Can anyone advise me on starting cycling?

[SkinnyVanillaLatte]

I would love to start cycling - purely from the practical point of view of being a non-driver and being able to get places quicker and cheaper (although any health benefits will be an additional extra).

I could ride a bike,to a basic level, as a child,but not sure now as it's been so long.I am in a quite rural location- so I'm thinking a mountain bike (and racers look way too scary for me!)

I have very very limited finances to get a bike so I would need to go 2nd hand.I would like something that I could have a basket and/or panniers with,so I can get a bit of shopping.

I need to know basics such as what I need initially to start up and how I know what wheel size to go for etc.

As an absolute novice though,ANY useful advice would be welcome!

Where do people live that they have lots of local independent cycle shops with good quality advice on offer? I have to say that far less than half of so-called (indie) bike shops I've ever encountered sold the types of bikes I'd want (not BSOs & not too dear, either).

Look on your local council's website. Some provide road cycling tutition for a small fee, or cycle maps showing the best cycle routes.

Hi Ruby I'm in Cambridge.

Lots of local independent cycle shops here AdventuresWithVoles

Possibly out of your price range but
www.islabikes.co.uk/bike_pages/beinn29.html

A do it all bike where you could change the tyres to turn it into a mountain bike (road bikes might not have the fork clearance to fit chunkier tyres), plus it has 'braze-ons' to fit a rack and it is also reasonably lightweight

BlueChampagne

I don't suppose you have any particular shop recommendations? I've previously used one or two in the city centre but wasn't too happy with the service.

Thanks, and sorry for the thread hijack OP :)

HaleAndPacemaker-Revel Cycles in Newmarket were helpful (and non-pushy) when DS was browsing cycle shops recently. And I know of a really good bloke who runs a shop but he's out between Littleport and Ely, we used him for all of DD's triathlon bikes.

there is a breeze thing going on for ladies riding bikes

Have a look and see if there is a group near you as you can cycle and get more confident with road cycling.

When you go to buy a bike pick them up and see how heavy they are - pick up every bike as then you will have a gauge as to how heavy each bike is. The lighter the better as it will be more comfortable to ride. Cheap catalogue bikes weigh a ton and are often disgarded after a couple of weeks as they are not nice to ride.

When you do get a bike make sure the saddle is high enough, there are a lot of people that ride with saddle far to low. The leg needs to be only slightly bent when the foot is on the pedal at the bottom. Standing next to the bike the saddle is often at hip height to get the correct height (but this is only a rough measure)

I would look hard at a Beinn29 if I were buying today! But I'm sure too pricey for OP. She needs something like a quality 2nd hand hybrid.

i dont rate the isla bikes over ther stuff - they are good in the fact they come in small sizes for dc, but other than that they are bog standard bike.

My top tip would be grow a thick skin and don't venture on to the anti-cyclists threads on here if you value your blood pressure.

Enjoy!

HaleandPacemaker Howes cycles on Regent street gave me good advice on child seats. Recently I have used Townsends on Chesterton Road for some repairs and they seemed pretty good. Oh, and Station Cycles too - they've even lent me a 'courtesy' bike while they repaired mine (before kids). Hope that helps!

Thank you everyone for your brilliant help - I have now got a copy of Cyclecraft from the library to have a look at and I've been to the local bike shop and had a little look around and discovered what size wheel/frame I should be looking for.

It's the first baby step pedal!

If you're working see if your employers do a cycle to work scheme - essentially a loan to buy a bike plus basic safety accessories but I think it may be tax free?

Thankyou hellhas and blue :)

As a quick update to everyone,I have been on a short cycle course for beginners now. It was absolutely brilliant and I was really pleased with how well I did. My face was like this > ,all the way through because I loved it so much!!!!

I am now looking for a bike. Yippee!!!

Thanks for all the advice and encouragement, so I knew where to start