I am pretty consistantly impressed everytime I pick up my brother's Aluminum mountain bike with front suspension - thing weighs less, seems much less, than my old Reynold 531 Puch frame (though, it does have a 3 spd hub in it... even when it was an SS it seemed on par or a touch heavier) - but, I've ridden Aluminum and still prefer steel even if it is heavier. Further, I don't really make it a point to buy the lightest stuff... brooks saddle, et al.