gears and gear ratio
 

I recently purchased a Giant Cypress...3 chain rings in the front (28, 38, 48)...7 sprockets in the rear (14-34). My problem is when I start pedaling, I quickly move through the gears and almost immediately it feels like I am back in first gear...pedaling like mad but going nowhere...with little or no resistance.

The chain is on the middle gear on the front. Do I need different gears or something?

Have you tried the big gear in the front?

A 38-14 combo will get you ~30km/h at a mederate 90rpm cadence, this feels like "not going any where"?

OTOH, (ignoring the 'no cross chaining' rule) if you're getting to 38-14T and then going to the big ring and back to the 34 (48-34T) on you cassette then yes you would feel little to no resistance as it is a much lower gear. There will be an overlap or redundant gearing when switching chain rings.

Stick it in that big ring and spin the cranks 100 rpm and see if it is still too easy.