Emily, your situation sounds like mine (again??). My bifocals are progressives, they are the only kind I have ever had. I never intended to wear them "outside," except for the initial break in. It hurts my eyes and I get nervous driving with them, as I keep looking down, through the reader part. I basically put them on when I get into bed to watch TV or read and then put them on when I get up, walk into the bathroom, and put my contacts in. I am not going to try the multi-focal contacts, too much to go wrong for me. I have an uncorrected astigmatism in my left eye because I could never adjust to the toric lenses.
I could never ride with glasses on. I love my sunglasses, but I am too used to wearing contacts, after over 30 years.
I started wearing readers quite awhile ago; I was around 40.