I think a much more important thought is how long you Aluminum frame is going to last. I have heard from unrelated professional sources that aluminum frames have a limited life span. Apparently the aluminum fatigues at any load, so every pedal stroke reduces the life of your frame, where steel, and titanium (not sure about carbon) only fatigue when large loads are placed on the frames that are virtually unattainable in cycling, and then the steel or titanium have a relatively long life even with frequent extreme loads. Aluminum also fails abrubtly, there is no warning to the breaking from feeling alone, it just snaps. Though for the price you can afford to buy a new one every 3-5 years... which is a valid consideration...
I am researching Carbon at the moment however I want the springy qualities of Steel or Ti, and I can flex my steel frame for the poster who says it is not a realistic consideration, it is nice having the stored potential energy in my frame to snap me into the next pedal stroke. I am going to choose steel, the ride qualities are comprable to titanium, and with the product Frame-Saver I will not have to be as concerned with corrosion. With the thousand dollars or so I will save, I am going to invest in clothing, shoes, a few cans of Frame-Saver, and a carbon fork. I have looked at a lot of manufacturers out there!! many many hours of browsing. If you have the budget, I would go with Serotta, Waterford, Sycip, Ti Cycles, Sampson, Steelman, or Seven. I have found Sycip to have great deals on Ti frames!! and the quality of all of these manufacturers is equisite (from what I have seen). I am going with Waterford, or Serotta, at the moment, I am looking into custom frames to treasure for the rest of my long cycling life. Though I am keeping my mind open to as many options as I can wrap my mind and time around. Don't forget fit is more important that any other aspect of the bike, unless your only going to use it for one event, and then I suppose you can endure. Serotta has the best fit experience, from what I have seen and heard.
Jacob.
I am researching Carbon at the moment however I want the springy qualities of Steel or Ti, and I can flex my steel frame for the poster who says it is not a realistic consideration, it is nice having the stored potential energy in my frame to snap me into the next pedal stroke. I am going to choose steel, the ride qualities are comprable to titanium, and with the product Frame-Saver I will not have to be as concerned with corrosion. With the thousand dollars or so I will save, I am going to invest in clothing, shoes, a few cans of Frame-Saver, and a carbon fork. I have looked at a lot of manufacturers out there!! many many hours of browsing. If you have the budget, I would go with Serotta, Waterford, Sycip, Ti Cycles, Sampson, Steelman, or Seven. I have found Sycip to have great deals on Ti frames!! and the quality of all of these manufacturers is equisite (from what I have seen). I am going with Waterford, or Serotta, at the moment, I am looking into custom frames to treasure for the rest of my long cycling life. Though I am keeping my mind open to as many options as I can wrap my mind and time around. Don't forget fit is more important that any other aspect of the bike, unless your only going to use it for one event, and then I suppose you can endure. Serotta has the best fit experience, from what I have seen and heard.
Jacob.