Any cyclists around?

[Mmmhmmokdear]

I posed this in Exercise but I think it's pretty dead in there, so reposting for advice...

I'm not a beginner as such, but I've not properly been on a bike for a few years, so I have nothing, not even a bike.

I want to start cycling - to work and to accompany my DC and DH on family bike rides.

What kind of bike do I need? What other kit would be useful? I'm a runner, so could I wear my running gear to cycle in or do you need something specialist?

Any other tips? I know nothing!

Thank you!

You can have a bike specific to the type of riding you want to do - mountain bike, road bike or a general use bike.
The amount you want to spend is another factor to consider.
It’s better to go to a specialist bike shop and get some good advice rather than a Halfords type place ( probably not much knowledge about bikes).
You can cycle in any clothes you want as long as you feel comfortable.

How old and competent are the children? How far will you be going? How long will you be cycling for?

I have a hybrid bike, which cost about £300. I now ride about 3000 miles a year, and next time I'll spend a bit more (though I want something I can leave around town). What sort of terrain will you be cycling on? What state are the roads in around you? I would consider a touring bike, but not a full road bike if I didn't do some off road tracks.

For 10 miles or so I wear leggings/cycling shorts, but cheap ones, not ones with padding as I find them more comfortable than, say jeans. Basically you don't want whatever you wear on your bottom half to fully cover the saddle and not rub, so it depends what you wear for running - some running shorts wouldn't be great.

You really really need a helmet, and lights if it'll be dark. Beyond that I wear fairly normal clothes (I'm sure the public are grateful I don't wear full lycra), but others wear more specialist gear. I don't have cleats (special shoes which attach to the pedals); I doubt you'd need them for family rides.

I have a rack and panniers plus a front basket. It means I don't have to carry anything on my back. I find that more comfortable when riding for an hour or two - maybe worth considering if you're taking picnics, extra clothes for activities etc.

Hybrid bike is a thing. Suitable for road and off road. Slightly wider, grippier tyres. I echo the not Halfords, they couldn’t even tell me the right frame size for my height, which is pretty basic for buying a bike. I think Evans are good. If you google, it tells you how to measure yourself for the right bike, but I’d say actually getting on and feeling comfortable is more important than measuring etc. I like to be quite high up.

What is your commute like? What do you wear to work?

A hybrid is probably best. If you wear skirts or dresses to work, make sure it has a low crossbar.

As PP have said, panniers are handy makes note to get panniers for new bike

Be as lit up as possible for the dark. Lights that don't require mounting are easier (they will get nicked if you leave them on in public).

For longer cycles are basic pair of padded shorts and cycling mitts are worthwhile. That is because they protect your contact points with the bike. Otherwise running gear is fine to start with - breathable and stretchy but might need windproof and/or wsterproof jacket. The other tip is about layering your clothing particularly at this time of year as you will start off cold but quickly warm up and quickly and will then want to unzip or take off outer layers. Helmet is a worthwhile investment if you don't have one ( should be replaced every three years and if had an impact or even dropped hard) - from £30. Other than that lights (buy rechargable ones from £35) if cycling after dark and a track pump (to keep at home - from £20) you can pump tyres up quickly and to reccomended pressure with.

Thanks everyone.

DC are only little - 4 and 8, so won't be going long distances right now, although this might change in the future. DH likes cycling but doesn't really go, so I was kind of hoping that if I start, it might give him a push to start going more, so we can go together?

Work is about 6/7 miles away, there is a shower, so I can get changed before I start. I sometimes do the faff of dropping my car off in the morning and running to work, hence why I thought a bike would be easier.

Roads are all ok, can't see I'll have any problems (except hills!) It's all fairly main-ish roads as well so I'd be in public in case of any problems.

Work also do a cycle to work scheme, so I hope they don't send me to Halfords in that case!

Where you are and the length of your commute makes a difference to what you want to ride. If you are in London, a hybrid or Dutch bike are great, if you are somewhere hillier you might want something lighter or an e-assist.

You really want something with a rack for panniers. Basil basket panniers are brilliant and carry lots of children's stuff from violins to sand toys, or several 2L bottles of lemonade or water.

If you are buying new, I would avoid anything less than £300 if you can, but look at Decathlon and Ridgeback bikes. If you are looking at secondhand, Ridgeback are pretty good.

In some areas it is possible to have cycling lessons, which can be helpful to gain confidence when you return and also to get inside knowledge of local routes and places to avoid.

Running clothes work perfectly well for cycling, although a longer length top can be helpful. I have ridden in all sorts of clothes from mini dresses, vintage 50s dresses, ball gowns, my wedding dress, walking trousers and so on, through to full on lycra. The only things that really don't work are very floaty skirts that get caught in the brakes and wide slippery trousers that don't stay tucked in.

Totally depends.

Do you want to be able to lock your bike up outside a shop/cafe/whatever or just to/from home and secure cycle parking?

The more you spend the better bike, but the more you spend the bigger the theft risk.

You’ll get something decent for £400/£500. Less than that and there are lots of compromises.

I would get a hybrid so you can take the kids on off-road cycle routes like on old disused train lines.

For commuting get panniers. I have a rather fetching leather satchel that has pannier clips attached and goes direct from bike to work.

You need a good lock and lights. Helmet.

On my commuter I have a wide, padded ladies saddle so it is comfy to ride without padded shorts.

You can wear your running kit. You’ll get hot and sweaty. Lattes are good. A nice bright high vis lightweight breathable jacket is good.

Thin but grippy and padded gloves are good.

The most important piece of information is N+1....

One bike ain’t enough! I have a commuter (safe enough to be locked outside places), an expensive road bike, an expensive HT mountain bike, my ‘secondM HT MTB and I am currently eyeing up getting a FS MTB 😂

When you buy a bike, ask to test it. I've bought two new bikes as an adult, and have been allowed to road test both of them. Neither were expensive (the more expensive was £300), so this isn't just for top end bikes. I had the stem (the bit the connects the handlebars to the rest of the bike) replaced on mine to get the handlebars into the right position for me - I have long legs, but short arms (proportionally), so needed the handlebars a bit closer to my body. That cost a princely £10 - definitely one of the better £10 I've spent!

I disagree with a previous comment about Halfords. I have had fknowledgable service from a couple of different Halfords.

Including in a random Halfords out on a long ride mikes from home - the bike guy coming off his break to help, and managing to fix something the ‘local independent bike shop’ (that people always tell you to support) fucked up.

I was like you a few years ago. A long time runner and working mum who wanted to get back on a bike for the first time since childhood and commute to work on it.

A hybrid bike is most definitely what you need. Have a look at Specialized bikes - you should get a decent one for about £400 which on the work scheme should be pretty affordable.

Get a good helmet (I like the Specialized ones too) and a good D lock. Maybe a pannier on the back and a (metal) basket on the front.

Depending on how early or late you're going you won't need lights yet.

Your running clothes are fine for cycling. I don't have specific cycling clothes and cycle a lot now and have done for seven years.

Try a few bikes before you buy. I went to Evans and tried a Specialized and a Trek and something else and they all felt so different.

Lots of good advice above. I would say you will need a helmet, gloves are useful but not necessary unless you are going longer distances and a good bike lock. If you get a bike with quick release wheels I would get another lock for at least the front wheel. A little frame bag is good as well for basic puncture kit and spare inner tube/ pump etc plus can put keys and phone in there too. I have one like this www.decathlon.co.uk/500-bike-double-frame-bag-black-1l-id_8349817.html

I did the cycle to work scheme as well, they have a list of shops you can go to so you shouldn’t be stuck with Halfords. I went to a proper bike shop and they were very helpful.

I would go to Evan's and get a hybrid one or two up from the cheapest. Right sized frame.

Oil for the chain
Abus gold standard are the best locks
Get insurance
Spare waterproofs in the bag
Tyre changing kit

Also, buy a women's bike as they are less appealing to thieves. Twice we've had someone use bolt cutters to nick my husband's bike and leave mine (black with pink trim!) where it was.

A flowery seat cover also helps deter the thieves.

For me gloves are essential except at the height of summer, but my hands get cold easily.
I mostly wear normal clothes with a large hi-vis waistcoat over the top.
My commute is about half yours, downhill on the way there so I’m not getting sweaty.
About £500 should be fine as a budget. I have a ladies mountain bike and it’s great for a bit of woodland and canal cycling and fine for roads too. DC are 8 and 11 and have been cycling everywhere with me since about age 4.

I cycle 7 miles to work and wear gym/running stuff. I have a rack and pannier which I carry clothes to change into once I'm there. I also use an Osprey cycling backpack with stuff like my lunch,diary in and use this as a "handbag" at work.

I got a travel towel from Blacks which I use after a shower at work and it's quite small so easy to bring home to wash. I keep shower gel, and deodrent at work. I don't wash my hair at work. Don't get that sweaty!

Many independent bike shops accept halfords scheme and cycle replubic are part of halfords and have decent bikes and accessories to choose from. Avoid buying secondhand unless you know a fair bit. I have seen many newly purchased second bikes requiring a lot of repairs that end up costing the purchaser more than if they'd just bought new in the first place.

Dunno about insurance - the amount you have to pay to get bike cover is prohibitory expensive IMO - although my home insurance covers bikes up to £400 for ‘free’ I think.

If your cycle to work scheme is through Halfords, the higher end bikes are fine. Avoid anything too heavy or cheap. If other people cycle, ask the ones who do it regularly what they recommend. It's always woth picking brains. If you are on Facebook, there is a family cycling page and a London Women's cycling and a Women's cycling forum which are all helpful.

Make sure you ride any bike before buying and bear in mind that it is easier to get a slightly too small bike to fit than a slightly too big one. I almost never cycle without gloves or cycling mitts. Check your house insurance for cover. We had some that covered any bikes up to £2000 so I only had to name those above that and they covered my bike that was stolen when it was locked up in town.

Good lights are much more important than a helmet. There will be dull days and rainy days and days it gets dark at 3.30 pm. A pink or similar helmet marks you out as female and I found that drivers are more careful when they think "woman" than when they think "cyclist".

Some suggestions

Pinnacle hybrid from Evans

Trek hybrid and you’ll get £50 off if you can rustle up an old bike to trade in.

Boardman ladies hybrid - it’s Halfords but the range of Boardman bikes are excellent.

Liv comes with pannier rack and mudguards.

Any of these would be great.

I think work out your usage. Obvs if it's all road-work, then the choice is obvious. I would never aim to get a racing bike for road work though, which is what I've seen a lot of men motoring top speed around on.

Sounds like the off-road stuff is quite tame, so good tracks and pathways/cycle routes. If that's equal to your work commute or thereabouts you can manage with a solid road bike, and make it super visible with as much 'stuff' as you can.

Only under certain road conditions would I commute to work by bike because of the high levels of bad accidents and other speeding cyclists. It's very unsafe on the roads. Wear high viz jacket, and noticeable high quality helmet, you need you brain to survive contact with the tarmac at speed.

The frame and level of equipment also depends on your needs.

From the MTB high end with front suspension forks and suspension under seat, you can buy a saddle to cushion your bum, and hydraulic brakes and expensive gears, wheels and off road track tyres - to the skinniest wheels with the smoothest tyres and light frame. Either end can be very expensive, and also very expensive to keep up. You might want to go for basic pad and cable brakes, and some fron suspension as a compromise.

I rely on having full hand leather gloves for grip in the worst of icy wind and rain. I can't stand having frozen weather-beaten skin in my hands and it makes cycling miserable without in that weather.

I use old clothes, but a light long water-proof cycling coat (I mean goes down behind the saddle in wet weather, would go past your bum, with sleeves that strap closed).

I have noticed the recommendation for paniers, yes, I agree. Find something that will attach to a rack system and also be a backpack, that un/hooks easily.

Get a thick 'D' lock, that can't be cut with bolt cutters, this way noone can cut your bike and cycle off. You can buy a tamperproof tunnel type wall fixing for home to accommodate the d lock.

A light bike cover that will stow in your panier to keep it dry, chains, etc., can rust, some use a plastic bag.

Either clip your tyre pump to the bike or inside panniers, but keep it with you.

Happy hunting. I've used independents and halfords, and I know specialists knock halfords, but I have found them super helpful and pretty reliable with any issues.

• I meant plastic bag to cover the seat.

My commute is 8 miles. I chose a road bike. (On reflection I'd have got a hybrid)
I got a decent pair of padded shorts. A top. A fleece. A waterproof. And a merino base layer. I got a decent helmet and gloves.

I then borrow dps leg and arm warmers.

My bike is a specialized and should have been about 700, it's
Fast and light. I paid about 500 as it was last years model.

Now I need to get back on it! Thanks op!

I think all shops including Halfords and Evans are as good as the staff that are on that day. I've had great service from Halfords and shocking service from Evans and some private shops. If you are after a hybrid or city bike, Halfords and Evans will most likely be better than the local fast boys bike shop. If you get the experienced old timer at the latter, they can be worth 73 young lads at Halfords, or they can patronise you for being female whilst the enthusiastic 19 year old at Halfords bends over backwards to get you what you need.