Thanks for the input, Twinkie, your post was very helpful.

I rode a Giant OCR 1 (they didn't have the OCR 3 in a medium frame) and the Giant FCR 3 tonight. Both of them shifted sweet and I could tell they were much faster than my heavy, clunky hybrid. I definitely felt more comfortable on the FCR 3. It was an adjustment in position, but I think I would get used to it fairly quickly. I liked the shifting and the hand position with the flat handlebars. The saddle wasn't very comfortable.

The OCR 1 was very different. My back hurt, the girly parts hurt and the hand position felt very strange. It would definitely be a challenge to adjust to riding that bike. I felt like I was stretching my arms out to an unusual position. I didn't have any trouble reaching the brakes -- the LBS owner assured me that bike size was right for me. It just felt strange. He also told me that I was trying to sit upright too much. that I needed to position myself so my spine was in alignment more. Which put even more pressure on the girly parts.

He asked about the riding I was doing/intended to do. He said that I was stretching the limits of the FCR 3. He told me I should consider the OCR 1

So, I definitely haven't fallen in love with one of the Giants. I could sure get used to the FCR 3 pretty quickly, I'm just not sure it's what I want. The OCR with the drop handlebars would be much more of an adjustment. But, what I don't want to do is to get a bike just because it is closer to my comfort zone, then decide a road bike is the one I should have chosen. I also don't want to get a bike that puts me in pain every time I ride. Or, maybe I'd be better off going with the middle of the road bike, then planning to move up to a road bike again in a couple of years???

I'm hoping that one of the bikes I try out on Saturday will speak to me!