Originally Posted by MRT2

Your 7.4 is a perfectly good bike for rides of 10 to 43 miles. You might be just a bit slower than a rider similar to your size and fitness level riding a carbon fiber road bike, but not much slower. Perusing the Trek website, it looks like your 7.4 weighs in at around 10.55 kg, or about 23 lbs, so not much heavier than a road bike. If you wanted, you could get some lighter wheels and tires and get the weight of your bike down to 20 or 21 lbs, though to be honest, I don't think the weight of the bike is holding you back. Nor, IMO, is the riding position. Are your hands sore or numb after riding your 7.4? IMO, lack of hand positions on the flat bar is the only thing that is holding you back from riding longer distances on your 7.4. And you could remedy that by switching out the flat bars for trekking bars, or some other bar other than drop bars that gives you multiple hand positions.

Though I prefer drop bars, IMO, if you are concerned about comfort, just stick with your hybrid and work on your conditioning.