Warning - Bike images follow!

Okay, I guess that by reading this far you really do want to see some bike photos! Sheez, and here is me thinking that my readers were nice non-drinking, church-going folk.....

I am evolving!

Many readers will know my battle with injuries over the past few months leading into and after the Canberra Marathon. Frankly it has been driving me nuts (okay, maybe more nuts)! Despite the Wobbly household's crappy financial position, I have bought a second-hand bike so I can get off my legs and still get some aerobic work done while avoiding running injuries. I suspect I have been so hard to live with that Mrs W has agreed to this purchase just to get me active and happy again! I guess I starting to accept my age and my body's desire to not run quite as far! And yes, I am absolutley accepting the inevitable bike related injuries that are likely to follow. (Although I reserve the right to change my opinion here)

As soon as I got the camera out to take a pic, the wobblettes jumped on the bike - thus the following...
Wobblette #2 with Holly asleep behind
lucky Lance has retired!

Only trouble is, I really don't know what to do next! I have been searching the net for info on starting up cycling like what I need to do before I go for a ride besides the basic bike set-up. I will go and get a professional lesson soon and get the bike set-up done properly after a couple of weeks but what else should I do? I have most of the gear I need but (for example) what stuff should be taken on a training ride? How long should my first ride be? Is an hour too long or too short for a first ride? How long can I expect my nether-regions to be numb for afterwards? Should I pack a pump and repair kit or is that inviting the inevitable? Maybe just a mobile phone and some enough taxi money to get home?

Seriously, any advice for this would-be road rider would be appreciated! Wish me luck!