Speed is just a question of money...How fast do you want to go? LOL

Seriously you need to really think about the riding style you are likely to gravitate to. If you are looking for a leisurely pace that Trek Belleville is really nice. With the flat of MI the 3 speed should do fine and it is a big plus in the winters. That bike you are going to be going 10-12mph max. The down side is hand positions are very limited and you are stuck in a very upright and non aerodynamic position when you are fighting a head wind. This will also hold true with Hybrids and Mountains.

A drop bar road bike you get more hand positions but more of a hunched over riding positions. Touring bikes would be the most relaxed where a the top of the bars will near the seat hight like a mountain but fighting a head wild you can get in the drops and significantly reduce your aerodynamic drag. The faster the bike the lower the bars.

I started out with a cheap Mountain with front suspension Went to a Rigid mountain and swapped the handle bars 3 times trying to make it comfy for my 4.3 mile commute and long weekend rides. Settled on Trekking bars but it still didn't fix the head wind problem.

I wasn't lookign to do weekend crits but I was looking to do long weekend rides and finally gravitated to Touring frames. When I am just putting around riding I can be up on the tops. Normal ride where I am making decent time I am on the hoods and when I need to cheat the wind on the down hills or windy days into the drops. My Average speed on my Commute is about 16mph on a hilly route but I do push reasonably hard for the exercise. In the flats I am running 20-22mph. In afternoon traffice it only takes me 5 minutes longer by bike then car.

Good luck with your search!