Plan a first casual bike outing around the route

For a first ride after a long gap, the route deserves more attention than the distance. A short busy road can be more demanding than a longer permitted cycle path.

Check where cycling is allowed, the surface, crossings and any steep sections. Choose conditions and a setting that suit your current skills. If you are unsure about handling the bike, seek qualified instruction in an appropriate traffic-free environment before planning a road outing.

Have the bicycle checked if its condition is uncertain. Use a properly fitted helmet and the lights or other equipment required locally. Follow traffic rules and make yourself visible; do not assume other road users have noticed you.

Keep the first route easy to shorten and know how you would get home if the bicycle could not be ridden. A modest outing can tell you plenty about the bike, the route and what you would like to do next. The café will still be there when the longer version makes sense.