As for the tires...I have them at the maximum recommended pressure.

I have not been fitted for the bike...how would I go about doing that? Should I just walk into the LBS and say I want to be fitted?

I'm liking your last idea about just going around to various shops and testing different bikes. I'm lucky enough to be in a bicycling town (Hilly 100, Little 500, etc) so there are several different bike shops in this small town.