Congrats and welcome.

I'm 53, 5'11" and 230# so not that different than you. The good news is that a decent road bike will be faster than the equivalent quality hybrid. The bad news, the difference is not as much as you would think. I've got a road bike that is butted chrome-moly with a carbon fiber fork, mostly 105 components, and a comfort/endurance geometry. I've also go a 1990s buttend chrome-moly hybrid (Trek 720 Multitrack) upgraded with 9sp Deore, LX and XT components. On flat ground with no wind, my average speed over 50 miles is < 2 mph faster on the road bike. As far as distance, I've done 100+ mile rides on each of the bikes with equal comfort.

Truth be told, you could put me on a brand new 2018 Trek Domane SLR and there would still be a lot of riders who could blow right by me. Equipment certainly plays a role but the most important aspect of speed will always be the engine. A rider may have the same cadence (pedaling speed) as you, but if they are pushing a higher gear, they are going to be faster.

I'm not trying to discourage you, just put things in realistic perspective. Joining a local cycling group is a great way to get into the sport, but don't expect an equipment upgrade to put you at the front of the pack with the hardcore roadies.

Many clubs or shops sponsor rides suited to different levels of riding based on expected speed, distance and difficulty of terrain. Fast, keep-up-or-get-dropped training rides (sometimes called "A" rides) are for the experienced, competitive roadies. "B" rides are for the more casual cyclist who is reasonably fit and only competitive in a friendly manner. "B" rides are often no-drop but the definition of such can vary. For some clubs, no-drop means that they stop at points along the way for slower riders to catch up. For others, it means that the pace is set so that nobody falls off the back or at least gets brought back up quickly. "C" rides are very recreational and some even allow hybrids, touring bikes, cross bikes, etc. Check out your local clubs and LBSs for further descriptions of their rides.

One of the clubs that I ride with sponsors what would be considered a "B/C" ride where everyone starts out together but the larger group usually breaks up into two or three smaller groups based on desired pace. The faster groups stop at intervals for the slower groups to catch up, but nobody ever rides alone. A couple of the shop riders will act as sweeps and will ride with any rider who falls off the back of the group until the next rest stop.

105 is a good balance of performance and price. It can be hard to find a new bike that is completely 105 equipped for under $1,000 but there are some good compromises. While I don't recommend online bike purchases for new riders, unless they have someone with a lot of bike fitting experience helping them, the Motobecane Gran Premio from Bikes Direct fits the bill at $899 Save Up To 60% Off Pro Level Steel Road Bikes FREE SHIP 48 STATES ON ALL BICYCLES FREE SHIP* Motobecane Gran Premio Elite New Shimano 22 Speed 5800 / 105 + Shimano Wheelsets Reynolds High Grade Steel Road Bikes . It has 105 shifters, derailleurs and cassette with a FSA crankset and Tektro brakes. A lot of bike for the money and more than adequate for "B" and "C" club rides, fitness and recreation. My road bike is an older model of the Gran Premio and I've put thousands of miles on it with only a few minor upgrades for creature comforts.