If you give us your community and approximate work address I'm sure the North guys could give you a good route that hopefully won't discourage you to not commute by bike. That hill is a beast, but there are ways around it if you add a couple kms.
A mistake I see in people getting into riding again, is purchasing a bike with knobby tires because that's what the mountain bike had in their teens. Unless you're going on dirt and gravel paths, stick with smooth tires.
If you're just getting back into cycling, a hybrid bike is probably a good choice. Something where you're sitting a little more upright. Something like a Trek FX. Budget is typically a big factor when choosing the bike as each range will have different components.
Most bike shops should be fine. I would choose one that's closer to home or work so if you do need any service work done you're not travelling too far. The shops I'm not a fan of are Pedalhead Roadworks and Cactus. Stick with shops that are exclusively bike shops, not the ones that convert to a ski shop in the winter.
Renting or borrowing a bike for a commute isn't a terrible idea to see if it's something you'd like doing.
|