Hey Sally-
YES I owe you an email!
Anyway, a flat bar road bike is just that... A road bike with 700c wheels, and a flat bar and shifters like a mountain bike.
Imagine a road bike and a mountain bike getting together for some lovin- and that's what results.
When I'm riding her I feel like I'm on my mtn bike- just going really really fast!
I love it.

A couple of funny asides.
I've almost killed myself a couple of times because I think my brakes are on my bar ends. You see I have bullhorns on my tri bike, so I'm used to grabbing for the brakes there...
Also the new bike has 700c wheels and the tri bike has 650's, so I feel like I'm way higher than I should be. And clipping in and out has been a bit sketchy.