The Verve comes with 700x45 tires. Install some 700x32 sized tires and see how you like that. You should really see a difference.
When I returned to cycling about 8 years ago, I did in on a very heavy comfort bike. I rode that bike for almost a year. But even with thinner and higher performance tires, any ride over 20 miles was a chore. The additional weight does not help if you're trying to ride in a hilly region.