Welcome to my Trek Verve 1 Review of 2020.
I tested nearly two dozen hybrid bikes over the years. The Trek Verve 1 is my go-to for any looking for an entry-level/Beginner hybrid bike.
Trust me, you do not want to buy the wrong product. It’s better to get it right the first time, or you’ll waste over $500 like I did when I start riding bikes.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Hybrid Bike
If you’re considering buying a hybrid bike, there are many important features to remember throughout the buying process. Here are some of the top ones to bear in mind.
Gears
Not every cyclist will need the same number of gears on their hybrid bike. When deciding on the number that’s right for you, consider your fitness levels and the terrain you’ll be riding on. For example, if you’ll regularly choose a route with lots of hills and rocky surfaces, you’ll want to opt for more gears. This is especially true with hills as you’ll need an extensive range of gears to help you climb and descend safely and easily.
On the other hand, if you’ll primarily be riding on flat terrain, you won’t require as many gears as those planning on climbing uphill. In fact, the fewer gears you have, the lighter your bike will be since it won’t have as many components. Bikes with only one speed can be perfect for some, especially as the rear hub enables you to coast like on a standard bike.
Suspension System
Next, consider what type of suspension system you’ll need. Commonly, many hybrid bikes don’t have a suspension. In fact, suspension forks add weight and can make pedaling more difficult. Plus, if most of your routes are on smooth pavements, you won’t benefit from this feature.
Alternatively, a front suspension helps to absorb impacts on the front wheel, making the overall ride smoother and more comfortable for the cyclist. This feature is certainly appropriate if you’ll be riding on off-road conditions and require the additional support.
More: Best Hybrid Bike Under $1000
Frame Materials
The frame’s material has a huge impact on performance and durability. There are several to choose from, but the top three are aluminum, steel, and carbon fiber.
Aluminum is affordable, strong, stiff, and lightweight. With newer developments, this material can improve shock absorption to make riding on tough terrain smoother and avoid cyclists from feeling the impact.
Alternatively, steel is beneficial for its strength and durability, although it is heavier than aluminum. Steel is less expensive to make and purchase, which is ideal for those on a budget. Plus, this material can handle a larger maximum weight, making it great for commuters adding a basket and belongings to their bicycle.
Finally, carbon fiber is another preferred frame material. It’s lighter than aluminum and much stronger than steel, although, these beneficial factors can make it more expensive. Although, you can purchase a hybrid bike that features only carbon fiber forks or seat posts, rather than the entire frame is made of this.
Brake Type
Finally, it’s time to decide if you’ll choose rim brakes or disc brakes. Rim brakes are the most common on hybrid bikes and feature pads that grip onto the wheel rims. This brake system is more economical, and it’s easier to replace worn pads, leading to less maintenance.
However, this brake system can wear out the wheel rim over time, meaning you have to replace the wheel if you don’t monitor its progress. Compared to rim disc brakes, this brake system is less effective in wet and muddy conditions. It also requires more effort to apply your fingers on the levers if you want to brake aggressively.
Alternatively, hydraulic disc brakes provide stronger braking and less finger effort. This makes it more user-friendly and beneficial for riding in tough environmental conditions. Or mechanical disc brakes require manual adjustments as the pads can wear. If you don’t keep an eye on mechanical disc brakes, they can become worn quickly, leading to other areas of damage on your bike.
Features and Benefits of the Trek Verve 1
In order to conduct this Trek Verve 1 review, we needed to thoroughly research and analyze the Trek Verve 1 spec. Below, you’ll find the top features to pay careful consideration to when deciding if this particular model is the right choice for you.
Frame
Trek hybrid bikes can be trusted, but we’re particularly impressed with the Verve 1’s features, in particular, its high-quality frame. It’s designed with a lightweight aluminum frame, which has many incredible benefits to it.
First, this aluminum frame is stiff, enabling an even weight transfer of human power to forward motion. As a result, this makes the Trek Verve 1 bike ideal for sprints. Although it’s light, this certainly doesn’t mean it can’t handle well. In fact, the Verve 1 uses its frame to absorb any road vibrations, creating a smoother journey for the rider.
Suspension System
The Verve 1 features a front suspension fork that contains a spring and a damper to enhance the rider’s experience.
The bottom part of the fork is held onto the wheel and fits over the tubes connected to the frame. Inside of each tube is a shock absorber. As the fork moves up, which happens when the bike hits a bump, the spring becomes compressed and the piston forces fluid through.
This front suspension system can dampen traveling over a slight bump in the road, but it can’t comfortably handle traveling over tree stumps or riding up and down pavements with intent.
More: Trek Dual Sport 2 Review: Is DS2 Worth It?
Wheels
This bike features 700x40c tires and has what could be commented as a medium tread count. In essence, the Verve 1’s tires aren’t designed for intense weather and environmental conditions.
These tires have less rolling resistance on smoother surfaces, which makes the bike agile and nimble. As a result, you can travel faster and farther on smoother surfaces, than a bike with thicker and larger wheels.
The Verve 1 can comfortably handle terrain, although you’ll likely encounter some difficulties when cycling over mud and tough terrain. In fact, it’ll slow down immensely and you’ll lose control and stability when cycling in these conditions.
Gears
The Verve 1 comes with 21 speeds, which allows you to shift through gears as you please. Plus, with a variety to choose from, the Verve 1 has a wide range for climbing steep hills or leisurely cruising on smooth pavements. This hybrid bike can navigate throughout all types of terrain at a comfortable gear speed, and adjusting is easy and user-friendly.
Having multiple speeds on a bike isn’t a necessity for all riders as it depends on your riding preferences and the conditions you’re exposed to. A 21-speed bike features three gears on the front and seven in the rear. Its positioning can actually increase the wear on your bike and the risk of your chain jumping off the gears as you ride. So, if this isn’t necessarily a feature you need or will make the most of, the gear risks and maintenance might be too much for some.
The Verve 1 uses a derailleur to switch between different gears. This system is controlled by shifters that are positioned on the handlebars. In a nutshell, you need to continue pedaling to shift gears, which is great for enabling you to keep at your top speed and not have to slow down to adjust your gears.
Brakes
Finally, the bike comes with Tektro alloy linear-pull brakes, which are highly beneficial for the rider. When purchasing a hybrid bike, its components and materials must be from brands you can trust. Fortunately, the Verve 1 uses brakes designed by a company that’s been established for over 100 years.
There are many features and advantages of linear-pull brakes. First, they’re inexpensive to make, enabling the Verve 1 to be reasonably-priced. They’re also easy to maintain and replace, even if you’re on the go. Most importantly, they don’t add any strain to the bike’s hubs, spokes, or frame.
However, you should consider that these brakes can be easily affected by water and mud, so you can’t expose the Verve 1 to all weather conditions. Plus, depending on how often you ride the bike, you may need to replace the brake shoes regularly.
| Feature Type | Feature Specs | What This Means |
|---|---|---|
| Frame | Aluminum | Lightweight design to enable cyclists to pick-up speed quickly. This material is also durable and absorbs shocks well. |
| Suspension System | Front Suspension Fork | The front suspension fork keeps the bike lightweight by not having a shock absorber at the rear. This feature dampens any vibrations from riding over small bumps and can withstand exposure to gravel. |
| Wheels | 700x40c Tires | The tires make the bike more agile and nimble, allowing you to remain in full control and stability when cycling. |
| Gears | 21 Speeds | With a wide range of speeds to choose from, the bike can comfortably attack hills while also allowing you to customize the ride to your style and environmental factors. |
| Brakes | Tektro Alloy Linear-Pull Brakes | Will become affected by water and mud, but are inexpensive to replace and easy to maintain. |
Customer Review
We’ve searched the Internet to see what past customers and owners had to say about the Trek Verve 1. Fortunately, we were happy to discover that most of the reviews were positive and reflected some of the benefits of owning this bicycle.
Alternatives
Are you looking for more reasons to purchase the Verve 1? Or perhaps you’d like some information on how it compares to similar models.
Trek Verve 1 vs Verve 2
When comparing both models of Trek’s Verve bikes, we took into consideration the speed factor. The Verve 1 lets you maintain a leisurely pace without having to put too much effort into pedaling and handling.
Alternatively, the Verve 1 has a wider range of gears, and the 8-speed component enables you to easily conquer steep inclines and helps you to reach your destination quicker—a factor that might be important for those lengthy commutes.
Also, the adjustment stem on the Verve 2 means you can raise and lower the handlebars for easier steering. This feature also makes the bike ideal for a growing person or switching between multiple riders of different heights.
On the other hand, the Verve 1 doesn’t allow you to easily adjust the handlebars, as it comes fitted with a quill.
Trek Verve 1 vs FX1
Next, we looked at comparing the Verve 1 with the FX1. The FX1 is a fitness hybrid bike that is lighter and has narrower tires, enabling you to reach your top speeds with less effort. Plus, the saddle design allows you to reach a more aggressive riding position; an important factor for riding quickly and with intent.
The Verve 1 offers riders stability, comfort, and better traction than the FX1. The Verve 1 can also handle gravel trail rides and features wider tires to absorb bumps easily. Check our detailed review of Trek FX1 here
Trek Verve 1 vs Verve 3
Finally, the Verve 3 features a 9-speed drivetrain that comes in handy for daily commutes. Plus, the Verve 3 provides you with the option of mounting tubeless tires on the bicycle to reduce its overall weight. These tubeless tires come with sealant liquid, which makes them less susceptible to dry punctures.
Compared to the Verve 1, this feature is a top highlight for those searching for a hybrid bike and makes it more durable when riding over bumps and rocks.
Conclusion
The Trek Verve 1 is a hybrid bike that has everything you need for fitness and commuting. Hybrid bikes are highly beneficial for those who aren’t looking to travel at their fastest, but need a model that can withstand tough terrain and far distances.
We recommend the Verve 1 for many reasons. Firstly, its lightweight aluminum frame makes it durable and long-lasting. Secondly, the bike’s wheels can handle intense weather and environmental conditions, enabling you to ride your bike whenever you please, and with no issues of longevity or performance. Finally, the Trek Verve 1 size measurements make it ideal for adults of all heights.
