How do I squeeze a cylinder

It’s my first attempt at creating an object and I want to take a cylinder with no ends on it. I then want to squeeze the middle and then I want to squash it so that it is no longer a circle looking from above. Finally I want to duplicate it 4 times in a circle so that I end up with 5 spokes for a wagon wheel.

(Creating the wheel hub and wheel rim would come next)

I could not see how to subdivide the vertical edges of the mesh cylinder without automatically subdividing the corresponding circumference edges

I could not see how to subdivide the vertical edges of the mesh cylinder without automatically subdividing the corresponding circumference edges

In edit mode use a loop-cut with Ctrl+R. Hover the mouse over the edge you want to cut and you will see a purple line where the cut will happen. Use your mouse scroll wheel to add multiple cuts.

Thank you Richard. Blender is so comprehensive and whist I am enjoying trying to use it I wonder if I will ever become proficient