Originally Posted by ekimeno
I see where you're coming from, but my bike is REALLY heavy for alu (pretty much a bottom rung bike). I bought it second hand last year and it has quite a few scratches - a good rain ride/ commuter, but that's about it.
Plus, I just want to get a different bike - something shinny and new!
You have so many options. If you are young and Al doesn't beat you up and you race, I personally would stick with Al...perhaps another Al frame and not CF and not pay the premium for CF. To me, frame selection is a myriad of things but because there are so many great frames out there, cost is the over-riding determinant.
The reason I chose an '06 Look 555 was perceived value. I only race casually with my friends who are conservative riders and I want a bike with the best ride. I simply couldn't find a frame I liked better for $1300. The retail is $1900 and they go for well under that. But my priorities maybe different than yours.
If you are going to race and forgive me...that means go down...and you find the ride on your Al frame fine...find a lightly used Cannondale Al frame for almost half the price of a new Look frame.
To me for a weekend warrior, Cannondale makes the best race frames for the buck.
George