Igualmente, thanks. I've mentioned to each LBS what kind of biking I did (2+ hour rides of 30-40 miles), though when I first started, I mentioned that I ride both bike paths, and multi-use trails. This of course automtically steers them towards hybrids, though in the case of one, the Giant Anyroad was the recommended bike, which appears to me to be a road bike with drops and 28mm tires. He of course didn't have it in my size, so I didn't get to try it out. I've since realized that I do very little riding on the multi-use trails, and could very well use my current hybrid for that purpose.

I'm not finding my current bike holding me back if I were just out on the trail by myself, but it definitely is making it more difficult for me to keep up with other riders with true flat bar road bikes. My bike has 28mm tires on it currently, so am thinking it is the gearing (24/34/42 crankset) rather than the tires making it somewhat difficult. I CAN keep up, I'm just having to work much harder (more revolutions) than the other riders.

I will take a look at the deep neck flexor exercises. I don't tend to hunch in my daily life, though know I do some of that on my bike, primarily because the seat seems to want to tip up, so I tend to compensate by sliding back towards the rear of the seat to get more comfortable, probably rounding my back in the process.