Hi Janet - my vote would be to try the drop bar road bike and see if you like it.

My own experience is that I started out with a heavy hybrid and after I did a ride of 130 kms over a week-end I rushed out and bought a flat bar road bike which was much lighter and more fun. But it didn't give me any more hand positions compared to my hybrid.

Then I tried a drop bar road bike (actually a second hand one that my partner had talked me into buying but which I'd only ridden once because I was too scared of it) and now I love, love, love riding a drop bar. I haven't ridden the flat bar for over 18 months. I now have a new carbon fibre drop bar bike (a Cannondale Synapse Femme 3) and it is a dream to ride. I can vouch for the comfort of drop bar bikes and the ability to move your hands around.

So, you may want to consider a drop bar to avoid that interim step of buying a flat bar then feeling compelled to upgrade again to a drop bar.

I know that lots of people love flat bars and don't subsequently buy a drop bar but since you are already considering it, I think there's a high likelihood that you might only be happy with the flat bar for a while.