n2t

Hello guys. I have not been on in forever. I got a bike that I did not enjoy and stopped riding for almost 5 or 6 years. Got busy, and by not enjoying riding, it just dropped off the radar. But I decided it's time to get back into it.
When I was first here I had a Walmart GMC Denali. It was usable, but awful, poorly fitted and really barely entry level parts. That said I used it to get to work and put on almost 1100 miles a year back in the early 2000s. Then I decided to upgrade once I moved out of town and was riding on mostly dirt. Got a Trek Marlin 5. I live near some really easy mountain bike trails, with no jumps, just dirt paths. It worked for that, but the bike got stolen. And I didn't learn it's limits. So that lead me to a full suspension with lockout Bikes Direct Gravity. That...that was brutal. Heavy, and if the lockout wasn't engaged, like riding a pogo stick. I hated it. Every rut and pot hole bottomed out my shocks, recovery took forever and I felt like I clanged and banged through anything that wasn't flat road. So I spent years with the shocks just locked out. At that point, I was riding a overly heavy hard tail. Looked at the price and logistics of new, real usable shocks and just rode less and less until I finally stopped altogether.
Enter last week and I decided to maybe see what was out there. I wanted a full rigid that fit me and was decent. I looked at the Trek FX but the forks were narrow and I worried the thin tires and loose gravel/dirt roads would be a bad combo. So after some discussion, I settled on the Trek Verve 3. I'm not a technical rider and am just going to use it for fitness, fishing, hunting and won't be taking anything technical with jumps etc. If I do..I'll need to invest more. I tossed out suspension seat instantly and got a more comfortable and narrow seat and a rigid seat stem. Other than that, still stock. So how did I do? Have I improved over the Gravity and Denali or have I not done myself any favors with this "upgrade"? Hoping to make this a regular part of life again.
First four miles down..many to go?

Maelochs

Well, it looks real good.

Broctoon

That Verve is a good bike. I’ve looked at a few of them while browsing local shops. I’m sure you will get much more use and enjoyment from it than you did from your previous bikes. Having a nice bike that you like and that works well makes a world of difference in getting you out to ride often. Welcome back!

smd4

Looks pretty damn awesome!

Lose the wheel reflectors, though.

badger1

"Improved over the Gravity and Denali" would be an understatement, to say the least! I'm no 'hater' of Big Box bikes, but there is a difference, and what you've chosen should work very well indeed for the uses you describe. Sad about your Marlin; those are nice bikes as well.

Milton Keynes

From all accounts those GMC Denali bikes are completely horrible.

freeranger

Ya did fine! Haven't ridden one, but hear good things about them. Have fun with the new bike--sounds like you've found one that better suits your type of riding.

70sSanO

I think you made a good choice. And I commend you for dumping the suspension seatpost and your saddle choice.

John

Mojo31

Going to use it for hunting? Curious what you’ll use as a rack for your hunting tool and catch.

DMC707

Looks great !

love the backdrop too

Ogsarg

Congrats. Seems like a good choice for your purpose. In any case, If you enjoy the ride, you did well.

n2t

So I have several ways this will be used for hunting. 1, bird hunting, my vest holds the birds and they make gun racks that mount to various locations. 2, they make a trailer much like one would put a child in just for deer. It's flat with tie downs and big wheels. Couple that with either my handgun or a gun holder and I'm good to go. I can add rifle racks, bow holder, wear my chest harness on my pistol, and baring my obtaining the trailer, I bet I can get a harmess and tarp and rig something up.

n2t

Sounds like I did ok this time. I am getting some instability in loose gravel, would wider, more knobby tires help that or is it par for the course? The marlin was OK, but the front shocks were still springy suntours and I wasn't a fan of that. I wish Trek would either go full rigid or use good shocks, this in-between stuff isn't for me.

trucklet

The Verve is a fantastic bike, lots of mounting points, adjustable out of the box, generous clearances. Take care of it and it will last you a long time.

The only hiccup I've noticed on the Threes is the stock rear derailleur can be more sensitive to proper alignment and the b-screw setting than most others. This is some tech nerdery, but I think the combo of a non-offset guide pulley on some of Shimano's Shadow derailleurs along with the wide 11-36 cassette makes it harder to get perfect shifting.

Broctoon

Tires with some knobs could help, and so will larger tires with less pressure in them. The biggest aid will be experience and practice.

fujidon

Wider tires, lower pressure, let momentum work for you. A little "squirrely" on gravel is normal. I don't think knobbies will help on gravel. They will help on dirt, but on gravel, you want as much rubber contact as you can get, hence wider tires. Knobbies will actually reduce rubber contact.

n2t

I will once I get lights, people drive crazy and a bit drunk on these roads at night, and I want to be seen

n2t

If I ever break it or it wears out, I will have to keep an upgrade in mind.

n2t

I did add some angled bar ends today. I like to have a few different hand positions available and move around some.

CheGiantForLife

Why? You prefer getting run over by cars?

CheGiantForLife

How will you carry a fishing pole?

smd4

Why don’t you start a thread asking those questions.

mtnbud

Before you buy new tires, try running the tires you have at a lower pressure. With the mtb bike I converted to touring, I run my 2.0 width tires at 80psi on pavement and 40psi on gravel. I have been amazed at how huge a difference tire pressure can make. The tire pressure you run your tires at depends on the tires, the road surface, and your weight.

n2t

Another 4 miles in. I may want that bluetooth tracker thing that goes on the lower frame.

n2t

They make some rack attachments for fishing poles, my bike is predrilled for a rack so should be pretty simple.