Should I buy aluminum or carbon for my first road bike?

Reviewer consensus is that aluminum bikes like the Tommaso Imola are more forgiving for first-time buyers: cheaper, durable, and easy to live with. Carbon options like the SAVADECK lineup deliver lower weight and vibration damping, but community threads repeatedly caution that cheap carbon can be 'overbuilt,' heavy at the wheels, and dependent on good assembly. If you're unsure you'll stick with the sport, several reddit threads suggest starting cheaper.