Our New Rides!

 We decided to visit Omaha & the Bike Rack.  After the empty Trek store, we were amazed at the selection!  They were stocked with many different bikes, including a great selection of Trek.  Butch really like the Verve 2.   Both of us wondered how the Trek Dealers can compete, when independent dealers have stock they don't?  By yesterday afternoon, we were picking up Butch's new bike!  

Butch & his new Trek Verve~

  We stopped for an early dinner on our way home.  With enough time, before sunset, Butch put our bike rack on the Explorer & loaded both bikes.  We bought a new Saris Adapter Bar for my bike.  It fits tighter & opens easier.  It also doesn't have anything to scratch the frame.

On the Trail~

It was a beautiful evening.  The strong winds that buffeted us all day, had finally died down a little.  The Sweet William was now in full bloom along the trail.  The smell of the plum blooms filled the air.

Butch adjusting his seat~

This was our trial ride, lots of stopping to adjust - just about everything!  Butch took off ahead of me.  It had only taken one stroke of the pedal to put my knee in pain.  We'd removed the shock from my seat post to lower the seat even more, but now, it was too low.  Butch moved it up & now we think the shock can go back on.  

Silver Creek Trestle~

I was constantly trying to put my rear farther back than the seat.  Butch asked;  "Are you trying to ride on the rear fender?"  We were both doing the same thing!  We've been spoiled by the comfortable ride of the Electra's with flat-foot technology.  Butch moved our seats to the furthest back position & that helped.  Butch was loving the ride & easily outdistanced me!

Our Verve Bikes ~

It was the first time Butch had been to the Trestle.  It's always a beautiful spot, but was especially so, late in the day.  It's the mid-point between Silver City & Malvern, four-miles from each.  We turned back & this time the wind was coming at us.

Evening sun~

My legs were shot by the time we were back at the Explorer...  I've done so many miles on Speedy, the change will be more difficult.  I'm even wondering, if I'll be able to ride this bike, without more pain in the left knee & ankle.  I sure wouldn't have been riding as early as I was - if it weren't for Speedy.

Butch is sold, the jury is out for me.  More adjustments, more riding & we'll see how I feel.  This bike is faster, for sure.  More gears & such easy shifting will make the inclines so much easier.  If & it's a big IF, my leg can adapt.  Fingers crossed.

A Different Bike?!

 I told myself I'd ride Speedy for a year, before making any bike changes.  It's been just over a year, Speedy has 673 miles!  That - even though I couldn't ride from Sept. until my first ride in March of this year.  I think I'm ready for more gears & a bike that can do hills.  I'd been looking for a while now & had a folder full of possible hybrid choices.

We were in Omaha, when Butch suggested;  "Lets go look at Trek."  I'd shown him photos of some of the bikes & he knew the top of the list was the Verve 3 Disc.  The store was almost empty of stock, only two Verve's & both where XL.  I decided to go ahead & order one, the wait would be 3 months.  When I called last Friday - to be sure the rear rack was ordered - the date had been pushed out to the end of Sept.

I'd joined the Facebook Verve group.  Someone mentioned looking out-of- state.  After on-line searching, I found a Trek dealer in Lawrence, KS who had a small frame & color I wanted!  Friday, I was on the road by 8 a.m. & driving south.

The drive down was beautiful.  The trees leafing out with bright green foliage.  Just for accents, the Rosebuds were in full bloom, standing out with their bright pink/purple against all the green.  

Trek Store - Lawrence, KS

I arrived just after 11 a.m. & my bike was already being assembled.  All the bikes on the lower right, were Verve's!  Lots of stock, but only one small & it left the store with me.  I hadn't even been able to try out the bike, but Trek gives customers 30-days to make a return.

Ready to head home~

In just over an hour, my bike was ready to go.  The salesperson was 6'2" & helped me secure the bike to the rack on the Explorer.  I stopped by Rumza for lunch before starting the drive back north.  It was 1 p.m. when I left & just after 3:30 when I reached Glenwood. (383-mile round-trip.) I drove over to Silver City to show Mari Jo the bike before going on home.  Butch would be late driving an activity.

"Misty"

For being a style I'm not used to, after almost nine-years of riding Electra Townies, I do think it's nice looking.  Butch gave it the once over Sat. morning & that resulted in a trip to the Omaha Trek dealer, my new bike with us...

The back fender rattled.  The bolt that was supposed to attach it to the frame, had been broken off.  The right-hand shift & break levers were mounted incorrectly.  Once the technician at Trek Omaha looked it over, they also found the disc breaks were improperly adjusted.  The bike spent the afternoon at the Dealer under repair.  When we returned to pick it  up, we were told they'd broken their "easy-out" tool, trying to remove the bolt.  They had to drill a new hole in the frame to mount the fender.

From the Dealer in Lawrence~

Neither of us were very happy with the service I'd received in Lawrence...  There's no excuse for damaging a new bike & not being upfront about it.  Improper installation?  Isn't that the business they're in?  When I received an email from Trek asking about my "experience" in Lawrence, I was honest.  We'll see what they do to "Make it Right".

Next - we'll see how this bike does on the trail!