Hermes: Is it Rivendell?
There's something about the stop-and-smell-the-roses position on the hybrid that I like very much. Among the technical aspects I've observed while riding these borrowed road bikes, I've also noticed that I felt more intense and serious while concentrating on the road. When we return home, I feel like I'm getting off a roller-coaster ride, as opposed to just a leisurely fun day out. Now, I love riding on roller-coasters so that's not a bad thing, but I also like the little kiddie cars that go slow and allow you to smile for pictures and wave to the folks on the side.
I like both experiences, so if I could combine them into one single road bike, that would be my goal.