How's this for crazy/brave...I purchased my first road bike without having ever ridden a single road bike and with very little cycling experience, period. I have a ton of trust in our LBS owner, though, since he's a personal friend and has a very dedicated clientele.

It's been a really positive experience. Those first few rides were scary as hell (wow, does a road bike feel different than a heavy, steel, low-rent Schwinn mtn. bike). But the bike was well fit for me (though I am now on a "men's" frame, which is better for my short legs and long torso) and it wasn't long before I was fully comfortable and no longer feeling the least bit unstable. In fact, it wasn't long before hubby and I realized that I was ready for a bike with even more aggressive geometry.

I think that short of flexibility issues that nearly anyone can be comfortable on a drop-bar'd bike...it just takes time to become accustomed to the different posture. It's nice having such a variety of hand positions and shifting that takes no more than a press of a finger.