The Lesson
The Dual Sport 3 was never meant to be the final stop, but it was the right bike at the right time, helping me realize I was ready to take things further.
February 6, 2024
By the time I bought what I now call “the lesson,” I was fully invested in cycling. I had dropped around 30 pounds, was riding regularly, and everything about my lifestyle was shifting for the better. I was eating cleaner, thinking more intentionally about what I consumed and how it would impact my rides. Fast food had all but disappeared from my routine, and candy became a rare guest at home.
But it wasn’t just physical progress I was noticing. Cycling became my therapy. Getting out for a ride, especially during stressful weeks, helped clear my head. I’d always heard people say there’s something calming about being near water, and maybe that’s true. My favorite paths trace the local rivers and cut through stretches of quiet forest with mountain views. I found myself using the word beautiful more than I ever had before. The air, the peacefulness, the rhythm of riding…it all gave me a kind of peace I didn’t realize I’d been missing.
At this point, I already owned the Bianchi Duel and had recently sold my starter bike, the Trek Verve. But I wanted something faster. Something that matched the progress I’d made. Enter the Trek Dual Sport 3. It was light, quick, and affordable. The metallic olive frame with copper accents and a black carbon fork gave it a sleek, understated appearance that really spoke to me. The ride felt snappy, responsive, and smooth. For a time, it was everything I thought I needed.
Seven months later, I sold it.
There wasn’t anything wrong with the bike, but it just wasn’t the right bike for me. I had lost nearly 40 pounds by then and, for the first time, found myself kissing the weight limits of road and gravel bikes, which were my true goal all along. I’d been eyeing a Specialized Roubaix for months. Shout out to Makesi Duncan of DadBodCycling, who served as a inspiration and reminded me that biking isn’t just for people with ultra-thin frames. Suddenly, the Roubaix wasn’t just a dream. It was an actual option that was within reach.
In hindsight, I probably should’ve waited and gone straight for the bike I really wanted. But the Dual Sport served its purpose. It kept me moving, helped me get back into cycling, and taught me more about the kind of rider I was becoming. It also made one thing pretty clear: I was serious enough about cycling to keep upgrading until I got it right, and the Trek Checkpoint was a better bike for me over the Roubaix.
So I don’t regret buying it. Sometimes you have to make the wrong decision before the right one becomes obvious. The Dual Sport cost me $900 and seven months, but I got most of that money back and a lot more certainty about what I wanted. Not a bad trade.
