn't a Look. This is me though, this is what my body likes, and what feels right to me. So go test ride, have fun and don't hurt any of them cuz you'll be buying a bike you don't like

Hope that helps.