Couple of questions, please.

[Fonze]

Mamabear , magazines are fairly expensive for the info they give is plentiful if you google what you want to know.
Enjoy your bike , ride as much as you can and try when going up hills different gears and how hard/easy it is for you so you can work out best gear for the hill you do.
Go on YouTube too , there's some fantastic videos people upload there for advice , especially getting your bike adjusted correctly to your body shape/size.
Perhaps if it's your thing see if there is a club near you and ride with them , usually people will offer good advice and try to help you.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

If you find it hard going up a hill then choose an easier gear. You will feel the benefits of cycling both in terms of how you feel and being used to the bike within 2-3 months. If you ride it daily it may be much sooner you feel the benefits.

 

[itchybeard]

Just enjoy cycling. Your questions for a beginner is technical. Cycling is not that. Bum on seat and legs in motion, that's it. So get on it, wear what you want, cycle and use a gear you want up a hill and enjoy life.