With that tiny front ring I can't imagine what the previous owner was doing with it. Though for rides you are always climbing, then that'd be the thing to have. Seems to be a difference in the handlebars in the first and second picture. Did you rotate them up slightly? IMO, you need to rotate up more till the flat part just before the multi function levers is level. And then you'll need to find out what position on the curve makes the levers comfortable for you. Also the saddle looks too low. If it's the correct height, then the bike might be too large a frame for you.

You haven't said what kind of road biking you want to do. Moderate to fast pace for fitness. Or just out for a pleasant ride.

If you want to keep up with others in a group ride, you probably should sell that bike and look for another bike. Try for newer, with disc brakes, thru axles and is under 19 lbs. 2x front and 8 to 12 sprockets on the rear. And you should be able to find something used for the money you spent on that if you look and ask around enough. Especially for the 8 and 9 speed rears. Carbon fiber and aluminum frames will be more common and less expensive for a low weight frame, IMO. Very light steel bikes were few and far between. And the owner is likely to want a small fortune for it.