I am buying my first "high-end" road bike and was hoping to get folks thoughts with respect to frame choice. I am fortunate enough to be getting a good deal, so cost is not as big an factor as it might otherwise be in this situation. Most of my riding has been mountain biking in the west and now I'm a flatlander and am taking up the roads and triathlons.

I am trying to choose between an alloy frame with CF fork (with mostly an Ultegra set) and a carbon fiber frame (with 105 or maybe Centaur if I can swing it).

I am 6'3" about 210 and don't have a lot of road experience. Most folks I have spoken with have told me to go with the alloy and the better components, but I recently spoke with a couple guys from bike manufacturers and the were steering me toward the CF. The weight difference between all the options is under a pound. My biggest issues are durability (both normal stresses and crashes) of the CF, ride/feel differences and the value of the better components.

Any and all thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks.