strida - frequently asked questions

strida frequently asked questions

why is the strida so special?
strida is the only folding bike that is greaseless, corrosion resistant, and virtually maintenance free. it's also the
world's lightest folding production bike and can easily be rolled when folded. through design and manufacturing
leadership, we are able to back the strida with the strongest warranty package in the bike business. this bicycle stows
almost anywhere, while folding quickly and easily without having to remove parts or use complicated tools.

will strida fit in my car boot (trunk)?
the strida will fit in your car boot. if you have a small car boot, we recommend a strida fitted with our QR®bar folding
handlebars. these reduce folded cubic dimensions 57%! as the ceo of zipcar (of npr, cnn, inc. magazine fame) wrote in
an email newsletter to all members:

"strida bikes fit easily into zipcar trunks (even the beetles) and are the perfect commuting accessory to reach cars that
are not right next to T- stops ."

what's it like to ride a strida?
it's fantastic. the short wheelbase allows for outstanding maneuverability and quick acceleration. automatic-style hub
brakes deliver strong predictable braking, even in wet conditions. the strida's heads-up riding position allows a rider a
commanding view of surrounding traffic and terrain. injection nylon seat mouldings suspend your body, giving you a
smoother ride.

will small wheels mean i go slower?
no! tests have shown that up to 16 mp/h, the small wheel is more efficient than a big wheel. between 16 and 33 mp/h
there is little difference. over 33 mp/h the gyroscopic effect of the big wheel makes it more effective. most folks do
not go over 33 mp/h..." (note: the tour de france averages somewhere around 25mp/h and those are world class
athletes including the likes of lance armstrong.)

where can i use the strida?
the strida is designed for riders who want clean, convenient and portable transportation available on a moment's
notice. it is ideal for boaters, pilots and anyone with short commutes, island hopping, city life, getting around campus
or any time you need a whole new way to move.

it looks unusual, how strong is the frame?
very strong. strida uses nature's strongest geometric form: the triangle. the bike easily surpasses all frame strength
criteria developed by the british standards institute and the consumer products safety commission (cpsc).

can i check the strida in for free on commercial airlines?
yes. the bike is great to check on commercial airlines. unlike most other bicycles, there are no derailleurs or brake
calipers to bend, no spokes to break, no cables to get tangled, no stem to remove, no sharp edges to tear through
packing material, no chain to get everything greasy, and no bike fees to pay. the bike in the bag resembles a set of
golf clubs and never gets a second look. once you've arrived, the bike is easy to put in the trunk of a cab, or store in a
hotel closet.

where is the strida made?
the strida3 is manufactured by ming cycle in taiwan, under the direction of strida uk ltd MD steedman bass. ming is a
reputable manufacturer and holds both IS0 9001 and ISO 14001 certification.

is the strida available in different sizes?
there is only one strida because the seat height adjusts easily up and down the stem. depending upon your inseam and
weight, the minimum height can be lower. leg extension will depend upon the rider's inseam. on average, our strida is
best suited for riders less than 250 pounds and between 5 feet 4 and 6 feet 4 inches tall. to provide a sense of scale
(and by popular demand) we've added images of riders enjoying the strida, including inventor mark sanders (who is 6
feet 4 inches tall) cruising to victory in the folding bicycle race of 1997.

won't a single speed make me feel like a snail, especially on hills?
not at all, unless all you do is climb steep hills. the strida travels easily across short distances at an average speed of
10-12 mph (15-20 kph).

as paul taylor, of the financial times, observed about our bike:
"it is quite easy to ride once you get going. gears would help on hills, but i did not find their absence as much of a
handicap as i had expected."

what happens if i get a flat?
the strida has standard 16" tire tubes, available at any bike shop.

how long will the kevlar belt last?
kevlar is used to make combat helmets and bulletproof vests. our belt has been high-torque, high-heat, and high-speed
tested in automobile engines to last 50,000 miles. that's a lot of riding, but if an act of god wrecks or stretches our
belt, we'll replace it. (they can also be found in auto parts stores.)

will grease get all over everything?
no, the strida features a 100% greaseless exterior. in addition, cables and brakes are internal. no fuss, no muss. a big
plus on a crowded subway, or in your car trunk. arrive home early, with clean clothes.

what do you mean by zero maintenance?
when we brought the strida folding bike by our favorite local shop, one mechanic mused "well, it doesn't leave much for
us to work on, does it?" we do recommend that you bring your strida to a professional bike mechanic for a quick
checkup once each year.

the strida looks unusual. how do i maintain the strida?
while the bike is unusual, most of the components are standard. the beauty of the strida is its simplicity. few standard
parts fail, and even fewer non-standard parts fail. in addition, many common ailments of a standard bike (loose
headset, rusty chain, warped rims, tire/brake pad wear, worn chain ring teeth, gear trouble, etc) have been
engineered out of the strida. you pedal, you go. which allows us to back everything we sell with such an aggressive
warranty.

is the strida rust-proof?
while no bike is completely rustproof, the strida is as rustproof as a bicycle can be.instead of a chain the strida uses a
greaseless kevlar belt drive.instead of metal wheels, strida uses nylon the entire frame of the strida is 7000-series
aluminum, the same material found in sailboat masts. the hardware on the strida is all either stainless steel or treated
steel. the cables are all completely encased in protective and lubricated cable housing; most of the cable is itself inside
the frame. the bitter end yacht club in the british virgin islands kept two stridas at their premise: after a year in sun
and salt air, they reported no significant rusting anywhere on the bike.

can i fly with a strida?
with our optional travel bag the strida can easily be checked on commercial airline. unlike most other bicycles, there
are no derailleurs or brake calipers to bend, no spokes to break, no cables to get tangled, no stem to remove, no sharp
edges to tear through packing material, no chain to get everything greasy, and no bike fees to pay. the bike in the bag
resembles a set of golf clubs and never gets a second look. once you've arrived, the bike is easy to put in the trunk of
a cab, or store in a hotel closet. as a tip we recommend saying bike is 'wheeled carrier' or 'tradeshow equipment' if
pressed by airline agent. if you say 'bicycle', you may get charged by an overzealous agent.

do you offer gears?
strida was designed to be a zero-maintenance, ultra-light, "a to b" bike. for flat terrain, you can ride the bike
indefinitely - on steep hills the range is limited, though one owner rode the strida the length of new zealand. because
the bike is so light, it doesn't take much energy to pedal and the gear inches have been optimized through both
application of theory and extensive test riding. interestingly, we learned after finalizing gear ratio that the one spec'd
was the same one on all the british postal service single-speed mail-delivery bikes. - 56 gear inches. in short the
terrain found in such cities as new york, and london is suited for the strida.we recommend taking a look at the
evaluation provided by journalist tim pestridge, who experimented with replacing his 24 speed bike with a strida for
his daily 11 mile daily commute. see www.pestridge.com/strida3.html

when evaluating whether you'll need gears or not ask yourself what sparked your question and where would you
anticipate using bike?
for most city commuters gears are far from essential.

p.s. following is more chatty response offered by mark sanders, inventor of the strida, to a customer inquiry in
2005 on the subject:

"Yes I have made several prototypes of geared versions, 2 speed & 3 speed, these were also retro-fittable ... but
no plans for production .... most people prefer the simpler, lighter, fuss-free single-speed strida....... which has
a lowish 56" gear. I found the only real benefit to the geared versions was faster decents, hill climbing was only
marginally better, with a lower gear."

"Try a Strida as it is - single speed suits its uncluttered, clean and minimalist design philosophy.... Strida IS fast
in its natural urban habitat ! For example in London its as fast as all but the lycra boys, its also about overall
journey time and ease of use ..... which includes near instant folding (5-7sec), and convenience when folded
(just wheel along - no carrying and no bruised shins).

is the strida right for me?
here is a checklist. if the answer is no to any of the above, see bottom of this to link to other folding bike resources.
is your commute involve hills more than 1/4 mile long? (strida is single-speed)

are you above 6'4" or shorter than 5'4"?

are you an uncertain rider? (strida is more maneuverable bikes. some love it. some feel it unsettling.)

do you mind talking to strangers? (strida generates friends)

is your commute more than 10 miles one-way?

if answer is yes to any of the above, please see 'A to B' magazine's excellent folding bike buyer's guide at:
http://www.atob.org.uk/Buyers'_Guide.html