Originally Posted by roadwarrior

Carbon is stiff. Really stiff. It also retains it's tensile strength, it does not get a "memory" per se. One of the properties of carbon, is that it does not "soften".
However, carbon, if it breaks means that the frame is toast. I've never seen one just "break" but if you wreck the bike and break it, that's it for the frame. Aluminum is more apt to dent, where carbon does not dent.

To me, carbon feels "dead" in that I cannot tell what it's going to do. I ride an Optimo Cannondale R3000 with Dura Ace 2004, very stiff and light and when I corner the bike I can tell exactly what's going on.

Pros ride what they are given from the team.

Of all the carbon frames I have ridden, I think Look's are the best. Their frame felt better. Their new bike, the new frame replacing the 381i is tremendous. But the frame, alone, is like $2,300. But it's worth it in my opinion.