Giant Contend 1
Price £699, giant-bicycles.com
Frame aluminium
Forks carbon
Gears 18-speed Shimano Sora

Know your audax from your echelon? What about bonking or a full tuck? Sometimes it seems cycling can be a wilfully exclusive sport, hiding itself in jargon and in-jokes. Yet riding is easy and sociable, so there is no reason anyone should feel intimidated. To get started you’ll need a bike, obvs, but which one? If you are not sure what style you want, try hiring several over a weekend to help you make up your mind. If you then decide to buy, don’t go for the cheapest. Select a frame that has the capability to take you further and faster as you get the taste for cycling. One I would definitely consider is Giant’s Contend 1.

It’s been specially developed for aspiring riders who are looking to elevate their experience on the road. The bike is a real all-rounder. It’s responsive and accelerates well, but it’s also more than up to the task of a long day in the saddle. It has a wider than average seatpost to help reduce vibrations, and there’s enough frame and fork clearance to run wider, more stable tyres. As the days lengthen, now is the perfect time to pull on some shorts, put a flapjack in your pocket and head for the hills.

Bags of style

A water-resistant panier, in seven different designs, that transforms into a stylish bag. Canvas panier from £88, hillandellis.com

Email Martin at martin.love@observer.co.uk or follow him on Twitter@MartinLove166