I think you should test ride a bunch of bikes. Ask friends, visit bike shops, and try some on craigslist. Then buy a bike. Don't be worried about making a mistake. You may buy a hybrid and discover your real passion is road bikes. Or you might discover that you bought a bike too big or small. But all of this is OK, if you don't spend too much. If you buy a used bike, you might be able to get back what you put into it.