New at Tri Training...Discouraged about bike :(

[Tri Girl]

keep at it, teawoman! The right bike will make ALL the difference!!!! I've never ridden a hybrid, but rode my mtn bike when I first started (I'm sure they are similar in weight and speed). My mtn bike had regular pedals. I would make it around our lake (9.5 miles) in an hour and 10 min. When I bought a road bike (and clipless pedals) that dropped to 43 min. And now on my tri bike I can do that same distance in about 34 minutes. What a difference a bike makes!!!
If you can, I would encourage you to look at a road bike- and clipless pedals aren't as scary as they may seem. It's amazing the difference you get when clipped in. I'm about as clumsy as they come, but I practiced unclipping a lot before I hit the road, and now I'm as smooth and steady as ever. You'll fall (everybody does), but then you get cool scars and scratches to show off.

My Giant OCR1 is a size XS (I'm barely 5'3" with short stumpy legs) and it fits amazingly well. I'm selling her for very cheap if you're interested (not that I'm trying to pawn her off on you- just throwing it out there).
Check out other road bikes for sure. It's truly amazing how many choices there are out there. So many different fits and so many different kinds of bikes to choose from.

Let us know how you're doing!!!!