> For my usage weight savings is secondary to overall durability.
I completely agree with that ! Even when bike touring, weight is so much less important than reliability of your gear... It's particularly surprising and sad to notice that older gear is more reliable and of better quality than most new bikes. I guess some brand still provide super high quality and reliable bicycles, but probably it could be hard to maintain yourself (which is definitely another of my requirements)
I have a newer touring bike with a steel frame. My bike-obsessed friend tells me too that the "ride" on a steel frame is more forgiving — aluminum frames being hard and more inflexible.
At the same time I also picked up a 1980's or 90's era bicycle on Craigslist for $100 that, after new tires/tubes is a great steel bike as well. There's just something about those tube + brazed-lugged bike frames....
I completely agree with that ! Even when bike touring, weight is so much less important than reliability of your gear... It's particularly surprising and sad to notice that older gear is more reliable and of better quality than most new bikes. I guess some brand still provide super high quality and reliable bicycles, but probably it could be hard to maintain yourself (which is definitely another of my requirements)