A Review of My Strida Folding Bicycle
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 09.22.08
When Andrew reviewed his new pocket rocket, he wrote that it took "half an hour to fit everything into the case, and a quick fold (such as would be needed to take the bike on a train) can be done in under a minute." When Collin posted about the new Strida bikes, Brennan commented "I tried out one of these things. They are idiotic: hard to control, the small wheels transmit shock from any road imperfection, gearing is inappropriate for moving safely in traffic, and the taller you are, the closer your hands get to you as you move the seat up. This bike is an example of when industrial design purism trumps real functionality." Them's fightn' words, so I thought I would do a review of my Strida after six months of use.
First of all, Brennan, regarding the Strida being hard to control and inappropriately geared, our tech diva would say "it's not a bug, it's a feature."
Just like many modern fighter planes are designed to be unstable so that they are more maneuverable, the Strida seems a but hard to control at first. But get it into crowded streets, and it is unbelievably maneuverable- the thing turns on a dime. I have taken it around cars and pedestrians in ways that would not have been possible on my road bike.
And while it is true that the low gearing makes it's pace, um, stately, when riding it in New York City that slow pace saved me from being doored a couple of times, and saved me from running in to more than one pedestrian jumping out of nowhere. I take a few extra minutes now when I ride to school, but I feel a lot safer, and would not again clip myself into pedals on a road bike for a ride downtown.
But the extraordinary asset that the Strida offers is its five second fold; it changes the way you use a bike. I used to carry a lock that weighed more than my bike and still worried about whether it would be there when I got back. Now that Igor the bicycle thief has been arrested the rate of theft has dropped significantly, but with the Strida I don't bother even taking a lock much of the time- I just fold it up and take it inside. If anyone complains (only one store has) I ask if they allow baby strollers into their store- the Strida doesn't take any more space. Instead of being a mode of transportation that has to be parked, it becomes the latest fashion accessory.
Toronto green architect Martin Liefhebber saw my Strida at a conference in Collingwood (I interviewed him here) and bought one. I recently was a guest lecturer at his class at OCAD and after we went for a beer; we both brought our bikes right into the bar and sat them beside us in the booth. He lives a few miles from the subway and the school is just a block or two from the subway downtown, but he rides to the subway, folds the bike, takes the subway downtown, (bikes are not allowed on the subway in rush hour but they never stop the Strida) and unfolds it at the other end for a two block ride.
In the end, I would suggest that the Strida is safer because it is so maneuverable and yes, because it is so slow. I think that it is also a game-changer in that it is so easy and quick to fold- you treat it very differently than a normal bike, you take it into places that even a normal bike can't go. Folded up, you can push it like a stroller; TreeHugger founder Graham Hill hangs his up in a closet.
I can fold it in five seconds and I can pack it in its travelling bag in 30 seconds and am taking it to New York again this week, and to the Greenbuild conference in Boston in November- it is that quick and easy.
It isn't perfect, you do have to learn to use the rear brake first, and after riding a road bike where one's weight is distributed among the pedals, the seat and the handlebars, my bum hurts. But if bikes are going to become a viable alternative mode of transport, we have to solve the theft and parking problem. Having them fold up and come with you is a great start.
More on Strida in TreeHugger:
Strida Folding Bike Update: Three New Models, New Colors for Spring 2009
Strida vs A-bike: Folding Bicycles Battle it Out
Hang Your Folding Bike in Your Closet
Off To ICFF On a Wing and a Strida
From Sketchbook to Street: The Evolution of Strida Folding Bikes
No, I Did It First! The Same Sugar-to-Gasoline Method Discovered by Two Research Teams
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Hey, thanks for the amusing retort!
However, I still feel the safest way to commute by bicycle is to ride at a speed approaching that of vehicles. Not only does a high speed allow you to merge safely into traffic, but resultant increased stability allows one to ride in a predictably straight line that doesn't cause drivers to panic. Of course, being a bike racer allows me to ride the way few can.
The small wheels may cause a dangerous loss of control if hitting a wheel-swallowing pothole, and make it difficult to pop curbs if necessary.
I can see the advantages of a Strida if living in a city where combined transit/cycling is a practical option, where bike theft is a problem, and where congestion considerably slows traffic. However, out here in wild west Edmonton, you'd better haul ass on the fastest bike possible or be flattened by a hick in an F350 with dualies.
Okay, my turn to review my montague cx. Montague's are full sized folding bikes (26" wheels). They are the Hummers of the bike world, in that they are used by the military, but sold to the public as well. Also, like the Hummer, they get 0 miles per gallon, but for an entirely different reason. Montague actually has a decent selection of bikes. Their website is worth a look.
I bought my bike for three reasons. First, I have a one room apartment. Bikes are sometimes stolen where I live, but bringing my non-folding bike into the safety of my apartment was unrealistic. It took up the entire entryway. My monatagues folds to about three feet by three feet and fits into a small corner with no problem. Secondly, I have a small car and hate using bike racks. I can now bring my bike anywhere I drive. I haven't ever tried to bring it on an airplane or train, but I think it can be done. Lastly, I just wanted a full-sized bike (not that I dislike small folders).
Montague has been reviewed on this site before so I won't repeat the other advantages about the folding mechanism and stuff. From my personal experience, the folding time is actually pretty quick. I have never timed myself, but I'd say it's about 30 seconds. You have to undo the front wheel first, but that's not too much trouble. It fits onto the back seat of my honda civic when folded. The civic (at least in 2003) has very little trunk space, but if I take off the back wheel of my bike, it will even fit in that tight space.
I've had some problems with it. It weighs about 30 lbs. and is a bit awkward on stairs. I had some problems attaching the bike basket to the back because of the seat. But it rides well and has decent gearing. I don't have to look too hard to find parts, since it's a standard size. It was very decently priced ($400). It's just like a normal bike, but it folds.
My experience with my Strida 3 I bought in 2004 while in the Washington DC area is similar. It was wonderfully practical for quick trips to and from the Metrorail where I could fold and unfold it in a jiffy (in fact a bit faster than Lloyd in the clip!). I made many jaws drop doing so and must have been responsible for a many a bruised chin. It was great for wheeling around in its folded position (though a sudden jolt on uneven sidewalks often made the magnetic catch holding the wheels together snap open) and -- with the brake loops on the handles to immobilise the brakes -- I could put it up a step above me on escalators and lean on it as a rest on my way up. No need to use the elevators as with ordinary bikes (and battle with the fat and lazy who monopolise them instead of making the extra effort to use the escalators there (!).) Similarly, with the brake loops, I could esily prop it up against a wall or between my legs in a metrorail car or in a restaurant as an alternative to laying it down on its "back" propped up on the baggage carrier that doubles as a sort of kickstand.
I was even surprised to find myself passing a regular cyclist on a medium slope uphill at one point but -- and it needs to be kept in mind here that Washington DC and surrounding areas north of Florida Avenue can be QUITE hilly compared to most cities I have been in -- the steepest hills could be difficult and I found the drive belt would often skip on the hardest ones and it would be a tough slog at the top, but these hills were even hard with my regular hybrid bike at a low gear. The hills from downtown Montreal going up onto the Plateau area are only slightly less challenging.
Speedwise, I wouldn't say the Strida was exceptionally slow compared to my regular bike: my approximate half-hour commute between home and work in DC was only marginally longer on my Strida. (I can say the same for my Kickbike scooter compared to my current hybrid bike here in Montreal.) And comfort-wise, I actually found it more comfortable to sit on with the plush saddle than my regular bike. Not sure why the difference between Lloyd and me. `
The only really negative thing I have to say is that the new metal spoked wheels seem to have a problem with spokes breaking. I have had this happen on my back wheel two years in a row, both with my original metal wheel set (which replaced the original molded plastic wheels) and with the replacement that Strida quickly sent me. Unfortunately the excellent customer service I received the first time around hasn't been replicated the second time and I am stuck with two snapped spokes and no response from Strida.
Coming back to the speed and hills issue, I wonder how the new two-speed model will fare comparatively in these two situations? It would be interesting to see some reviews once people start trying them out.
Oh, and for those interested in larger folding bikes, Mark Sanders, the designer of the Strida, was also showing a full-size folder of his design at Eurobike this year: the iF (in three models) manufactured by Pacific Cycles.
Folding BikesTo experience the various facets of folding bikes like disk brakes Black, Skin Wall, Reflective Stripe Alloy, Cold Forged SS, Rear Hub Freewheel in your folding bike or strida, Just order your folding bike today on http://www.myfoldingbike.com/
Thanks for your review!
Quick question about travelling with the Strida. You refer to your travel bag. When you fly, do you have to check in your Strida? If you do, do you put some sort of extra protection in/around the bag to prevent damage to the wheels or other parts?