A cyclocross bike might be the ticket.

It's the original "hybrid" (a term I find kinda lame) bike.

A lot of people think the drop bars my be uncomfortable. I answer the drop bars have all the hand placement of flat bars plus bullhorn bars out on the hoods and a place to duck down into when going into the wind.

I bought a hybrid bike with flat bars and found my wrists and hands got numb really quickly. I added bar grips and that helped somewhat. Eventually I realized I am more comfortable with my wrists turned in and put some mustache bars (like beach cruiser bars sort of) on it and that works. But for real comfort it's drop bars.

Here are some links for you:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_bicycle_types

http://www.jimlangley.net/crank/howtobuyabike1.html

http://bike-manual.com/brands/trek/o...hoose_bike.htm

My suggestion of a cross bike is because they can be very fast and yet handle off road.