I hate cycling. Pls talk to me about getting a bike.

Severe asthmatic here who had given up cycling because it was just too hard. I walked into a bike shop and asked them to point me to a bike that would do the work for me. I ended up with a Cube hybrid bike with a step through frame. Best thing I've ever bought and worth every penny. I love cycling now and look forward to going out on it. I get to feel smug at all the suckers in their cars stuck in traffic.

Two tips:

• the saddles that come with bikes are always crap. Buy the comfiest saddle you can afford to replace it.
• Find out if your workplace does the cycle to work scheme. You can get quite a big discount and pay for your bike in installments on the scheme.

Hi Op.

I can see that you've had good advice already but I wanted to say that I thought I hated cycling..

It turns out that I'd had cheap, heavy, steel framed bikes.

I was fitted out with a hybrid Specialized bike and the difference was incredible.

I went from hating cycling to loving it!

Also, don't fall into the newbie trap (like me) of thinking a thicker/squishier saddle brings extra comfort. We need a bit of cushioning but not too much.

Definitely don’t get a mountain bike, wide tyres and knobbly tyres will make for a higher rolling resistance. Hybrid would be perfect, something like a Liv Alight. I’ve commuted a similar distance on one for years and am the same height, you’d need an xs in Liv bikes. Don’t be fooled into getting a cheap, heavy bike it will be miserable. But you also don’t need expensive carbon fibre.

I actually electrified my non electric bike with a Swytch kit.

Are you eligible for the Cycle to Work scheme through work? I'm not, but my husband has saved lots of money through it. You can also use it to buy accessories such as cycle clothing and lights.
If you end up needing to buy outer layers, Decathlon is a pretty good bet. Also the provis website is worth a quick look - they've got some mega bargains in the clearance section at the moment. Me and my teens just got cycling jackets for about £20 each! We've had pro vis jackets before and they've not lasted as long as some other brands - but for £20, I'm not so bothered if they only last two or three years.
It would probably be worth picking your neighbour's brains a bit more - if she has a favourite bike shop to recommend, then she probably has lots of other helpful knowledge and guidance.
Good luck. I hope you will be won over! 😁

ah, the good old bikes with the 3 gears: tailwind, headwind and 'shit I'm late'

I like cycling, have three bikes, and used to commute 15k. I had a hybrid which I mainly needed because the route was quite hilly. Before that, I lived in a city where my route only really had one hill in it, and I had a traditional shopper type bike with a 3-speed hub gear, and I would say it was very easy to ride. The difference in gearing is that with a hub gear you change gears while you're stationery, and with a derailleur you change gears while you're moving. I had to change bikes for the more undulating route because the hub gear basically had settings for 'steep hill' or 'no hill', and no nuance. But if your route is primarily flat you might prefer it.

However, as you don't like cycling, and it is 10-15k in winter, I agree with those saying to get an e-bike. A colleague of mine who was not a cyclist now commutes 15k with an e-bike and I honestly don't think she would still be doing it if she'd had a normal bike.

If you have bike storage I would get a commuter hybrid, chunky tires but gears for road use. Mountain bikes don’t have the gears for the flat.
Agree don’t ride in the winter, we’ve had too many icy crashes.
I don’t have proper storage so have a folding Raleigh e-bike, I’m not keen on the heaviness and the e part but I can get it out of the house and it really helps on steep hills and we have taken it on holiday - though Welsh hills defeated it- and you could easily do 15km.

I would also look at hybrids and potentially an electric bike for that distance. I would look to get a bike rack fitted and to get paniers. Also getting some good (high vis and reflective) waterproofs including trousers. I was a reluctant cyclist but love it now. I am no longer at the mercy of either public transport or the traffic.

In terms of panniers to carry your stuff, you can't beat Ortlieb. Waterproof and bombproof.

I’m sorry to say this but since you’re admitting to hating cycling, I would absolutely not start cycling now with winter around the corner. You won’t last, OP.
Start next spring and take your time researching and getting confident on a bike. I’m a decades long, all weather cyclist and for your own safety, I would advise you to get past winter first. You’ll be more confident by next winter if you start in spring/summer.

My bikes are always Gazelle. Beautiful commuter bikes that never wobble and literally glide with minimal peddling. I don’t use e-bikes so can’t comment on those.

I have a Marin gravel bike. I'm 5"1 and have the xs.

One excellent thing about this bike is you only have gears on one side, but get a good range, so you don't have to worry too much - just harder / easier button.

If your work has cycle to work scheme in place, you can pay for a bike throygh your salary, which should lower your tax, bill and reducing the cost of the bike.

If you are not used to cycling, 15km each way (?) will take a while to build into but you will get into it.

Visit some local bike shops (not Halfords!) to see kit and options.

If the gears are a problem, I would suggest considering hub gears as they are far simpler to use. Yes, they can be more expensive but possibly worth it if derailleur gears are going to be annoying you every time you ride.

Heartily recommend an electric bike (pedelec / electric assist). Mine is a Ribble and super easy to ride, makes going uphill easy, and flat/downhill is like any other bike. I'm also 5'2" - we had to cut the saddle post to allow it to go low enough for me, but that's a pretty standard thing. Just looked it up, it's an "Allroad SL R e XS 700x32c EU"

I love cycling, I take my kids to cheer at pro races, I have a cupboard full of water bottles acquired from pro riders/teams. I'm also overweight and haven't cycled much since having children and moving somewhere with less friendly roads and more hills. The e-bike is just the thing to encourage me to get out again.

Get a gel seat, gel pants and an electric bike is my recommendation.

Definitely look at hybrids as well as mountain bikes (I suspect hybrids would be the more popular choice but I do love my mountain bike).

where do you store your bike? i.e. do you need to carry it? if yes you need a light frame.
many brands have bikes in light and standard.

also consider dutch bike style, much more ergonomic and back friendly but a bit unusual in uk.

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The most important thing when you are cycling on roads is to be seen. Be easily visible to other road users. Wear bright colours/hi-viz and have good bike lights. Do not risk your safety by wearing all black/dark clothing. I see so many cyclists who wear dark clothing and think that it is so dangerous! All it takes is some motorist not being as attentive as he/she could be for the a cyclist to be knocked over.

If you are cycling to work, use the cycle to work scheme as you will save a lot on the bike and accessories. I am short and have an extra small Liv bike. It is the first bike that has fitted me. I have an e bike as I have a significant hill where there is a small amount traffic which I hold up (and would hold up unacceptably without the e). The e is also just fun and makes me smile. I expected to break even on the outlay but use it so much that I have saved a lot by going over to a bike.

I would recommend going to a number of bike shops and trying bikes for fit and seeing what suits you best.

You don't want a mountain bike if you're cycling on flat roads and surfaced paths!
I'd look at a ladies hybrid, I have a trek fx2 and the gears are numbered unlike most road bikes! I stuck a pannier rack on the back and it did me fine for commuting. Mine was 15km each way but I only did it once a week. They also do a "step through" frame version of it if you'd be more comfortable on that, and an ebike! Hybrid Bikes at Evans Cycles
A couple of my colleagues have ebikes despite being serious bikers and capable of cycling miles but they do it so they can commute in their work clothes without getting sweaty and needing a shower on arrival.

Make sure whatever you buy has a pannier rack. And get good panniers. You don’t want to cycle for an hour each way with a rucksack on your back.

budgets?
Budget for bike AND
Budget for any accessories, like lights, waterproof jacket, or a good lock.

I don't see you keeping this routine up in bad weather, tbh. Unless you say you live somewhere with nice climate.

How tall are you?
When is the last time you actually rode a bike, esp. > 2km.
Where would you store the bike, at home, and at office? Would it be stored out of the rain?
How would you carry your stuff, like phone or bike lock?

If you don't enjoy cycling, you should definitely consider a hybrid e-bike as others have said. A friend once described it to me as like having an invisible hand giving you a gentle push on the difficult bits!

I would definitely buy the best warm and waterproof clothing you can afford and get good quality panniers to carry your stuff.

You’ll get the hang of gears as you’ll just think about it as ‘push the lever that way to make it easier (going uphill) / pull the lever this way to go faster (downhill).