When you're buying a new bike, the frame material is an important consideration. Often, much of the cost of the bike as a whole is determined by the material used in its construction, and while you want the lightest bike you can find, you must also be able to afford it. When you get up to the higher price range, your frame debate is between titanium and carbon fiber. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, but ultimately, it depends upon how you ride.
Material vs.Use of Material
So much of what makes one material superior to another is subjective, and if you ask fellow cyclists their preferences, you'll hear responses like "carbon fiber feels dead," or "titanium has too much flex." The truth is that much of the riding experience comes not from the material itself, but from the way the designer uses it in the construction of the frame. The thickness of the tubing, the butting methods, molding and welding play into the feeling of the bike much more than the actual metal. Different riders need different things, so talk to someone at your bike shop for a detailed explanation of what you should look for.
Titanium
Titanium tubes can be cut to any length, so you'll find a better size variety. The tubes themselves can be made any number of ways, resulting in different amounts of flex -- very high end bike makers can even customize the flex to the rider. As a whole, titanium's flex capacity is much greater than carbon fiber -- so great, that sometimes the metal itself is used as a shock absorber. Titanium is the hardest metal, and as such, makes the most durable bike frame. If you ride hard trails, titanium will stand up to the impact and torsion forces better than carbon fiber and wont show wear as quickly. It's also corrosion-resistant, which is better for foul-weather riders.
Carbon Fiber
Carbon fiber's molding process makes it expensive to manufacture a variety of sizes, so you will be limited in choice. If you are investing in a fully-custom bike, carbon fiber is the way to go; the frame can be designed to ride exactly how you'd like it to by altering the way the carbon fiber is formed. If you are purchasing a mass-produced model, however, beware -- the tiniest inconsistency in the carbon fabrication can cause weak points that will wear to failure in time. If you care about external wear, carbon fiber is not for you -- it scratches easily, so if you ride trails or travel with your bike, carbon fiber will show it sooner than titanium.
Hybrid Blends
If you're looking to invest in the ultimate bike that will suit your ride for decades, some custom frame makers are using titanium/carbon fiber blends. They design the frame in such a way that they are able to use the lightness of carbon fiber and the flex and variability of titanium seamlessly within the same tube -- strength where you need it, lightness where it counts. The combination of the two materials results in a bike that, done well, can feel like an extension of your body. The technology doesn't come cheap, with even mass-produced models retailing for over $5,000, but it may be worth it for serious riders.
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