Hello! I'm not gonna sugar coat anything, I don't cycle very much. If I did I would be asking the best. bike. ever. Instead I do it sometimes when the weather is nice or when I have to (haven't had to much lately)

A few years ago I did a fun guys group bike ride that goes from Buffalo NY to Letchworth state park (its fun I swear) The elevation changes (total combined) is 2400 Up and 1900 down. This ride is less than casual, although surprisingly the least fit people have managed it multiple times (legends)

I have a "Trek Multi Track 700" hand me down, it's not a bad bike. its 3x6=18 speed I *want to try to get a change of handlebars from the straight bar to the ergonomic and cool curved one with more comfortable grip angles (in my opinion). but I am not sure if it's more beneficial to get a different bike (like less than 500 bucks cuz Im not unloading my wallet)

I also noticed the gearing is odd, like doing gear 2/4 drops to 5, doing 2/3 drops to 4. and 1 only really works in 1-2 without clicking... I feel like this is weird but I could also be bad at using gears

I am also buying a helmet, and gloves because mine are missing lol. So Im accounting for those spendings before this post

Any advice would be appreciated. Remember to be kind please