Geared road bike on cycle scheme

Well, the idea was to get good quality derailleurs as every geared bike i've had, they're the first to malfunction. So the thinking was pay for an alu frame with better components rather than a carbon frame which would probably compromise components at my price point.

In addition to seconding Hippy's points, it's also worth understanding that carbon is not necessarily better than aluminium at the lower end of the market. I'd take a decent Alu frame over a cheap carbon any day. And indeed have - I recently dropped over £500 on a decent Alu frame to be my "fast" bike.

Stick with alu, and get the best you can (subject to fit, of course). Best in terms of frame means it might be one or more of: lighter; stiffer in the right places (and thus better handling); more comfortable. Not all aluminium frames are equal, far from it! Once you've settled on the frame, match the components to your budget.