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

[HollywentLightly]

I am not a fan of cycling in any form but for practical reasons a bicycle commute will make life much, much easier for the next year or so. I will be cycling on suburban roads/cycle paths, max 15km at a time, no real hills but a few slow, steady inclines. I was hoping dd's old bike would do me but she has suddenly rekindled her interest and to be honest, it's probably too small for me to use regularly anyway.

Could anyone suggest where to start looking, brands, styles, etc? I'm 5ft 2 and my brain can't compute how gears work (honestly, I get the theory but it fails me completely as soon as I'm pedalling). Dh has suggested an electric bike but I resent paying that much for something I resent. Yes, i know I'm being very childish about all of this.

I would get an electric bike, no question.

ETA: 15km is a lot, twice a day.

Or, how about a moped?

Liv or Marin, check standover height. Fellow short person.

But defo go electric, I think. Will make your life easier & more fun.

Could you park slightly further away and have a folding bike in your boot?
Reduce the mileage, and still get a bit of fitness in?

Will electric really make a big difference over that kind of distance? Maybe I need to rethink that so. Any reliable makes? Moped is an even bigger no, storage as well as me being a wuss. A park and ride would be perfect but we've only one car so dh will be taking on some driving duties while I'm cycling. Stupid office move and stupid cycling.

Cycling UK has lots of info for beginner cyclists including how to choose a bike. I would use a mountain bike for commuting as they are stable, quite lightweight and the gears make going uphill much easier, however lots of other people use hybrids so it might be worth looking at both. I would be wary about traditional shoppers as some can be heavy and have a limited gear range. I can’t advise on electric bikes as I don’t have / want one, but they are worth considering for longer journeys. It’s also worth finding a good bike shop to advise on frame size. Whatever you buy, having a rack and panniers makes it much easier to carry luggage.

It might also be worth checking if Cycling UK / British Cycling / Sustrans / your local council are running any beginner cycle sessions or women’s cycle groups like British Cycling’s Breeze as they can be really helpful to improve confidence and skills.

Actually, a class/group to build confidence is probably a good idea. I saw a horrible accident a few years back which pushed me from not liking cycling to borderline phobia. I used to cycle to school with the kids but it wasn't too far and I had to push myself to not be obviously fearful for them but I hated it.

I'll look at some mountain bikes at the weekend, our next door neighbour who cycles everywhere recommended the bike shop she uses.

Ribble are pretty good.have some good sale bikes.

I’m a keen cyclist - I do around 120-150 miles a week. If you’re riding predominantly flat areas I’d recommend a hybrid bike rather than an MTB as the gearing is more suitable and you won’t need the front suspension of an MTB. A hybrid e-bike (power assist up to 15mph) would be ideal if you can afford this.

Liv bikes (women specific) would be good - you’d need XS or S. in other brands you’ll def need an XS.

Breeze Rides are women centred rides and there may be one near you. https://www.letsride.co.uk/breeze there’s also a facebook group called VeloVixens which is great for women specific cycling info.

Get out there and enjoy it! Riding is fun!

I love cycling and have a Specialized bike which I really rate. My daughter has a Liv and that’s also good. I’d also make sure you’re getting plenty of practise as cars can be hard work!. I actually cycle on paths when the paths are not busy and the roads are scaring me. But it’s amazing exercise and so quick to get around

I'm actually a Breeze Leader & if you're in north Wales, we have some local groups too.

There's lots of women's groups tho all over, I am not usually a joiner of clubs but it does help with cycling.

If you dm an area, I can see if there's a leader by you Alternatively, have a look on Let's Ride but it can be a bit temperamental. BC are moving in other directions, so the incredibly successful Breeze initiative is somewhat drifting.

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).

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!

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

Karrimor Womens Running Jacket Performance Coat Top Long Sleeve Breathable Pink 20 (XXXL) : Amazon.co.uk: Fashion

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.

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).

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

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.

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.

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.