As someone who lived in a number of small row homes in Philadelphia, I know of what you speak and for me personally, this would fatigue me in relatively short order.
In addition rain, snow and road slop being run through the house year round would be another thing that would make me tire of it. I imagine the Clem would be a great riding bike on Philadelphia's not so perfect streets but the daily hauling of the bike and whatever you happen to be carrying on the bike, would feel like a lot. Maybe somewhere on the first floor could be designated as "bike parking" and you could rotate bike one bike at a time in and out of that spot? I wish I had a better suggestion but as someone who hauled bikes, musical equipment in & out of those type basements/homes for years, I feel your pain. Brian Campbell Berwyn, PA On Monday, December 9, 2024 at 1:15:39 PM UTC-5 Jamie D. wrote: > Hi Everyone! > > Sorry for this long first post, I hope you can help me navigate stepping > into the Rivendell universe in a rational way. > > I'm just getting back into cycling again after a long absence. Previously > I lead a no-car-multi-bike lifestyle for over a decade. > > I'm drawn towards the Clem Smith Jr. – the accounts I've read here range > from something like riding Falcor through time and space to an existential > crisis from owning 'The Cadillac of Bicycles'. > > My main mode of transportation was previously a Bilenky cargo bike > <https://metaefficient.com/wp-content/uploads/bilenky-cargo-bike1.jpg>. I > loved/miss the upright posture and extra long wheelbase hence my interest > in the Clem. > > I live in a small Philly row house with some challenges (I did not have > the Bilenky at this house): > > > - To get into my house I have to get the bike up 4 stairs and in my > front door which opens into a wall. I have to zig-zag bikes around this > short wall to get them into the house. > > > > - I store all my bicycles in my basement which is a 90 degree turn > from the basement door to the relatively steep stairwell. To get bikes > down > the stairwell, I prop them up vertically on the rear wheel and walk them > down the stairs in front on me holding the handlebars and strategically > using the rear break. > > > > - To get them out of the basement, I have a ramp that locks into the > stairs. I shimmy the bike onto the ramp, put my left hand on the seat > post, > my right hand on the right handlebar grip and push the bike in front of me > up the stairs and turn the bars at the precise moment navigate the 90 > degree turn out of the basement door. > > > My PBH is 85cm and saddle height 74cm so I could fit a 52 Clem but it > sounds like a 59 Clem would be more ideal. > > There's a chance I would not have to take the front wheel off of the 52 to > get the bike down the basement but it would likely require be turning the > bars slightly which could be more sketchy. > > I would definitely have to take the front wheel off the 59 to get the bike > down the basement. I might even have to take it off to get in the front > door. > > What would you do if you were in my shoes? Is the Clem worth the hassle? > Is sizing up to the 59 worth the extra hassle? Am I nuts for considering > the Clem in general? > > Thanks for any insight you many have! > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/a4c7efc7-cff5-4df2-b586-78f7426e6be8n%40googlegroups.com.
