Originally Posted by
rgconner
Material is less important than tire size when it comes to comfort: Wider is better.
Getting at least a 32mm wide tire and you will find it more comfortable. Some bikes go up to 50mm, which is pretty plush.
Carbon handlebars are also quite nice. Very stiff, but does not transmit vibration as much as aluminum.
+1 wide tires=comfort. Well, wide "supple" tires. On my stiff, steel Nishiki Blazer Mountain bike I am coming a summer riding light, supple 26x1.85 WTB slicks, and just put my heavy, stiff 26x1.65 studded snow tires and what a difference in ride comfort! The big, fat slicks were so fast and comfortable, they just didn't feel fast. Yes it's steel, but the Blazer frame is stiff and solid.
As far as steel being more comfortable, all three of my bikes are steel and there's a difference in stiffness. My 1983 Nishiki International roadbike is very light, and very flexible. The seat stays and dropouts are thinner and more flexible than anything you see nowadays. With stiff 700x23s you really feel the flex, but it still beat me up, so I put 700x32s on, which wou;d only fit under the fork crown if slightly under inflated. That was very comfortable, but I was less aware of the flex (although I'm sure it was there). Lately I've been tiding 700x28s which are a happy medium. I can feel the frame flex and the wheels aren't punching me.
My main commuter is a 2015 Charge Plug. (It's steel but for 2016-2017(?) they're aluminum, but now they're steel again.) It is the perfect blend of my other two bikes. There's a little flex in the frame, but the big difference I feel is tires. I've run 700x35 to 700x38s. Stiff, heavy 700x38 Continental Touring II's had soft, sticky tread, but the sidewalls were stiff, making for a harsh ride, although the frame helped a little. Currently I'm running light, cheap, supple Metro brand tires, and it is the most comfortable it's ever been.
While I think the old, curved, thin tapered front fork of my old Nishiki International helps with comfort, you aren't going to find a modern disk-brake bike with that. And from what I read, even some straight, carbon forks provide some nice flex, straight steel doesn't.
Bottom line...I subscribe to what Jan Heine from Bicycle Quarterly maintains...that softer sidewalls provide a more comfortable, and faster ride...that has been my experience.
My advice to [MENTION=491269]galapogosian[/MENTION] is to buy an old, light, skinny, steel frame bike that fits (like my 1983 Nishiki International) and resto-mod it with newer parts, like brifters and a newer drivetrain. Forget disk brakes and keep the slender, curved front fork, mount some light, supple tires, then ride, ride, ride!