I have one carbon frame, don't know how good it is because it was given to me, but I certainly doubt that it's up there with the really good ones. It is a very comfortable bike and I quite like it - makes me want to try a better carbon bike. I'm thinking that if I did I'd become a die-hard carbon fan. On the other hand there's more to a bike than just the frame material. For long (100+ miles), steady rides I don't think I'll ever replace my '87 Paramount. There's a reason those Waterford built Paramounts are revered. My Reynolds 531 Waterford 1100 becomes a wonderful ride when you really start to push it hard - the "springiness" of 531 tubing really gives it a unique feel, especially on fast downhills on less than perfect pavement. Finally, my old Cannondale touring bike. Yes, it's stiff (which I like - efficient transfer of power from the pedals to the wheels, which is nice when carrying heavy loads) and harsh, but that doesn't matter. With a 44 inch wheelbase and about 85 lbs pressure in the 27x1 1/4 tires it smooths itself out very nicely. As much as I like the pros and cons of each frame material, I take into consideration a number of other things also (but I'd still like to try a high-end carbon road bike).