Trakhak- I agree with your Cannondale comments. Generally I dislike their products, have for years. But I'm a small guy who knows how to spin so their frame stiffness is lost on me, except for tandems and touring bikes. But my hammer is an OA torch so steel is my nail. There's no magic in any frame material but good design and application wins over passion. Sometimes the two intersect. That is my goals with my steel building. Andy (who just picked up his freshly painted frame and will share photos soon, but it's not a touring bike)