Reddit mentions of Ohuhu Mens 3D Padded Bicycle Cycling Underwear Shorts Black Large

Anything you normally work out in.

If you feel like you need more padding, wear a cheap padded underwear like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Ohuhu-Padded-Bicycle-Cycling-Underwear/dp/B00O0F3BIO/

I’ve got all sorts of “real” cycling shorts, but you won’t really need something like that. Just find some comfortable shorts for cross training and add padding as desired.

Hey buddy! Happy to hear that your getting a hybrid. My first bike was also a hybrid.

Wear whatever you want. You can start with just gym shorts and a t-shirt.

I’d definitely recommend getting a few pairs of padded bicycle underwear (also known as a chamois). You can wear it under your shorts/pants. Check these out

As you ride more, you might decide that you want to get some cycling-specific apparel, but maybe not. Either way, happy riding!

I'm not a tire expert, and haven't ridden the tires in question, so take this with a grain of salt. But a wider tire, inflated to the same pressure, will have a greater volume of air than a narrower tire, and should feel firmer and support more weight. So I wouldn't look solely at max psi, but compare it with the width of the tire. The Komforts I linked are 700x40c, around 40mm or ~1.5" wide, whereas the Hookworms are 29x2.5", around 63.5mm wide. I would expect the Hookworms to give you a more solid ride between the two, but either one would be an improvement over the stock 29x2.0" Bontrager tires at 50psi. As for the knobs on the Komforts, the overall profile of the tire is still fairly round and solid, so they wouldn't impact rolling resistance as much. There may be a little squirm in the knobs that could increase rolling resistance slightly, but I would expect the tires to be made of a pretty firm rubber so that shouldn't impact you too much (the product description doesn't mention the TPI rating, but since they're intended for durability it's likely towards the thicker and harder end of the spectrum). From what others have said, and from looking at the specs, I would lean towards the Hookworms. Make sure you measure your front and rear tire clearance though, 2.0" to 2.5" is a fairly big jump. If those won't fit, I've heard good things about the Schwable Big One and Big Apple tires as well. Both come in 29x2.35", which I'm fairly certain would fit. The Big One is lighter and likely a little faster, while the Big Apple would be much more durable.

I definitely think some padded cycling shorts will help you out with the soreness. There are some budget options out there, like these, these, or these, though if you're going to be riding a lot, it would be worth investing in a quality pair of shorts. Bib shorts typically run more expensive than regular shorts, but they also tend to stay in place better and ensure the padding is where you need it. It could also be worthwhile to swing by a bike shop and try out some different saddles. The width and shape of the saddle should fit your individual anatomy, and a poor match will leave you sore or numb for sure. This can also be an investment, as a comfortable saddle can be moved to another bike should you pick up a hybrid or road bike at some point. Gloves would help with palm soreness (Nashbar has a big sale on their gloves right now), but if you're having wrist issues I would experiment with different grips, or with handlebar height and rotation. You've got the right idea with standing up and moving around to alleviate pressure and soreness, but that will only work for so long, as you've encountered. Bar ends would also give you additional hand and wrist positions to work with.

Yeah I wouldn't really bother with swapping the fork, I just wanted to point out the effect it may have on road riding. I'm not sure what would be causing the handling issues with the bike. Maybe work on some slow speed balance drills around the neighborhood? Unless your fork is backwards or something, it shouldn't be that unstable.

Honestly, the cheap Chinese options for shorts...

https://www.amazon.com/ARSUXEO-Outdoor-Sports-Cycling-Breathable/dp/B072555CK2/ref=mp_s_a_1_8?keywords=mountain+bike+shorts&qid=1558154748&s=gateway&sprefix=mountain+bike+&sr=8-8

And liners...
https://www.amazon.com/Ohuhu-Padded-Bicycle-Cycling-Underwear/dp/B00O0F3BIO/ref=mp_s_a_1_9?keywords=mountain+bike+padded+under+shorts&qid=1558154920&s=gateway&sprefix=mountain+bike+padded+&sr=8-9

...fox gloves


...and 5 10 shoes

You’ll be good to go!