Originally Posted by dvdslw

I hate to say it but the aluminum bike is probably better suited to your build than the carbon. About three years ago I was 268lbs and looking for a new carbon road bike, I test rode everything out there I could afford and slightly more in the $2,000-$3,000 range. Some felt better than others but I was struggling to make a decision until I rode an aluminum framed bike. As soon as I started pedaling something just felt good, I took it out for a decent ride and couldn't believe how much snappier this bike felt in comparison to the carbon bikes I had rode earlier. I went and rode a few of the carbon bikes again to confirm what I was feeling and sure enough the aluminum bike was the winner and I bought it. Come to find out that what I was feeling in the carbon bikes was the frame flexing under my weight, especially if I was out of the saddle and putting some power down. I see that being somewhat like a mountain bike with a suspension fork, if your bouncing the bike up and down as you pedal its lost energy that should be propelling you forward and the reason they have lockouts on the suspension these days.

I by no means say that aluminum is superior over carbon and hope to some day have a carbon bike but I'd either have to loose some more weight or pay up for a hi-mod frame which is much stiffer than the low to mid grade carbon bikes out there. I know a lot of guys with carbon bikes are going to disagree with me on this but I felt it first hand and unless they're up in the 270+lb range, then they couldn't possibly know or had a reason to know. Awesome job loosing the pounds, you have a lot to be proud of there!