I am very new to the cycling community. My husband talked me into getting a bike earlier this year - 2013 Specialized Vita Elite. I am really enjoying cycling, much more than I thought I would.

The dilemma is that I have recently started going on 20+ mile group rides and at times I am tiring out easily because one gear is too hard and one is too easy leaving me spinning (I stay in the harder gear and am just trying to work on my endurance to help me get through). This usually occurs on inclines, but I also struggle at higher speeds when my quads start to get tired. There is just no in between in the gears on my bike. I am hearing that I am going to need to invest in a road bike if I want to be able to keep up and train better on the group rides. I am also looking into doing sprint triathlons.

Since I have worked up to 25 miles faster than I thought I would, I guess my goal would be to ride a half century by spring 2014.

So here are my questions:
1. Should I invest now in a road bike? Or should I wait longer and train on my hybrid for a longer period of time? I don't want to buy the wrong bike. I LOVE my Vita, but I'm just not sure it is right for me going forward based on what others are telling me.

2. What level of road bike should I look at when I do consider this purchase? I tested the Specialized Ruby and Amira at my LBS in the parking lot, and the Amira "felt" better in that short timeframe, but I am concerned with buying the "racing" bike over the "endurance" bike. I am never going to race. I want to be able to ride longer and at a faster pace than I can today. LBS said that the Amira looked like a better fit for me, but I am so new to this that I really don't know what to look for. I am concerned with the stiffer frame and less overall comfort that is apparently the difference between the Amira and the Ruby. Hubby also said I should look at Trek, but I have not tried that yet.

I want to make sure that I put the right time into this decision so that I do not regret it. Any help is greatly appreciated.