I want to begin riding bikes more for exercise and ultimately to commute to work.
Unfortunately I’m overweight and very out of shape. Work is about 20 miles away, along busy highways with big shoulders but moderate traffic. About 55 mph is the speed limit.
I’m trepidatious about obviously getting hit, but also I don’t think I’d be able to go the whole way right off the bat. I’ll train some first.
I’m thinking some kind of ebike like a Specialized Tero 3.0 but don’t know. The shoulders can be pretty tricky/ gravelly so I was shying away from road bikes with thinner tires. I was leaning ebike because I think they’re cool/fun, help me better keep up speed, and will ultimately help keep me motivated.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
I’d say go to a bike shop and try out some e-bikes. Find one that fits and that you enjoy riding, and start taking it for fun rides! I’d highly suggest a rack and some panniers (saddle bags) for carrying stuff - it makes it way easier to run errands and stuff via bike.
20 miles is a big bike commute, and riding on the edge of the highway isn’t super fun. But as others have said, maybe there are alternate routes. A 25 mile route through paths/side streets would be way more enjoyable than a highway shoulder.
Good luck on your biking endeavour! It’s a great addition to life.