As someone who's ridden NOTHING but steel road bikes since 1973 I'm as big a steel "guy" as the next. However - I did switch to a CF roadbike two years ago and there's simply nothing that steel does better IMO. Yes - there is something special with the ride of a steel bike - but quite frankly - the weight and flex penalties that you pay don't outweigh the benefits. We currently ride a CoMo steel tandem - and we'll be going CF when the time comes that we can afford it.