Originally Posted by bici_mania

Weight is not really a "thing" for me. My current race bike is steel. It feels heavy for a race bike when you lift it but has plenty speed when I am in the saddle.

In my limited experience, carbon does not handle/respond/feel the way aluminum or steel does. We have a few big, winding hills around here and on fast descents, I have more confidence on aluminum and steel. There is a distinct difference in feel for each material, carbon doesn't suit me. Aluminum feels light and agile. On steel I can feel the power transfer from the crank to the wheels. On carbon there always seems to be a slight sense of sliding on ice. This is particularly true on the winding down hills. I tried swapping stem, wheels and tires but did not ever get the 'feel' I wanted. It is all subjective of course.

I have seen carbon bikes and components suddenly have catastrophic failure and have since decided I will stick with metal. It can fail too but I haven't ever seen steel or aluminum have sudden catastrophic failure.

Of course the upside for everyone else being drunk with carbon lust is that keeps prices down for the stuff I want.