maryellen -
the road bike is a whole different feel. i'd suggest start out cheap. dont spend the bucks til you know if youre gonna like it. latelatebloomer was right on, get someone's starter bike, set it up like a hybrid, with low seat-high bars, then as you ride more start raising the seat a little at a time and lowering the bars a little at a time. make sure the seat is comfy. it takes your body a while to adjust to the riding position, but for longer rides it's well worth it. it's not just going faster, it's the efficiency, you get more power out of your legs with much less effort. ok, it is about going faster.