I would like to have it at home too. The grocery and drugstore I frequent most often are a 1.5 mile walk each way, which would be SO quick on a bike, and it would be nice to be able to run up there in the evening when I only need one or two things and get a small amount of exercise without taking the car or having to blow an hour on the walk, especially since I am still battling chronic plantar fasciitis.

Here's a good helmet fitting video. It shows the dial fit systems that you should find on any decent helmet today.

 

My biggest problem is my height. Being tall, I'm guessing I don't fit on standard sized bikes. But does that really matter if it's a little small? May be a little uncomfortable if I was using it hard core, but for tooling around the neighborhood, what difference does it make. Anyone?

 

Whenever I have taken a good look I usually see a couple tall guy bikes on Craig's List Cleveland. Used bikes are kinda a pain in the butt to find if you're not 6'-6'4", or a child, but they're out there.

Hey RNR I saw a bike that has your name on it tweeted by @clevelandflea. If you have a chance maybe this is the way to go?

 

Avid bicyclist (recreational and commuter) in Cincinnati here.  We're a hilly city, but I live and ride in the basin near the river so this might be relevant.

 

I have three bicycles.  1) An expensive, lightweight Felt F95  2) A 1960s orange Schwinn with fat tires, rear baskets, single speed and back peddle brakes.  3) A 1998 mens Schwinn with a rear rack and paniers, 3 gears, and handle-bar brakes.

 

Of those three I use the 1960's orange Schwinn (that was completely free and only cost about $60 to tune up) the most often.  I ride it most because it's comfortable, solid (read heavy), and I really don't have to worry about someone stealing it if I leave it out on the streets.  It's a good bike for downtown riding.  It doesn't go above 20mph, and it wont ride up a hill of any significant grade, but for a daily commute between my house in Over-the-Rhine and my job in downtown it's absolutely perfect.  (to me this sounds like what you're looking for)

 

If I have to cross the river into Kentucky I ride the 1990s Schwinn.  I use this because there are some small hills to tackle between Third Street and the riverbank, as well as on the bridges themselves.  My 1960s Schwinn could take those hills, but having the three gears helps me on those hills.  I would say these hills are comparable in Cleveland to riding from the Warehouse District to the Flats.  If you plan on riding hills like that, a couple gears and handle bar brakes are helpful.

 

The Felt F95 is a sexy and cool bike.  It's the only one I own with any real street cred, but who cares?  It's a speed bike.  I'm not in a race to get to work.  I want to enjoy my commute.  I only use this bike when I need to climb the real hills of Cincinnati.  I honestly don't think you need an expensive lightweight bike in Cleveland unless you plan on riding the Towpath Trail or through the Metroparks regularly.  It's just overkill.

 

It is important to note that carrying either of the Schwinns up a flight of stairs would be daunting.  They are heavy bikes.  I'm blessed to have a first floor storage area to keep mine in.  I don't know how bicycle theft in Cleveland compares to Cincinnati, but if you leave your bicycle tied up outside you MUST use a U-lock.  Cable locks are way to easy to cut.  My 1990s Schwinn was stolen in broad daylight from in front of the 21c hotel, one of the most highly trafficked spots in the city.  It took all of 10 seconds to cut the cable lock and the valets standing out front didn't even notice.  (I was fortunate enough to notice the thief riding my bike around town and was able to get it back.  Which is another important point to make.  If you do leave your bike on the streets ever, make sure you take a photograph with you and the bike's serial number or something else easily identifiable.  If your bike gets stolen, police need to be able to identify the real owner.

 

Finally, DO NOT RIDE ON THE SIDEWALK!  Sorry for yelling that, but it's VERY important.  Not only is riding on the sidewalk dangerous for pedestrians, it's also illegal, but most obnoxiously it give car drivers the impression that it's a legitimate option and in turn causes them to be more aggressive toward bicyclists on the streets.  Please always remember that you are a legitimate vehicle on city streets.  Cars may act like those streets are freeways, but they're not.  You have every right, and I encourage you, to ride in the MIDDLE or MIDDLE-LEFT edge of the right-hand lane.  If you ride to the right edge, cars will only move halfway over to the next lane and repeatedly cut you off.  It's actually more dangerous to shy away from being in traffic.  If you're in the middle of the lane, cars will get all pissed off, but at least they'll slow down behind you and move over to the next lane.  (Remember that car drivers are used to doing this for all sorts of obstacles like UPS trucks or horse-drawn carriages.  It's annoying for them, but your safety is more important than they're unimpeded commute.)  When you get to an intersection, make sure you act like a car.  If you're going forward, do not block traffic in the right turn lane.  Even if it's not a marked turn lane and just a double-wide space, it's important to move to the left to make sure cars can turn right (otherwise you'll get confused drivers turning right in front of you.)  If you're turning left, wait for a gap in traffic and move all the way to the center of the left-hand lane.  Start planning your left turn a block in advance.  If you're uncomfortable with this maneuver, pull up into the crosswalk at a red light, de-board your bike and WALK it in the crosswalk to the other side. 

 

Just always remember that you are a legitimate vehicle in the road.  Ride with conviction and don't worry about slowing down traffic in a road with multiple lanes.  The cars can always go around you.

 

Lastly, I personally do not wear a helmet on my daily commute.  That said, I HIGHLY recommend wearing one until you are completely comfortable riding in traffic.  I can get away with not wearing one because I know how traffic works in downtown Cincinnati.  I've ridden the streets enough to know when and where to be aggressive for my own safety.  If I ever leave the basin however, I always wear a helmet.

The DCA here regularly ride on the sidewalks. Weird.

 

Honesty it's all just too much. I read a ton of reviews of the foldable bike and they were not positive. Between the cost of the bike, helmet, lock, some way to get it back and forth to work and nowhere to store a real sized bike, it just sounds like it's insurmountable. When I say I have nowhere to store a bike in my apartment I mean literally nowhere. No way could I get one on and off overhead hooks or a rooftop bike rack. The car ports beams would not be compatible with a pulley system as suggested up thread, and that's yet another expense. It's like $400-500 just for a bike, replacement of shitty old parts, accessorize, etc. just too much.

 

There is NFw I am riding in downtown traffic. The drivers are very aggressive and hate bikes. Last year a prominent local chef was hit by an RTA bus riding his bike. I think the whole bike concept is just not going to work for me. I do appreciate everyone's feedback here though, as now I know one isn't an option for me.

 

I'm probably just going to walk or use my car. I will look for some other non bike option like a razor scooter or something.

Razor scooter! Or maybe a long board. You'd be the coolest mom...oh, wait you already are.

Aw, shucks.

 

Where does one get one of those scooters? I went to dicks today but didn't see them.

Here's where I'd suggest a BMX but I know better. A BMX is small and light. I didn't switch from BMX to mountain until I was 33.