Thanks for the info! As you saw in another thread; I think I may go a similar route! (Though trying to keep my groupset... sans shifters and brake levers of course, for now). I've gotten the "Just buy a road bike" advice but, for much more money than the 'conversion', I'd get a bike no better than my current one. I probably should've bought a road bike in the first place but, I let some cycling friends and a LBS owner convince me that Hybrids are what newbies are supposed to buy.

The 'hoods' is the position I'm most intrigued by. The flat-bar hand position isn't really all that natural (we don't walk around with our palms facing backwards; they face our bodies. That's the 'natural' hand position) Riding on the 'hoods' keeps the elbows in, and looks to be more natural and comfortable. Has that been your experience?

Riding into a stiff headwind a couple of weeks ago, I was doing anything to get out of the wind. Sure I looked really goofy in my position. Would've like to have the drops for that. Even this one downhill descent near my home that I can use to 'cheat' a little bit. It's after a long and steep climb (well, for me); and if I get quick enough, I get some 'bonus rest' because I can get enough momentum to make it back up the NEXT shorter (but still steep) climb pretty effortlessly.