Want to start Riding but feeling a bit overwhelmed and defeated.

[goldfinch]

A hybrid or a mountain bike might be great to have around because they are good bikes to ride casually with the kids when your kids get into biking.

[Sylvia]

What about a used bike? When I started riding again after about a 30 year hiatus, I purchased a used bike from a pawn shop.
I knew it wouldn't be my final bike but I needed something to get my feet wet again, to work out fit issues, and to get an initial feel for gearing.