More test rides, and a steel option.

[jdubble]

My steel bikes are certainly not light as compared to my friends' carbon race bikes, but are crazy comfortable and I can keep up just fine on long rides with them. When you say you want to increase your speed, how fast are you averaging now? I have no problem maintaining 20-22 mph on the flats on my steel bikes. Hills, I'm slow, but that's really less the bike weight and more just me not being a great hill climber.

[IBrakeforPastry]

The nearest Jamis dealer is about 60 miles away, and it's not actually on the way to anywhere, so I would have to make a special trip.

My current speed? It's hard to say. I work in the afternoon, so I like to do morning rides and not have to rush to get to work. I try to average about 12 mph on the hilly route, and of course faster on the flatter route. Both routes involve some neighborhood riding and I really do slow down for stop signs. I just think of how much time I have to ride, and let's go!

[Crankin]

My son did just fine racing on his steel Serotta... since he was ranked the #5 junior in the USA that year, I think one needs to be careful you are comparing apples to apples. A steel road bike, with road bike geometry is probably not the same as a steel Surley that is more relaxed, etc. I had a steel Jamis Coda, which was awesome, but it was not the same as my road bikes, and it felt like a tank, though plush.
My other son is now riding the Serotta, and he is fast.