I've got 5 bikes I ride on a regular basis, made of aluminum, carbon, ti, and steel. Honestly, I can't attribute ride quality or handling characteristics to the frame material, as there are too many other variables. I think most of the lore associated with different materials is mostly marketing hype. My small tube aluminum '99 Lemond Malliot Jaune is as comfortable as my ti Merlin Cyrene, which is just as comfortable as my '04 Lemond Zurich/Malliot Jaune. The Klein Quantum Race handles as well as the Look KG-156. Etc. They feel different, sure, but they all share characteristics that preclude being able to draw conclusions based on the frame material. The biggest variable I find is which wheelset I'm using (to some degree), and how much air I put in the tires.