OK, here's the question everyone wants to express an opinion on...and I can't get enough opinions.

My current road bike is a lugged Columbus EL-OS Marinoni from 1992. I love everything about it except the weight. I've never had the pleasure of riding a carbon or Ti bike, so I don't know what I'm missing.

I do fast club riding/racing and randonneur riding- a strange mix, I know. My priorities are therefore good handling for racing, low weight for climbing, and comfort for a 600 km brevet.

All the hype is about carbon's ride quality and shock absorption. Bikes like the Specialized Roubaix and Cannondale Synapse seem optimized for what I like to do...but I'm old school and don't trust carbon. What if I nick it?

So...if you were me, what frame would you buy? Ti with carbon fork/triangle? Ti frame and triangle with carbon fork? Columbus Spirit? (Gasp) Reynolds 953, if we ever see it?