Well, ya know that I have the same issue, but just with road bikes -- wondering what I am missing not riding CF, or Ti, or steel. That's why I'm going to actively experiment; I can only learn a thing or two. It's difficult to tell much in a road test -- if you could do a long ride on each bike you wanted to try out, that would be a better test.
Originally Posted by webist
...You are certainly right that a test drive alone still leaves you wondering whether the switch to road is the right thing. Can you rent a road bike for a week or borrow one from a friend? The setup may not be perfect or the same as one you might eventually buy but you should be able to learn a few things that way.