Road Cycling - I commute with a road biker/bikes?

I'm waiting here anxiously for spring and thinking bikes! Last year I bought a road bike, and while it's faster, I don't like it as well as my old trusty hybrid.

My problem is I ride in and home (8 miles each way) with my boyfriend, who is over 6', has a road bike and goes very fast. I could never keep up with the hybrid.

I'm 5'5", average height. Any suggestions for comfort (no dropped handlebars, easy to access brakes and shifting, probably more upright position) that would commute me without flat tires and not be so heavy that I can't keep up with him?

Do I want the moon?

Diane

:p

I'm waiting here anxiously for spring and thinking bikes! Last year I bought a road bike, and while it's faster, I don't like it as well as my old trusty hybrid.

My problem is I ride in and home (8 miles each way) with my boyfriend, who is over 6', has a road bike and goes very fast. I could never keep up with the hybrid.

I'm 5'5", average height. Any suggestions for comfort (no dropped handlebars, easy to access brakes and shifting, probably more upright position) that would commute me without flat tires and not be so heavy that I can't keep up with him?

Do I want the moon?

Diane

:p
Everyone is different.. Before I bought my touring bike,I rode into work on my older road bike with a rack with a pack and a backpack.
Can't believe now, it fit all the stuff I carry in a backpack. But, now I ride a touring bike with panniers. I also have a hybrid. To me, I would not dream of long rides with drops..When I take the hybrid on long rides my feet come back killing me and my hands aching.
I find the drops comfortable..Touring bikes geometry is supposed to be more relaxed than a road bike.. As to keeping up with a road bike with anything other than a road bike, I think has a disadvantage. Just curious, have you that much expereince with road bikes.?
I just do not but feel, STI index shifting is the best invention to biking since sliced bread.?

Your boyfriend, that is, needs to ride WITH you and not AWAY from you.
You can make all the technological changes that you want, but good manners are cheaper and do one better in the long run.

You have to ask him - do you want to ride WITH me?
This is not a sacrifice on his part, it's a test. Is speed his priority, or spending time with you?

My husband is not as fit as me, yet when we commute home, it's some of the best times we have together! So what if I don't have to breath hard. I can go hard on my own time.

Probably the best style of bike for fast commuting over 8 miles is a light touring bike. It is like a road bike, but with clearance and fittings for luggage rack, fenders and tougher commuting tyers. They are more agile and lightly built than true touring bikes.
You can get them with flat bars or with drops. Touring drops such as 3TTT Morphe are usually placed in a more relaxed position, and come in small sizes. Shimano brake levers such as Sora are available for smaller hands.


As for makes and models:
You local builder Gunnar makes the Sport road bike, which is just about perfect:
http://www.gunnarbikes.com

See also
http://www.bianchiusa.com/strada.html

Whatever bike you get, ensure a good fit, with correct length as well as height, and components (bars, cranks) sized for you, not Average Male.

Too funny. I never thought of asking him if he wants to ride with me. He thinks it's me, not the bike :-)

I have a "road-type" bike, and they have the shifters on the brakes, but it is uncomfortable for me to ride with my hands leaning on those brakes at the top of the drop handle bars.

My hybrid had a nice flat handle bar, with direct brakes that worked under your hand, and shifters I could use with my first finger. I felt safer that way, able to react quickly to some joker on a skateboard.

But it was really heavy. I could probably go with a lighter framed hybrid and gain a little speed.

Diane

What does anyone know about the trek 7700's? There is also the fx. That looks like a good commuting bike, though the web site doesn't say psi of the tires. I have to assume it's fairly high.

I wonder about the "forgiving" fork? That would probably slow me down too, but sounds comfortable!

Diane

Near me? Hmmm, Waterford. Is this someone who used to work at Trek I wonder?

[QUOTE=dmiller91]Too funny. I never thought of asking him if he wants to ride with me. He thinks it's me, not the bike :-)

Well, yes, it IS you - it's all about you, and your relationship. We all have relationships with whom we ride, be they significant others or perfect strangers. If someone says "I'll ride with you", well, then they should - no half wheeling or drag racing.

Why should you lay out more money? Why can't you be comfortable on your hybrid? Why doesn't HE ride a big fat clunker?

well I do want a new bike, I've broken all the shifters on my hybrid. And I would like a lighter bike! It's very heavy.

:-)

"able to react quickly to some joker on a skateboard."
sounds like they should be more worried about you-
And you should be more worried about cars.

A former skootboarder.

well I do want a new bike, I've broken all the shifters on my hybrid. And I would like a lighter bike! It's very heavy.

:-)

Well, you don't need any excuses to buy a new toy! ;)

What MichaelW said in his post is right - make sure you get a good fit.
STI levers can be clunky for smaller hands, and I consider mine to be on the smaller side (hand stretched open 8" thumb to pinky ?). Get a handlebar with a short reach and shallow drop.

sorry skootboarder. It seems there is always someone to offend. It isn't really the skateboarders that scare me, it's the women and baby carriages that are out on the bike trail at 5 pm.

And yes, I am

How who did I offend? :-)

without knowning you if you are wanting something that can take larger tires (greater the 25C) you could like into something like Felts SR71
www.feltracing.com/2004_bikes/sr71.html
I am not exactly sure if that has what you are looking for, but I just thought that I would throw that out for you as another option

Wow! That one's cool! I love this forum :-)

so how do you guys find these bikes? Seems like you can't find any of the suggested ones in Madison, even though we are a bicycling town? I did dealer search on their manufacturer's site, and then when I find Madison, WI, the dealer sells only the bmx Felt for example.

Too funny. I never thought of asking him if he wants to ride with me. He thinks it's me, not the bike :-)

I have a "road-type" bike, and they have the shifters on the brakes, but it is uncomfortable for me to ride with my hands leaning on those brakes at the top of the drop handle bars.

My hybrid had a nice flat handle bar, with direct brakes that worked under your hand, and shifters I could use with my first finger. I felt safer that way, able to react quickly to some joker on a skateboard.

But it was really heavy. I could probably go with a lighter framed hybrid and gain a little speed.

Diane

Keep the road bike and add the "cross" type bar top brake levers to it. You'll still have the fast riding road bike and the versatility of at least three hand positions.

What does anyone know about the trek 7700's? There is also the fx. That looks like a good commuting bike, though the web site doesn't say psi of the tires. I have to assume it's fairly high.

I wonder about the "forgiving" fork? That would probably slow me down too, but sounds comfortable!

Diane

Hi Diane --

If you do decide to go with a light hybrid, then the Trek 7700 and 7700fx are both great commute bikes. Since you seem to be leaning toward speed rather than off-road capability, you might be quite happy with the 7700fx. As you probably gathered, the main difference between them is that the 7700fx has no front suspension. This saves you weight (and cash) and brings the handling and performance closer to that of a road bike.

I've been riding a 7500fx, which is a similar design to the 7700fx but with less expensive components, for several years now. I've been impressed; it's got far more speed than I expected from a hybrid (though still slower than even a casual road bike) and it's reliable and surefooted on commutes through debris-choked roads in a thunderstorm. It makes a decent touring machine too; handles well under a heavy load and is comfortable on long days of riding.

The gearing is great for loaded climbing, not so great for top-end speed. But unless your commute involves barrelling down long hills, you won't need extreme high gears anyway. Ah, and you asked about tire pressure...that'd be around 80 psi.

Another line of hybrids you might want to look at are Felt's SR series. I've never ridden one, but even more than the Trek fx models, they seem designed for near-road-bike speed and performance.

Hope the quest for the perfect bike goes well!

Have fun,
- Paul

You should be able to set up a road bike so it will be MORE comfortable then a hybrid not less so.

You talked about not being comfortable with your hands on the top of the brake hoods. That is where most road bike riders ride with their hands most of the time. Now, road bikes are dominated by a racer mentality. Often you will get set up at a bike shop with the handle bar really low. I think the pros tend to ride with the handle bars about 5" lower then the top of the saddle. Ordinary recreational riders tend to ride with the bars anywhere from 2" lower then the top of the saddle to about 1" higher then the top of the saddle. You might try changing the stem on your road bike to raise the handlebars and bring them in a bit so you can ride a more upright position. It does not take much of a change to make a BIG difference in comfort.

You can try it. It doesn't cost much to swap out the stem and it is a whole bunch less expensive then buying a new bike.

Hi,
It sounds like you want a new bike. The first step is deciding on the type. I ride a light touring bike similar to the Gunnar Sport mentioned above (the Sport is a genuine pleasure to ride, you ought to try one).....and my wife has the Strada mentioned above. The Strada has the seating postion of a hybrid, but it is light, quick, and agile. I had the bike shop put better wheels and a nice seat on it; but it is a nice bike. A couple of points, a touring bike that fits you will have a seating position halfway between a road bike and a hybrid. The position is similar to a crouch. When you crouch, you lean forward a little.
It is the MOST comfy sort of bike if it's set up correctly. I also use shock absorbing tape on the handlebar, and the best saddles money can buy. That's the good news. The bad news is you have to go find one that will fit. That may take some doing. You will find older discussions in the Women's forum about finding good bikes. They are worth a read. Good luck.
You're gonna love your new bike. If you don't, don't buy it.

so how do you guys find these bikes? Seems like you can't find any of the suggested ones in Madison, even though we are a bicycling town? I did dealer search on their manufacturer's site, and then when I find Madison, WI, the dealer sells only the bmx Felt for example.

If you have not already, then could ask the Felt BMX dealer if he could/would order you a SR71, if that is what you deside
That is currently Felt's problem, there just are not as many dealers around that carry them, but they (Felt) makes a great product, and I am pleased with mine
You might also look around for other companies that make road bikes with the flat handle bars, or you could look into changing your current bike to flats (but that will effect your braking having MTB levers on road calipers, talk to someone else before you do it to see what kind of effect that will have)
I hope this helps

dmiller91,

Check out Fuji's "Forza" series or Specialized "Sirrus" as well as Trek.
These offer lightweight frames with 700c tires with flat bars. Both show dealers in Madison on their websites.

duck

sorry skateboarder. It seems there is always someone to offend. It isn't really the skateboarders that scare me, it's the women and baby carriages that are out on the bike trail at 5 pm.

And yes, I am

How who did I offend? :-)

Oh don't mind me, I forgot the smile icon.
I just think with the traffic issues with cars, a skateboarder is the least of any worries.
Skateboarders have an even WORSE time with cars, it includes being driven off the road by cagers. And because they are generally youth, people think they have no rights.
2 times I had been driven at by cars, once with acceleration to about 70 mph and crossing of lanes!
( I skated the road. )
In a large city a skateboard is a very valid form of transport for youth, ride-on the bus-ride-throw it in your locker.
I was I guess surprised that a bike enthusiasts would be worried, or acting superior to skating or another sport.
I'm sure there are fools on skateboards too, never worried about hitting them though ( I don't ride sidewalks.) and if they are on the road -no prob.
A lot of people think of skating as a hobby, it's a sport, and a means of transport for a million kids.

I guess I really do want a new bike, a decent one, that I can keep for a while. Given that it is probably worth the drive to find some of these bikes, like Felt, Bianchi and Gunnar. Obviously Trek is no problem in Madison, WI. It sounds like a fast hybrid is what I want, with the more comfortable upright position. I do spend 16 miles on it every day, most usually at just an average pace. It's fun to kick it into gear from time to time though. Where I live, we do have some steep hills, so gearing is an issue too. Right outside my house, there is a huge climb just outside my door, sigh.

If I did go the route of ordering from the dealer directly, don't I miss the "getting it set up right" part? Much less the try it part.

Diane

p.s. I have actually not yet met a skateboarder on our bike trails, a lot of rollerbladers though. And runners. It's the walkers that walk 3 abreast that scare me. Oh, and loose dogs.

A bell RING RING is a nice way to get em' in line.
Or scream "I got no brakes!" hehe.
Hope you solved you brake lever position prob.
Jef.

okay, here's a weird one. I stopped by Trek and took a look today. Looks like what I bought last year wasn't REALLY a road bike. It's Trek hybrid frame, decked out with drop handle bars, pretending to be a road bike. Is that too weird or what? I'm uncomfortable on it, he fit me to it though, and I think it may just be that I like a more upright position. this preference will probably always keep me from being fast......

I do so want to be a real road biker though! :-)

I'm suspicious of those women onlly designs, at 5'5" I think I'm formed about like a smaller male, nothing too weird there.

Diane

I saw those brake levers too, their cool. I like that.

I didn't have room for a bell, once I got my odometer and my light on it. On my old bike I had room for all three! What do you do with crowded handlebar space!

I'm uncomfortable on it, he fit me to it though, and I think it may just be that I like a more upright position. this preference will probably always keep me from being fast...I do so want to be a real road biker though!

Diane, Leaving aerodynamics out of it for a sec:

I came from mountain biking to road biking and thought I would really hate the position. While at first I thought an upright position was more comfortable, once I did some excercises to strengthen my core muscles (abs/back) and arms—and did some stretching—I found that the roadie position was actually MORE comfortable than sitting upright. The upright position of a hybrid can put too much compression pressure on a straighter spine (and butt!) while a curved back road position handles bumps better and is being supported by the arms. If the uncomfortableness is in the saddle area then an angle can be adjusted or better saddle selected.

Just my .02

Thanks for that. I'm going to wait until this load of snow melts then go test Trek Road and hybrid. I used to ride a road bike all the time and I LOVED it! But that was ummmm..... 20 years ago. sigh. I easily road 20 miles every day. Why did I sell it????

When I moved to WI I bought a hybrid because of all the gravel trails. Now I don't ride on those at all, I ride the paved roads to work.

About about a backpack/panniers? Do the road bikers just sling a backpack on their back? I've done both, I hate a backpack, but I find the bike's a little more responsive.

Diane

Keep the old hybrid. I too have a hybrid (and a cyclocross: closer to a roadster in geometry). I converted the hybrid into a range bike. Assuming your hybrid has 700s, you can go to a narrow tire and throw on some full-wrapping bar-ends (cover up the bar ends with bar tape for comfort). You can also move the flat bar at any angle for comfort. I also added fenders, lights, and a rack for winter commuting. But in the summer, all the extras will come off. I can ride 20-30 miles comfortably; although you may want to continually shift hand positions; mine would get a little numb after an hour of continuous riding. (This is why some recommend the drops.)

Cheers,

Urbanmonk

my old hybrid is HEAVY. Don't you get jealous of the new aluminum bikes? I have a lot of hills, and the weight makes a huge difference.

dmiller91,
You have a point about the weight. My hybrid weighs 42 lbs., while my cyclocross weighs not quite 21 lbs.--less than half. If anything, you will get a "screaming" workout with the hybrid--I know I do. Shop around and see what's out there. Good luck!

Urbanmonk :D

I'm all set to try the Gunnar sport. I'm still looking for Bianchi in my area. trek is cool, but it looks like you have to pay a lot for it...

The more I think about it, the less a hybrid appeals, and the more a right fitting touring/sport type road bike seems.

I want to be able to do some speed and distance, as well as get to work on it every day. I'm not going to be racing anytime soon, so something between hybrid and race bike will likely work.

I'll keep my hybrid and use it for the gravel bike trails.

another question. Why are most of the touring bikes chrome/moly? Is this because it is more durable for touring? I like the light weight aluminum, but it doesn't seem to exist in what Trek and Bianchi market as "touring bikes"?

another question. Why are most of the touring bikes chrome/moly? Is this because it is more durable for touring? I like the light weight aluminum, but it doesn't seem to exist in what Trek and Bianchi market as "touring bikes"?

It could be a durability thing but I think it has alot to do with comfort. Steel is known to be a bit more compliant than aluminum over the long haul. A nice light, stiff aluminum frame is great for climbing but can be too stiff for some people. I've heard others swear their aluminum frames were just as comfortable as steel--It can be an endless argument.

I wouldn't worry too much about weight unless your racing or doing some steep climbs. Maybe check in on the touring threads for more info from those guys.

Your boyfriend, that is, needs to ride WITH you and not AWAY from you.
You can make all the technological changes that you want, but good manners are cheaper and do one better in the long run.

You have to ask him - do you want to ride WITH me?
This is not a sacrifice on his part, it's a test. Is speed his priority, or spending time with you?

My husband is not as fit as me, yet when we commute home, it's some of the best times we have together! So what if I don't have to breath hard. I can go hard on my own time.

I am in the exact situation you are in dmiller91 except I am the boyfriend. My girl friend has a hybrid that she wants to give up and she is thinking of getting a cyclocross bike. They are the best all round bikes imo. She wants to race it in the fall and tour/commute in the warm weather. A cx biike w/ a triple and the proper braze ons for racks is a great choice.

She's got a Treck 'something or other model' hybrid and the thing weighs a ton. imo they are just bad ideas. They have such a laid back geometry that you get no efficiency. I commute w/ a touring bike w 25c tires on it. I think she has 38's and they simply stick to the road. It's not about our relationship, which is very strong, that I find myself 500 ft in front of her strolling down the road, it's about physics. Especially on the sub-flats I mean I don't even pedal and she's cranking away out of breath b/c of the bike. She's noticed this trying to ride w/ her girl friends too on the bike path to the mall.

hey, thanks for that input! I hear you 100%. I think my hybrid is big and clunky too. He's asked me if something is wrong with me, and I know he doesn't do that to be funny or mean. He just can't understand why it is so hard for me, and so effortless for him.

Now when I look at bikes, I'm wondering, what is the difference between a road bike (his) and a touring bike (recommended for me by various people)? Will he still kick my butt, or less noticeably? One thing I find odd about the touring bikes, is that it's hard to find as nice a one (cool wheels, spokes, aluminum) as you can a road bike. Just an observation, no I'm not made of money.

Diane

Touring bikes were the thing in the 80's. Then mtb's got big and kind of changed the market. So tourers died off a bit. I guess people thought they could outfit mtb's like a tourer but imo they cannot. I have a 83 nashbar touring bike. It's a great bike. Steel cro mo tange 2 frame. I am sure it weighs a bit more than AL but probly not so much as to be concerned. I understand that many people say steel is a more cozy ride? I don't know? I think the geometry of the touring bike lends to it's ride quality as well. The wheel base is long so it is very stable when carying weight. I rode centuries on this bike in 5 hrs 15 min so speed is not a problem. The tire size has a lot to do with that. But so these days you can still get a touring bike. You may want to check out REI's web site. If you got lots of cash check out Rivendells and other custom shops. Else I really would suggest the Cyclocross bikes. Cx bikes are definatly gonna be light weight because you have to run with the bike and lift it etc... They will make a great comuter, decent short term 'credit card' tourer but probably not a long haul loaded tourer. BUt if you want the cx bike to tour with I would reccomend a triple crank and definatly the braze on eyelets at least on the rear for rack mounts.Good luck

oh NO! Another bike type. What is a cyclocross? I can't believe how much I don't know, and I HAVE toured! I used to have a Nishiki Competition that I paid about $300 for, 25 years ago, and I loved it!

Of course it's long gone. It was very cool though, a TON lighter than my old Schwinn.

The intrigue with aluminum for me is that whole nonrust factor. Maybe bikes don't rust much?

oh NO! Another bike type. What is a cyclocross? I can't believe how much I don't know, and I HAVE toured! I used to have a Nishiki Competition that I paid about $300 for, 25 years ago, and I loved it!

Of course it's long gone. It was very cool though, a TON lighter than my old Schwinn.

The intrigue with aluminum for me is that whole nonrust factor. Maybe bikes don't rust much?

Here's the perfect bike for you (after you add the cyclocross bar top brake levers).
http://www.bianchiusa.com/volpe.html

Cyclocross is a type of off-road racing with bikes that are typically "road" style bikes but with cantilever brakes and a higher bottom bracket. I think the Volpe is good balance between full Cyclocross geometry and touring geometry. It also has rack eyelets that don't usually come on full Cyclocross frames.

Get the cyclocross for an all purpose bike. Most weigh around 19-20 lbs.--like a road.They allow for narrow or wider tires, too. Most are designed to take fenders and racks for the winter, if you want to use it for a commuter. Light enough for road work, durable enough for cyclocross racing. An all purpose bike. I bought a Cannondale Cyclocross 800. But I also liked the Kona "Jake the Snake." I got the Cannondale for $300 less than the Kona. Good luck!

Urbanmonk

Touring bikes look trad rather than cool, because tourists need a fixable bike, even more than a reliable one. Modern carbon-spoke wheels may be strong and reliable, but when they break, you are stuffed. For a racer, you wait for the sag wagon. Not an option for a self-sufficient tourer.

Steel is still a good material, and it is easier for small workshops to handle. Bikes can be customized in size and fittings with relative ease using workshop methods, rather than factory methods. Tourists tend to customise more than other types of cyclist. You can also alter the bike post-sale. I have some braze-ons added to my steel frame.
The modern cx bikes are really cx/tourer "hybrids" rather than pure cx racing bikes. Pure cx are very light, and lack any useful frame-fittings, which trap mud.

Loaded touring bikes, sport bikes and CX all work as general purpose commuter hacks. As long as you can fit a 28mm tyres, they will all do the job in a simialr manner. What varies is how else they can be used.

oh NO! Another bike type. What is a cyclocross? I can't believe how much I don't know, and I HAVE toured! I used to have a Nishiki Competition that I paid about $300 for, 25 years ago, and I loved it!

Of course it's long gone. It was very cool though, a TON lighter than my old Schwinn.

The intrigue with aluminum for me is that whole nonrust factor. Maybe bikes don't rust much?

Sorry for some reason I thought you knew what I ment. duh ;) Yea CX goes way back in European tradition. Old school CX bikes was nothing but your road bike fitted with fatter knoby tires. The races are some of the funnest events I've ever been to. Fun to watch and fun to race. Anyway you can read a short history here:
http://www.hickoksports.com/history/cyclocross.shtml
and get some gear suggestions and more info here:
http://www.cyclocrossworld.com/

So since the old days they have started making true CX bikes which are stripped down versions of a road bike. The less weight the better cause u gotta lift it and run with it a lot. But a lot of them do keep in mind that the CX bike will be used for other things and come with rack braze eyelets cte... Just make sure you ask. A good tourer might be your style too b/c you really want this thing for commuting. With racks and panniers you can go get groceries go to school go lots of places and guess what you can CX with a tourer too. Is this getting too complicated :) anyway good luck. I imagine in WI you are in no hurry anyway this time of year...

ps my old steel tourer is 21 years old now and it has a tiny bit of rust on it. I plan on taking care of that soon. But I would'nt count rust in as a reason not to buy a bike? Mabey I am wrong though???

Well I went and looked at Gunnar Sport at noon, and that looks like a nice bike. We do have crappy weather right now, so I couldn't ride anything. But I think that could be a good bike for me. It looks like you said, a road/touring bike that can accomodate a fatter tire if need be. I like that it's built here in WI, and they were willing to build it up any way I want. I thought that was cool.

I'm going to go back and ride one (in a few weeks :-) ) when it's warmer.

Diane

Hi,
I think you will like the ride. If you get one, have them put 2 sets of brakes on it. I did that on mine, and think it's great. Also, while I like Gunnars a lot, to get that price they do an incomplete paint job. Spend the extra $$ and get a Waterford paint job on it. It is very much worth it.

Many, many, many people start off with a hybrid. It feels more comfortable. But,,,,once they start riding, they find that they can't keep up on club rides, or rides with other people. AND, once they start longer distances, the hybrids are not comfortable. I am 46 and like many thought road bikes were a thing of the past. I am so much more comfortable on a road bike. I can shift around on the seat and change my weight from hands to butt area on long distances. Save yourself some money and buy a mid-price road bike from the start. If you have already been a cyclist, you will be one again in 2-3 months.

So, so true. Some peoples don't need to be told, some do.
I say, put him on a mountain bike, or at least some knobbies. :)



Your boyfriend, that is, needs to ride WITH you and not AWAY from you.
You can make all the technological changes that you want, but good manners are cheaper and do one better in the long run.

You have to ask him - do you want to ride WITH me?
This is not a sacrifice on his part, it's a test. Is speed his priority, or spending time with you?

My husband is not as fit as me, yet when we commute home, it's some of the best times we have together! So what if I don't have to breath hard. I can go hard on my own time.

Lots of good comments here. I probably won't have much more that is original to contribute. I ride a road bike and a hybrid (Trek 7500fx, 700x38 w/ 100psi tires). I would consider touring on the hybrid, probably with 28 tires @ 120psi. I added bar ends on the flat bars to give me more hand positions, as on the road bike. My road bike is a racing machine, not something I would tour on. But drop handlebars can be pretty comfortable due to the versatility of the hand positions. But with something like Cane Creek bar ends, the hybrid ride is darn comfortable too. Hybrid is just more versatile for different surfaces, i.e, pavement, gravel, light trail.

Adding the safety brake levers as shown by someone is an easily achieved suggestion for your roadie. Also, however, you might look at a Specialized Sequoia road bike. It is a fast, comfortable machine with a longer wheelbase, adjustable handlebar, safety brake levers, road bike gearing, a more upright position, and VERY fast and light ride. Would make a good touring bike too.

If you keep your hybrid, you could switch to narrower, higher pressure tires for less rolling resistance, an adjustable stem and bar ends, and get yourself a rigid fork of chromoly or carbon (if yours is suspension) to make for a pretty versatile machine. I even added the Specialized suspension road seatpost to my 7500fx. It has front and rear pannier eyelets too. If I tour, I'm going to do it on my Trek 7500fx, not my Specialized Allez.

Another point is that not ALL "hybrids" are "clunky" and heavy and slow. Note the Trek 7500/7700fx, Specialized Sirrus, and others. I am leaning forward on my hybrid as on the roadie, same saddle, same set-up for fit. Not the same gearing, obviously, but on 700cc wheelset (Bontrager Selects, same as on a road bike). All of these features make a big difference as to how one experiences a "hybrid" ride. I can kick some pretty good roadie butt on my Trek when I get moving along! :)