I use the 2011 Verve 2 on paved trails, crushed limestone, and some roads. Any recommendations for possible upgrades? The ride is very comfortable. The derailleurs are ok - maybe need of adjustment or replacement.

If you want to continue riding it, get a tune up. Otherwise look at a different bike. Save your money towards a bike of better quality. Avoid tourney, multi speed freewheels and quill stems on a modern bike. That bike was designed to be ridden and replaced not really a great candidate for upgrades.

Hi thanks! Sorry my confusion. Not looking to upgrade the Verve parts. I'd like to get suggestions for another multi-use use bike (paved trails, fine crushed limestone, roads) to buy. Something with better quality parts, performance, etc.

Good good, yeah then I would look at the Specialized Sirrus X 5.0 or 6.0 for a real upgrade and a very light performance oriented hybrid and then if I like more of comfort ride the Specialized Roll 3.0 is a neat option but I do with they would have put on a narrow-wide chainring just to assuage concerns of chain coming off. We haven't really had the issues on our rental bikes but I do worry sometimes.

Im going thru a similar thought process. Ive considered: Fairdale weekend nomad MX, Trek dual sport 3 gen 5, Surly orge & Surly bridge club. Im going with the bridge club. YMMV

The Bridge Club is a neat bike.

The bridge club looks more for dirt roads. Sometimes I am on dirt, but mostly on paved blacked top paths, roads, and some crushed limestone. Looked at the Surly Preamble Flat bar, not sure if that would have increased performance & speed vs the Verve2.

This might fit the bill - Jamis Sequel

would a road bike fitted with wide tires & flat pedals work? I had a crash where I took my Trek Apex 2.1 (has 23mm tires) - I was on a paved trail but had to move to the side due to a large family. Once the bike went on the grass I lost control and crashed. Separated shoulder and concussion.

Most road bikes of old don't have a lot of clearance so 25 sometimes is the widest and that is narrow. Modern stuff would be fine as a lot of that is now moving towards wider tires but you may not want that position. However plenty of people do ride road bikes with flat pedals but having clipless pedals is better generally but for some of these trails where people walk, ride, scoot or saunter like they have never seen another human before the flat pedals can help.