I'm almost the exact same age and have not ridden for 15 years. Never was an endurance person either, just bike paths with the kids. I just got a Specialized Sirrus Comp. It's very light (alu with carbon fork, seat stays) and has 28 slick tires that are as close to road bike tires as you can get on a hybrid. Flat handlebar is comfy. My husband is a Lance Armstrong wannabe who is super fast and can climb but when test riding he had to work to keep up with this bike unless he was on a road bike. I can easily go 13-14 average and I've had it for 6 weeks, only riding 3X per week at 3.5 - 10 mi each time (pathetic). We also just dusted of our 1994 road tandem and are giving that a try so we can go longer distances when we want to. It's much easier for me, but a tandem is work in and of itself just to learn how to coordinate. Give a smooth-tired light flat bar road bike a try, it's a more relaxed feel than a road bike and more stable feeling to me. Then maybe rent a decent tandem for a whole weekend and put it thought it's paces (road tandem). Good luck!