So here goes, I'm a car driver. Always have been,,,, until recently...

I've been offered a new job but it is a 23mile round trip from my house. I've sat, done the sums and found the cost of fuel real scary. So, I have decided to ride to work. Now I'm fit, I can run half marathons in a little over one hour thirty minutes, so I'm not worried about the distance (unless you guys tell me different), but I have no idea what to buy. None whatsoever.

1) Bike? Why are there so many to choose from? I thought about a cheap road bike for speed primarily but there are hundreds that all look identical! Is a road bike the right choice at all?
2) Safety? Helmet obviously, lights I've read are a legal requriements in the UK here. But what else should I consider? Loads of reflective stuff hey?
3) Clothing? I suppose I can use my running clothes and leggings?
4) Emergency? Tyre repair kit would be sensible hey? What else.

I am completely bewildered, but I am seriously looking and commuting three or four days a week to save cash. Any, absoultely any advice from previous newbies would be greatly appreicated. I'm still trawlling through this website for similar threads, so apologies if this type of query has been posted before - I just haven;t found it yet!

Cheers for now.