Hiya,

I rode my trusty Trek hybrid for about 8 years, and just got my first road bike a month or so ago. My experience:

My road bike actually feels just as stable as a hybrid. As far as speed goes, if I didn't think about it on my hybrid and I was doing a long flat ride, I'd go about 12 mph. On my road bike, IT goes at about 18 mph on the flat- it just feels like it goes without me doing much! I know that sounds weird, but the increase in speed w/o additional effort is nuts. Also, I had a horrible time on hills with my hybrid, though I did them out of necessity because of where I live. It is so much easier with the road bike. I'm both faster on the hills (although still really slow relatively speaking), and can keep going much longer. I think it's more a function of the skinny tires and less rolling resistance than anything else (although my road bike is 10 lbs lighter than my hybrid).

The only downside of the road bike that I've found is that my saddle cuts off all circulation to my genitals (I'm getting a new saddle). Never had saddle problems with the hybrid.

Anyway, if you want to go faster and do hills more, it will be easier on a road bike (as long as you get a decent one that fits you).

-Amy