I have a trek 7.7fx , which is pretty much a road bike with a flat bar. I can't do the drops because of a shoulder injury and the fact that I'm relatively, or actually a whole lot, uncoordinated. Three of my favorite bike stores have assured me I'm riding the best thing for me. I have done 10 centuries on a hybrid bike. I would like to be faster but the bike people say it's the rider, not the bike. I like the super tough wheels it has on our horrible roads. It's indestructible, and fairly light actually. Every once in a while I get an urge to try a "real" road bike but it passes.