What do I need to know before I go cycling?

You're quote, "My dad does it, a couple family members do it, and I have friends that do it,..."

So why are you asking random & complete strangers via the Internet?

1) what kind of bike to use: Take $700 or so to a bicycle shop. Buy something like this...

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/bikes/model/av...

Good entry level women's specific road bike.

2) what kind of gear I need to have: An under-the-seat bag with a spare tube, tire levers, folding hex-head tool and a source of air - either CO2 cartridges or a frame pump.

http://www.topeak.com/products/Pumps/RoadMorphG

3) physical fitness level needed: Basically - NONE! The more you ride, the better shape you'll be in. Anyone can start at any fitness level. Cycling is how this old man lost about 70 lbs.

4) Any tips from any cyclists out there? If you want the bike to be more "utilitarian" (useful) add a rear rack, panniers (saddle bags) and possibly fenders too. The final product will look like this...

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/oo267/OldHippie...

Try a track bike as it's dead simple to use and fix, learn to fix that then progress to a hub gear track bike to get used to the gears after that then start on geared road bikes. My old cycling club told me to start off with an ancient ten speed road bike working my way up to a lightweight Raleigh road bike with Reynolds 501 frame which has been replaced with a Computer Aided Design Peugeot, a mountain bike hybrid with a very thin frame plus drop bars now converted to a single speed. Start at the bottom and work your way up, starting with a complicated bike can put you of cycling for a long time.

Firstly, grab a copy of your state Driver's Handbook, learn your responsibilities on the road.

Then all you need is a bike that fits you. Go to your local bike shop and see if they have rental bikes so that you can try some bikes and see what you like.

For the bike it depends on what type of biking you want to do mountain bikes are for steep uphill biking and also well mountains racing bikes are for speed and road bikes are for road you should use helmet knee pads and elbow pads as you do not want to take a hit on those areas if you crash you need a decent level of endurance and cardio as biking can be very tiring.

Madeline

You have a family of riders. If they really know cycling.... Listen to them! They will love to have you join in!

Soccerref

ask your family

they probably have a bike you can borrow

then ride

wle

You'll have to excuse Old Hippie. He is indeed old, and losing it. He forgot to mention HELMET.