Originally Posted by
tariqa
Personally I think hybrids are too slow and heavy but road bikes are way too uncomfortable to ride over an hour straight but if a road bike shaves time off of a commute, then I would probably opt for a road bike. Nothing frustrates me more then spending longer then I have to on the road so for that decrease in time spent on the road I would probably opt for the roadster over the hybrid..
If your objective is speed go with the road bike. Even a fast hybrid is not as fast.
As to comfort, a well-fitted road bike, when trying to go fast, is more comfortable for long or short rides.
However, if you want to relax and speed is not your main objective (which it sounds like it is) then a hybrid would be okay. IMHO, the best of both worlds is a bike set up for touring. It has more relaxed "road bike" set up (i.e., a little more upright position, more stable geometry), but can also have fenders and racks placed on easily.
I've had hybrids and I don't anymore. To me they are too much of a compromise. The fast ones are harsh riding, and you are still sitting more upright and hitting the wind. The comfortable ones just don't seem efficient to me.