It's reassuring to know that such good advice is available here, thank you to everyone who has answered my posts and replied so helpfully to my pms. Sorry in advance for this long post.

I think I'm moving the goalposts. When I started cycling I wanted to be able to ride into town with my daughter on the bike. The more I do, the more I learn that the roads into town frankly aren't the best for a newish rider to ride with a child, they are either too busy or too steep. There is one possible route though I haven't tried it yet. I'm also learning that I absolutely cherish my solo time on the bike and it is giving me such mental and physical benefits that at the moment I'd rather not share that time. I could buy a child-seat/trailer, or I could put dd into creche for two mornings a week and just get out and ride. The other thing that I'm learning is that I absolutely love riding off-road. Bridleways and towpaths are plentiful and right on my doorstep, and I have always loved being off the beaten track. I thought I wanted to bike instead of using the car, but I think now I want to use it to reclaim a little bit of me time, as well as some much-needed exercise.

I'm going to do some more off-road riding. I am starting to wonder if a mountain bike would be worth considering in the new year. Fenders, twigs and mud don't seem like a great combination on the evidence so far. Then one other bike with rack, fenders and the ability to take a child-seat/trailer/tagalong for when I am better at both riding and sharing, and when dd is past the terrible twos. Or maybe I just ask dh to take care of the child-transport and I can get a mixte

Did anyone else start out wanting one kind of riding then change their minds?