The main difference to me wasn't the weight but the stiffness (I always ride with one hand on my saddle handle to pull up whenever I need sudden strong pedalling force downwards). With an aluminum fork I was able to switch to much shorter cranks: every time I accelerate or idle with more leg power than possible without pulling against with my hand, there's no flex anymore - just direct response :) Verdict: If you ride most of the time sitting with both arms out for balance, steel forks are more comfortable. If you ride fast on grumpy terrain, where you have to stand up and generally ride more standing up with bend legs to absorb impacts, aluminum is better. Best example: try to ride up a hill you thought would be impossible. Stand up, do pedal strokes from level pedals to level pedals (like on a stepper training machine) and at the same time pull up your saddle handle every pedal stroke while stabilizing your body in a way that your hips don't get in front of your inner balance point (avoid limbo dancing move). On such very steep hill climbs you will gratefully use an aluminum frame :)

Thanks for the reply, I ride mostly hands out on my muni but trying to train myself to hold the seat instead, so I guess at the moment steel is best with possible change in the near future

@@nick_gauntlett exactly. Keep on going 👍

I already tried - but less than 1.8 bars I'm using result in the rim hitting the ground while jumping or riding over roots with speed...