cyclonic

I'm thinking about buying a bicycle to replace the bicycle I used to never ride. These days, I often make short trips from my apartment--from a few blocks for groceries to a 2-mile drive to the cafe. And I'm not getting much exercise. Two birds, one stone. If I get really ambitious I might try commuting to work.

So far I've been to one shop, for about five minutes. I was attracted to the Townie because it's cute, and marketed to newbie/casual cyclists who want comfort. I like being comfortable. I was also considering a foldable bike, both for intermodal routes (bike to the bus, say, or bike to the cafe and get a ride home) and because we don't have a lot of space at home.

Anyone have any recommendations or advice?