Good on you for riding, Rainbow. The bicycle is the king of land transportation, in my humble opinion.
You've received some good advice from others, I think. I'll just add a few things.
(1) I'm with Chewbacca on the Specialized Body Geometry. Yes, it's one of those "stupid" split saddles, as someone called them. But it's by far the most comfortable thing I've ever ridden. I didn't have trouble with numbness in the nether regions before, but the saddle is supposed to be very good in preventing this problem which can arise on other saddles.
I'd recommend it, but of course there are other comfortable saddles. Unfortunately, experimentation isn't cheap. I had to try a few before settling on the Specialized. (see specialized.com to have a look at the saddle, or check out your LBS).
One thing I _don't_ recommend is a wider, gel saddle a la Walmart. They're only more comfortable initially. As you get into shape, or take longer rides, they become uncomfortable. You'll get pains as all that gel pushes into you. And give it some time, too. It takes a while for your body to adjust to a bike saddle. But when it does, you'll be more comfortable.
(2) You're just getting into shape, be patient! When it comes to your riding, don't worry about your speed for the time being. Concentrate on your pedaling. You should ride in a gear so that you can spin your pedals between 60-90 RPM without getting out of breath. That may seem too low a gear for you at first. But this cadence, as it's called, is the most efficient. You can ride all day pedalling this way where you'd get very tired much more quickly going the same speed in a higher gear.
Sooner than you might think you'll be able to go 70, 80, or 100 miles or more in a day's ride. You won't be exhausted afterward, and you'll be able to do this for days in a row.
But the key is not to push it at first. Let your body get used to the exertion gradually, and just to sitting on the bike and spinning the pedals. Again, you shouldn't get out of breath. If you do, slow down and spin easily. Don't worry about creeping along. You're getting into shape all the while.
(3) There's a book I recommend, _Effective Cycling_ by John Forester. It provides good advice and tactics for riding in traffic, which you will inevitably have to do if you ride outside your front yard.
This is a crucial, and much neglected, aspect to cycling. The rule in general is this: cyclists are both safest and most efficient when they ride their bikes as the drivers of vehicles.
This means: obey the traffic laws! A lot of riders don't, but you should. That means, ride with traffic, not against it. Stop at lights, signs. Signal. This is good because it makes you predictable to other drivers, and makes it more likely that they'll cooperate with you when you need it. For example, you may have to change lanes to turn, take a lane, etc. They'll do this much more pleasantly if they see you obeying the laws and riding responsibly than if you're all over the place.
Stay as far to the right as practicable, _unless the lane is too narrow to share_. In that case, move over at least a third of the way to the left, about where a passenger sits in a car. Anyone who wants to pass you must go around, not try to squeeze by you in a narrow lane. This is not only the safe way to ride (way too many cyclists hug the curb too much for their safety) but it's the legally appropriate way to ride as well. Bicycles are either vehicles in your state or have all of the rights/responsibilities of vehicles. This includes a right to the lane if it can't be shared!
Don't ride on the sidewalk, either. Dangerous, probably illegal in your state, and a pain in the ass to pedestrians and drivers who aren't looking for you.
(4) I use a fanny pack for carry when I ride. I highly recommend it. Whatever people say about these things with jeans and a T-shirt at the mall, no one questions, or even notices, a cyclist with a fanny pack. If you get knocked off the bike there it is with you. And it's inside the bag, so your sweat doesn't bother the gun.
You can't really keep the thing in front, so I move it above my right hip, or onto my kidney. Slows access, yes, but it's the best solution still on a bike I think.
(5) I like mountain bikes because they're more flexible. You can ride in various conditions with no trouble. I'm with others on your tires, though. Buy some 26" road tires. The bike shop will know what you're talking about. Avocet makes some good 26" x 1.25" tires which will speed you up a lot on the road. Specialized has some tires in that size too, Fatboys they're called, and in 1.5", called Nimbus.
I actually have two sets of wheels, one with road and one with off-road tires. I ride on both surfaces a lot and it's easier just to change out the wheels with the quick release than to change the tires. That's an investment, though.
Enjoy.
)
