Advice for a beginner "perfectionist"

[OakLeaf]

+1 to what everyone else said.

And check out some of the saddle fitting threads on this board, too. There's some trial and error involved in saddles, but measuring where you can, can eliminate a lot of error.

Maybe your daughter's saddle fits you, maybe it doesn't - just because you're related doesn't mean you're shaped the same where your parts meet the saddle. (My sister - my same height, very similar build and nearly identical bike frame geometry - rides a saddle that I wouldn't last five miles on!) A poorly fitting saddle can make you pretty miserable.

Also, the saddle threads talk a bit about what kinds of discomfort will go away as you get more used to riding, and what kinds will only get worse and should be addressed right away.

Good luck! Have fun! And welcome!

ETA: How long should you shoot for? Whatever makes you happy and makes you feel strong! Duration wise, at first you probably won't last as long on the road as you do in the gym. If you want to make some goals for yourself, be sure to set both short-term, very attainable goals, and longer-term ones that can keep you looking ahead and working toward them. You'll have a better idea of where to set those marks after you've been for a few rides and gotten a feeling for it.