u/AdhesivenessLoud9458

I'm looking to buy my first hybrid bike to be able to commute to work from SE London into the City (7-8km journey). I'm not a very experienced cyclist but keen to get into it.

I want to make use of the cycle2work scheme, but I'm feeling overwhelmed by the options and concerned that accounting for the overall cost of everything won't work out cheaper than public transport.

Feel free to answer as many or as few as you like. All help is appreciated:

1. Any recommendations for a hybrid bike with a budget of around £500 (I can stretch further it if makes a real difference)? As a cheaper option, I'm looking at the Carrera Subway 2; as a more expensive option, the Trek FX 2. Any thoughts on these?
2. Helmets seem to range a lot in cost but it’s not obvious what the difference is and I don’t want to cut corners on safety. From my research, I understand I need to look for a MIPS helmet with an NTA 8776 specification. Is this right? Any suggestions?
3. It seems that accepting the risk of theft comes with owning a bike in London. What bike lock should I buy to reduce the odds? I have seen the Hygge Bikes D Lock with Cable on Decathlon. Is this a good choice?
4. Do I need a pannier rack and bag? I’d prefer to have a backpack which can carry my laptop and suit etc. and then still use at work. I’ve seen this bag recommended but it seems unnecessarily expensive for these purposes.
   • On clothing, do most people tend to pack suits/clothes in their bags and shower/change at work? How do you get around the issue of having creases in clothes? Will basic sportswear and running trainers do for the journey itself?
5. Do I need a good set of lights of will a basic set do the job?
6. Do I need a mudguard? Is it worth getting a phone mount? Is there any other equipment I’ve not thought of?