I wouldn't pay 2k for the Soma frame either, but oddly if I had the cash I probably would spend 9k for a custom made steel frame made specifically for me.


This thread has gone in a direction I hadn't anticipated since I was not making any comparisons about frame materials. But since we went that way, some comments about the various posts:


Some of us are motivated to ride bikes, even road bikes, for reasons other than to get from point A to B most rapidly.


I have ridden lots of different frames made from various materials, have enjoyed the ride quality/road feel of some, not so much others. For a certain kind of ride experience that I personally like, steel is the only option.


Above said, when I want the bike to shoot forward when I stamp on the pedals to accelerate or go up hill, I leave my steel bikes home.


I have ridden a lot of carbon bikes, for pure road feel, none have delivered comparable, much less appreciably better, ride experience than my steel bikes, and for pure acceleration and speed, none have convinced me that they offer performance above the high end alu I have been riding for the last 6 years. That said a number have delivered better road feel than my alu with comparable or marginally better acceleration but not so much that I felt the expense was warranted since for me I would glean greater benefit by losing 5 pounds.


I don't get the references to Ti. I have ridden one only once so I admit my ignorance. But I never went back because I thought the ride paled in comparison to steel and the performance didn't come near alu or carbon.