What makes a bike ride the way it does?
What is liveliness?
What is road feel?

You can ask 100 different people these questions and you'll get 50 different answers. But here's my 2p worth.

Steel vs aluminium.

High end steel is cheaper to manufacture than higher end aluminium. FACT!
High end Steel is a much tougher material giving higher fatigue resistance and improved vibrational tolerance than aluminium.
High end steel tubesets can be as light as Aluminium anb be stiffer.

This is the theory. However to translatet theory into practice somebody actually has to go out there and do it!

Fact, Cannondale showed the Italian boutique brand frmae manufacturers that 6061-T6 aluminium can build a stiffer and lighter bike than any comtemporary tubeset. That was almost 30yrs ago.

Fact, Steel tubesets exist that are stronger , as lighter and offer superior ride qualities and fatigue life over aluminium.

So why is Al so popular.
Simple really. AL manufacturers traditoinal made tubes for th aerospace industry. When the downturn in the aerospace industry led toan overs upply in AL these manufacturers had to find other markets for their products and expertise. Cue Cannondale.

Today due to the demand of AL tubesets there are plenty to go around. And relatively cheaply too. However Al i more expensive to process than Steel. It's more expensive to weld too.
So if the Steel tubeset manufacturers can produce their tubesets in Steel in as high a volume as Al, the cost of Steel bikes would come down. So the driver toward al is not based on technical superiority but more so on supply logistics and market perception.

It does not help that most steel bike are produced in low vlume and are usually custom jobs either.

FActs:

a) Either steel or aluminium can give you a bike with comfortable ride qualities, liveliness and light weight.

b) Aluminium is more popular at the moment but the fashion is now swinging toward carbon fibre.

c) certain Al alloys can be rewelded but at a loss of strength and fatigue life of the weld.

d) There is no best material for a bike frame. Each in use today has advantages and disadvantages for a price point and target market.


For racing:
Find a frame that fits, get lighter stiff wheels get light components and be prepared for a bumpy ride. This is how it is. To damp vibration you need material lIght bikes don't have much of that.

For Training or Sport riding:
Find a frame that fits well and fit a heavier, more padded saddle, more compliant wheels (preferable hand laced) nice thick padded bar tape. Gimmicks like Carbon rear stay's don't really add any value in performance. Look at a Cannondale CAAD7 for example...

NB: Correct fit is the most important criteria in getting a comfortable bike. everything else is fashion.

Alum