I bought a 2020 Verve 2 for my RV trips, since I don't like putting my $4500 carbon Cervello roadbike on the back of the trailer, plus I encounter gravel paths on these trips. So as one that's used to riding a bike that sprints like a gazelle, I was pleasantly surprised at the performance of the Verve. I put dual platform pedals on the verve so that I can either ride it to the local coffee shop, or get a full on workout with clipless riding. I LOVE the Verve. It frees me from worrying about potholes and cracks on the pavement, I can go on non-paved packed roads, it's smoother, and the riding position lets me take in the scenery. So I find myself rotating between my road bike and the Verve, getting two different experiences and a great workout on either. My average speed on the Verve is about 3-4 miles slower than the road bike, but I find that climbing takes equal effort between the two bikes. That's because the road bike is lighter, but the Verve is geared lower.