we're off and blogging

greetings strida owner!

this blog is designed to keep you in the picture, strida-wise. we will occasionally post items we feel will make owning your strida a better experience. it will also serve as a tool to gather feedback from owners.

any owner may comment on any post. you may also email me directly: md@strida.co.uk to suggest topics.

anytime we post, we'll send out an email alert. the blog is also RSS-enabled: if you use a newsreader (i.e. bloglines, google reader, etc.) and subscribe at right, new posts will automatically show-up in your reader.

thanks for being a strida owner, and we look forward to bringing you what's new and good about strida.

best,

steedman bass
managing director

Comments

[Mike]

Hi everyone,

Don't know about a strida 5, but looks like someone is trying to develope a strida 6!!?

http://www.shelter-systems.com/x-wooden-bike-plans.html

On a serious note, maybe offering the strida 5 for sale in the uk might not be such a bad thing. It may be more expensive, but it would surely still be a better investment than a brompton, and it would surely only go to enhance Stridas reputation.

[steedman bass]

hi chop,

re: strida5
at this point, the biggest issue is cost. with VAT and duty, the price bump is significant. we look at the strida as a value, performance folder.

unless we can find ways to reduce cost, we will continue to offer the strida3 in the UK market.

[Chop!]

Hi Steedman & co
I'm confused, you say that you are spending a lot of time getting the next incarnation right, and that the pics I've seen are of a custom made one off, but it's called the Strida 5. Enlighten me, please! http://www.flickr.com/photos/12948773@N00/

[Helen Lianos]

Is it just me, or is it hard to get the loops on the handlebars, which are supposed to be used to lock the wheels so you can lean it against a wall, or keep it from rolling around on public transport? One of mine will, if I struggle with it, reach the brake, but the other one just won't. Any tips?

[steedman bass]

hi chop,

thanks for your comments.

re: strida5
we have purposely delayed introduction, making sure ALL kinks are 100% worked out before we bring to UK market. the strida3 has 4 years of continuous refinement behind it, and offers riders innovation at value-pricing.

re: accessories
all the accessories you see are added by users, and are not standard-issue by strida. we salute their creativity.

steedman bass
managing director

[Chop!]

Hey all you 'in the know' Stridanauts, what's all this about a Strida 5 (& Strida 5=3)? It has a welded BB, disk brakes etc. I assume that these are custom made 1 offs & not this year's models. How come there is a far greater choice of colours, accessories etc. in Far East? Can't see wire wheel upgrade on uk site, and pics are all of earlier Strida 3s without the pinch roller. In short the UK side of things seems to lag behind some of the International sites.
Please take this as constructive criticism ;o)
Chop!

[Mike]

Hi Chop!

I also saw that Strida parked outside Sand bar in Manchester. It wasn't mine, as I too always keep it with me (mine has one blue, and one green mudguard!! (just to be different!!)). Guess it must have been another one! ;o)

[StridaMk1]

Great Blog Steedman !
Thanks for Ch5 notice - it was very funny ! and I think (even with tubes going everywhere in doggy fold) it did the bike justice...
http://youtube.com/watch?v=kVVgsQt1DK4

[Goneenodothat]

I have been bidding for various Stridas on ebay for a couple of months but to no avail.

I just can't afford/bring myself to pay/ the full price for a new one yet. The a-bike alternative looks to have poor brakes and atob magazine gave the Strida a much better review.

I think if I had a shot on one it might change my mind. I have yet to see one being used in a real life situation yet.

I see plenty of Bromptons when down in London but never a Strida. In Glasgow I have only seen one Brompton.

I shall keep bidding and hope for the best.

[steedman bass]

hi mike,

at moment, service centre will just be in london.

if that changes, we'll be sure to let you know.

best,

steedman

[Chop!]

Hey Mike,

Was your Strida locked to the railings opp. The Sand Bar in The University district a few weeks ago? I had mine folded in the bar with me (safer)
Chop!

[Mike]

I've had my Strida (the metal wheeled version) for over six months now, and I'm still amazed and delighted with it. I recently had a look at some new bromptons for comparisons, and couldn't believe the price tag!! Okay, some might say 'yeah, but the brompton has got gears', but given the speed and simplicity of the strida, in a place like Manchester there really isn't much contest! Any chance you guys could open a service centre up here in Manchester? If you're going to sell bikes too, I reckon you'd do pretty well!!
Keep up the good work!

Mike

[Chop!]

Hi Steedman & co.
Sounds great! It's a pity GoBike couldn't adapt you pro-active approach. Strida NL shop in Amsterdam is superb so a similar set-up in Blighty would be great.
It's a shame that it's not possible to upgrade the Strida III with the pinch-wheel that stops the belt from jumping.
I give details of your Website to about 20 people a week, always being asked where I got mine, how much it costs? etc. Keep up the good work, if ever you have an old bottom rail & QR going cheap, I fancy trying to make a matching single wheel trailer! ;o)Safe Riding! Chop! (in Eindhoven, NL)

[John]

Know anyone who wants to buy a hardly used Strida? I've found the single gear to be a complete pain. I bought this to get from station to work, but its hopeless on hills and over anything more than a short distance its really hard work. Gears really are needed to make it practical to commute in a place like London.

[Robin]

Where did Sir Clive get the inspiration for his new 'A' bike? Why didn't anyone tell him about potholes when he made the wheels that small?

[steedman bass]

spelling corrected.

i used to be put off by lack of gears in the bike. we looked at a number of gear solutions. and rejected all of them based on added cost, weight, grease, and complexity.

now, having ridden over 5,000 miles on a strida, i have come to appreciate the strange appeal of a single gear.

[Tom]

"if your bike is out of warranty, your only fiscal responsibility will be to cover labor costs."

Sounds good but as this is an English bike (and an English website too?) Could we have "Labor" spelt properly? -As in "Labour"?? ;-)

Fab bike by the way! Who really needs more than one gear now? :-)