Hard to say much based on CL listings ... both the used bikes Look alright. In a tiny pictures form a couple thousand miles away.

I would probably suggest going with the new Verve simply because if you had any problems you could take it back to the shop ... and the chances of having problems would be a lot lower with a new rather than a used bike.

With a used bike, you just never know ... and if you have never bought a bike before ... when a cable snaps or something, and you have no idea what just went wrong but can't ride your bike ... it can ruin your whole day.

Also ... the Most important thing about any working bike is, Does It Fit? The wrong sized bike is like wrong sized shoes ... nothing but pain no matter how good they look. Hopefully the shop could fit you to the right bike ... you have to make your own judgments there.

If they only have one size and they are telling you it fits but you aren't sure, go to another shop. if they have a couple and they steer you towards one, odds are better it is the right one.

It never hurts to check out another shop or two just in case. For people who don't do maintenance and repair, the shop can be important, and you have to be completely comfortable with them ... if they won't take time for you, treat you poorly because you don't race or ride a mounrtain bike or whatever ... go to a better shop.

All the major dealers make a hybrid comparable to the Verve. If the shop selling the Verve isn't right, go elsewhere. if you think they are decent folk, it seems like a decent choice.

Another plus about buying new at a shop for a first-time buyer ... if you need a different stem or seat post or handlebars to get the right fit, normally a shop will make the swap for free. You buy used, you might have to guess if it fits, and if it needs a longer seat post of a shorter stem ... good luck.

Probably you could save a few bucks buying used ... but it is a gamble and for someone who (I assume) doesn't want to do a lot of repair/replacement but mostly just wants to ride her bike .... the headaches would Way outweigh the $50 or whatever you saved.

I see the Verve has Really fat tires compared to teh Diamondback ... which means you will accelerate a little more slowly but ride with much greater comfort over a wider variety of surfaces with the Verve.

(By the way, I see someone complained that the Verve’s bottle mount, apparently right near the stem, is a problem. Would it be for you?)

I assume you are looking at the 16-inch Verve? The Diamondback at 15 ought to be close in size. If you are looking at the tiny Verve or the large the DB won’t fit.

The Trek is a nice-looking bike, same size (numerically---actually Every bike is different, numbers non-withstanding) as the DB .... also 21-speed Shimano like the Verve. It looks to be in good shape.

It has a more conventional “diamond” frame which means it might be a little harder to mount than the Verve, but might be a tad lighter. (Buyer's Guide To Comfort And Hybrid Bikes - Kirk's Bike Shop Muncie IN 765-282-6389
)

The Trek has a high-quality steel frame, but the frame might be heavier than the aluminum used for the DB and the Verve. For the type of rising you are contemplating frame strength will not be an issue (I take it you aren’t planning to do a lot of ten-foot jumps?)

The Trek is half the price of the Verve and is Probably an equivalent value ... Usually people don’t abuse their hybrid bikes. A lot of them (like the DB) get bought by someone who thought cycling sounded fun, but ended up never riding.

I’d have to give the bike a sound inspection, but if it were my money I would buy the Trek based on the ads (The DB ad doesn’t give much info.)

But ... if anything went wrong with the Trek, I could fix it, possibly with parts I already have at home. If the wheels weren’t true, I could true them on my truing stand. I have cables, chains, all the necessary tools, and I know (mostly) how to use them.)

Probably any of those bikes would do for five years with nothing more than a little cable adjustment and maybe a patched tube.

You have to decide if the security of a brand new bike and a bike shop is worth the extra cost up front.