What Do I NEED?

[OakLeaf]

Eye protection and gloves. They don't have to be bike-specific, but hands and eyes are very vulnerable.

And welcome!

[malkin]

Any pants that are comfortable enough will work.
You'll have plenty of time later to develop snooty preferences.

Good for you!

[hebe]

Hello and welcome!

I'm new to cycling and to here, one of the best recommendations I was given was to buy a floor pump. Mine was cheap, but does the job fine, and it's amazing how much better the bike rides with fully inflated tyres.

Enjoy riding!

[Catrin]

+1 on all of the advice the others have given - The advice for a new seat regardless of price is a good one. Take it from someone who learned the hard way - you may not have any pain right now with really short rides but when you get to riding long enough that you do - it can become a show-stopper.

Eventually you will want some kind of padding for riding longer distances, (there are lots of choices here - liners that can go under anything, lycra and baggy shorts), but that certainly isn't something you need right away. You will have time to develop your own preferences

Congratulations on your new bike - and welcome to TE! No need to be embarrassed about your distance - those milestones are sweet when they come

[stella2]

Hello and welcome. I can't add anything to the suggestions made by the other girls. I am also new here and to riding (only sat on a bike for the first time a few weeks ago). I get the impression that there several larger women here. I am one myself. It will be nice if cycling results in weight loss, but at the very least it should result in us becoming fitter