First about myself so you can gauge the worth of my opinion.
Starting in 1974 I was member of the US Navy Submarine service for 7 years and for most of the time I was stationed in New London Ct. Each year I was deployed to the Mediterranean for 6 months and as such decided that an automobile was not worth the investment and therefore choose a bicycle as my only form of personnel transportation.
The commute from my apartment to the sub base was 11.5 miles one way with two nice climbs. I commuted in all weather and seasons. My first year my derailleur broke twice during rides in snow and cold temps so I traded my multi speed machine in for a Richard Sachs fix gear with criterium geometry with both front and rear breaks.
For the rest of my life I have ridden fixed gears with the exceptions of a Colins Cape 5 cog time trial bike I purchased in 75 – sold in 78 and a Sarrotta I purchased in 1994, rode some for 3 months and sold to a friend. I have ridden more than and 100 centuries on my fixed gears including Solvang three times during the period when the route included the climb through the airbase. My three gear inches of choice are 56 inches, 66 inches, and 70 inches. All three Solvang rides were done on 66 inch gearing. The 56 I used for riding various islands in the Mediterranean where hill miles exceed flat miles by at least 99.9%. When riding 56 inch gearing the rear cog was free wheeling, the 66 and 70 were always non free wheeling (truly fixed).
I choose the Strida 5 because it is both fixed geared and belt drive. I have grown to hate chains in 30 years of riding. I was able to test ride the Strida 5 for 2 weeks when I rented one in ChangZhou China to ride between my hotel and work (8 km round trip). I also took the bike via high speed rail to Nanjing and HungZou. My only issue with the bike was the seat.
When I returned to the US I purchased a Strida-5 and have ridden more than 500 miles on the machine. My only changes to the machine were the seat and I added a head lamp and flashing red LED rear lamp.
I have ridden two organized 25 mile rides both of which had routes that included rail to trail dirt tracks as well as paved roads. On my own I have a rails to trails / city street route that I ride on Saturday mornings to breakfast and back that is 43 miles round trip.
I ride to work every day (3 miles one way). The bike is stored under my desk.
I really enjoy the bike, so much so, that I have not ridden any of my full sized fixed gears since I purchased the Strida-5.
Negative Points – Lets face it; 90 rpm at the peddles with 56 inch gearing is only 14 mph and change, so 50 miles is a good days ride. However at my age the slower speed means that I can’t attack whenever I see a rider ahead. My favorite addiction was driving geared riders into the dirt, but its about time for me to grow up. The set up and riding position is not the exact same as a standard geometry frame so I highly recommend test riding one like I did to ensure you can adapt.
Neutral Points - The bike will change your style of riding, the Strida-5 will climb okay while in the seat but the belt will slip when the grade gets steep. So I get off and walk. I have the belt tension set very low so that I feel very little drag when turning the cranks by hand, this low friction setup saves energy over the miles so I don’t mind getting off and walking up the last section of a steep hill when the belt slips.
Positive Points – Disc brakes; after 30 years of caliper brakes I really like this disc brake concept, I did not know caliper brakes were so bad and my full size fixed gear bikes are equipped with the top of line brakes with supposedly the best aftermarket pads. This bike is very quick handling, a lot like my Kilo bike for the velodrome, so I find it fun to ride in crowded areas and downtown. The handle bar width and grips are very comfortable. This bike is very simple to fold and store and fits in the overhead luggage rack on the trains in China and Amtrak here in the US. The bike is not only fun to ride and is very, very, very, low maintenance.
While in China I tested 4 other different brands of folding bikes but the shifters, derailleurs, cables, and chain drive issues they each presented convinced me that the Strida was the bike for me.
Zonker
07-03-08, 03:18 PM
I choose the Strida 5 because it is both fixed geared and belt drive.
The Strida 5.0 is fixed gear? I was under the impression it was single speed freewheel, from the reviews I've read. Or did you "fix" it yourself, perhaps?
Dahon.Steve
07-03-08, 07:27 PM
This is good review. Personally, I never really had trouble with chains and have yet to wear one out. I figured if the OP was that hard on bikes, the Strida would never last that long. I guess I was wrong. What gets me is the OP's use of the Strida. He is really using that bike alot (more than what it was designed) and has very little maintenance issues!
When I test rode the Strida, it felt just as comfortable as the Brompton. No different. The tires and comfortable seat made it just fine. You can tell it was a polished product after all these years in production.
I still think the OP should give hub gears a try. They are much more stable and you can choose either disk or roller brakes.
trueno92
07-04-08, 07:28 AM
strida is freewheel.
fixed gear means no freewheeling - and i dont' think the belt, which occasionally can skip a tooth, wouldn't be too hot for that...
im blown away with the lack of maintenance that the OP has had to do on it, but I guess if you keep your mitts away from swapping stuff out, it should be a-ok.
mark sanders, the designer of the bike, has hinted to me there IS a speed system that is good for little strida, but i don't know if he is talking hydraulic CVT, schlumph or what..?
to the OP, with the change in riding posture, did you find the cranks pretty long? I am experimenting with shortening the cranks to see if things smoothen out upwards of 90rpm.
OldiesONfoldies
07-04-08, 09:16 AM
First about myself so you can gauge the worth of my opinion.
Starting in 1974 I was member of the US Navy Submarine service for 7 years and for most of the time I was stationed in New London Ct. Each year I was deployed to the Mediterranean for 6 months and as such decided that an automobile was not worth the investment and therefore choose a bicycle as my only form of personnel transportation.
The commute from my apartment to the sub base was 11.5 miles one way with two nice climbs. I commuted in all weather and seasons. My first year my derailleur broke twice during rides in snow and cold temps so I traded my multi speed machine in for a Richard Sachs fix gear with criterium geometry with both front and rear breaks.
For the rest of my life I have ridden fixed gears with the exceptions of a Colins Cape 5 cog time trial bike I purchased in 75 – sold in 78 and a Sarrotta I purchased in 1994, rode some for 3 months and sold to a friend. I have ridden more than and 100 centuries on my fixed gears including Solvang three times during the period when the route included the climb through the airbase. My three gear inches of choice are 56 inches, 66 inches, and 70 inches. All three Solvang rides were done on 66 inch gearing. The 56 I used for riding various islands in the Mediterranean where hill miles exceed flat miles by at least 99.9%. When riding 56 inch gearing the rear cog was free wheeling, the 66 and 70 were always non free wheeling (truly fixed).
I choose the Strida 5 because it is both fixed geared and belt drive. I have grown to hate chains in 30 years of riding. I was able to test ride the Strida 5 for 2 weeks when I rented one in ChangZhou China to ride between my hotel and work (8 km round trip). I also took the bike via high speed rail to Nanjing and HungZou. My only issue with the bike was the seat.
When I returned to the US I purchased a Strida-5 and have ridden more than 500 miles on the machine. My only changes to the machine were the seat and I added a head lamp and flashing red LED rear lamp.
I have ridden two organized 25 mile rides both of which had routes that included rail to trail dirt tracks as well as paved roads. On my own I have a rails to trails / city street route that I ride on Saturday mornings to breakfast and back that is 43 miles round trip.
I ride to work every day (3 miles one way). The bike is stored under my desk.
I really enjoy the bike, so much so, that I have not ridden any of my full sized fixed gears since I purchased the Strida-5.
Negative Points – Lets face it; 90 rpm at the peddles with 56 inch gearing is only 14 mph and change, so 50 miles is a good days ride. However at my age the slower speed means that I can’t attack whenever I see a rider ahead. My favorite addiction was driving geared riders into the dirt, but its about time for me to grow up. The set up and riding position is not the exact same as a standard geometry frame so I highly recommend test riding one like I did to ensure you can adapt.
Neutral Points - The bike will change your style of riding, the Strida-5 will climb okay while in the seat but the belt will slip when the grade gets steep. So I get off and walk. I have the belt tension set very low so that I feel very little drag when turning the cranks by hand, this low friction setup saves energy over the miles so I don’t mind getting off and walking up the last section of a steep hill when the belt slips.
Positive Points – Disc brakes; after 30 years of caliper brakes I really like this disc brake concept, I did not know caliper brakes were so bad and my full size fixed gear bikes are equipped with the top of line brakes with supposedly the best aftermarket pads. This bike is very quick handling, a lot like my Kilo bike for the velodrome, so I find it fun to ride in crowded areas and downtown. The handle bar width and grips are very comfortable. This bike is very simple to fold and store and fits in the overhead luggage rack on the trains in China and Amtrak here in the US. The bike is not only fun to ride and is very, very, very, low maintenance.
While in China I tested 4 other different brands of folding bikes but the shifters, derailleurs, cables, and chain drive issues they each presented convinced me that the Strida was the bike for me.
Happy that you are so satisfied and pleased with your Strida. Having owned the Strida and Pacific's brilliant Carry Me, I would like to add that the CM is in some ways, better than the Strida. Both are "stick" bikes in that they fold upright with a very small footprint and can roll about. The CM is way smaller and lighter. It is able to carry unbelievable amount of luggage easily on its rear rack unlike Strida's plastic flimsy rack. Its seat adjusts very easily unlike Strida. The CM transfers power better than belted Strida due to chain (ya, oiling necessary every now and then). Plastic BB of my Strida 3.3 in my case creaked incessantly. CM has a more conventional riding position compared to Strida's upright "Victorian" posture.
But its 8" wheel is less comfy and rolls not as well as Strida. And yes, it loses in design by a mile. Makeinu probably have more things to add. My point is though Strida is quite good, but if anyone out there is looking for a stick folder for short multi-modal commutes, do check out the remarkable CM as well. It may very well suit you better :) The Strida has a worthy competitor in the CM.
*But if you are over 6 ft and weigh over 85kg, the CM isnt for you. Design limitation.
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l260/oldiesonfoldies/CM4R.jpg
Slightly better carrying capability with the CM :)
OldiesONfoldies
07-04-08, 09:42 AM
Quote: When I test rode the Strida, it felt just as comfortable as the Brompton.
With full respect to your statement Steve, I find it difficult to agree with you. I have found the Strida's ride on the harsh side due to aluminium tubes and short wheelbase. The Brompton with its steel frame, and rear suspension is way more comfortable than the Strida. Not to mention Strida's very upright riding position... I have ridden both extensively. Its not in the same class. I admire the Strida for many other strengths and virtues (design, ease of fold, low mtn etc), but ride comfort is NOT one of them. But this is just my experience.
Strida & Brompton happily at play - Perth, Western Australia
Simple Simon
07-04-08, 10:49 AM
Welcome TBake - glad to see another 'triangle rangler' on here. Strida seems to be just like 'marmite' or 'vegemite' you love it or you hate it. Many hate it without even riding - I guess the shape and upright ride puts them off .
Nice pictures as usual OnF .. would love to be able to ride in all the great places you seem to go ... maybe one day !
With full respect to your statement Steve, I find it difficult to agree with you.
I'm with Steve on this - maybe OnF you got a dud Strida3 ? - It sounds like some of the plastic crank mounts are stiffer than others. I've too put some miles on a Strida3 - commuting for 3 years and now have a 5 which is better with a welded mounting but will get less of a hard time from me. The 3 still rides well and is now my wife's daily ride... with none of OnF's creaky bottom bracket. I find the bit of flex in the plastic seat mounting actually helps comfort (unlike in the crank area).
But there's nowt so subjective than bums !! :) (I like my Strida seats, but sounds like OnF and the OT don't).
Unless you really need a sporty riding position for max speed / wind resistance, I too find Strida a most comfortable ride... Its 'horses for courses', i've got a brommie too, but not a carry-me which I'd like as it rolls and is really light, but am too big / heavy for it.
TBAKEL
07-04-08, 02:00 PM
The two terms I have used for a long time are fixed and fixed free-wheel which to me and my track buddies always meant fixed = single cog non free-wheel and fixed free-wheel = single cog with free wheel. It is probably just track language because we show up at the velodrome with a full set of cogs and chain rings and based on the distance of the race or type of race we change gearing accordingly so we never really felt our track machines were single speed.
When BMX became popular and we could spin BMX free-wheel cogs on to our track hubs for road riding I guess we sort of developed our own language.
Sorry if my discription was confusing but the Strida-5 I would say in my language would be a single cog free-wheel
TBAKEL
07-04-08, 02:17 PM
When I was racing the velodrome competitivly, the post season fall months were a pain. My coach had me wind down to 200 mile weeks and then slowly over 4 months build up to 800 mile weeks. My teammates that did not work had to put in 1000 mile weeks. So to get in the miles you rode no matter the weather and you wore out at least three chains in the off season do to dirt buildup from road grit. When ever we trained as a team our only consistant gripe, other than our coach was a pain, was that chains were expensive.
The other chain issue I had was travel related. Some hotels in Europe would not let me bring my bike to the room because other riders had left grease stains on furniture, drapes, and carpet.
Some high speed trains in Europe and Asia will not let you bring a folding bike with chain into the passenger compartment because of the grease stain issue with other passenger's clothes and luggage as well as with the fixtures and seats in the car itself.
The Strida is nice because I can now travel with just two tools, a Parks three way allen wrench and a Parks number 13 spoke tool. My trips are normally 4 months in duration so it is nice not to worry about a chain.
Harley Davidson went to belt drive some years ago and I wish Ducati would, I would change my 996 over in a flash.
cyclistjohn
07-05-08, 05:43 AM
......... The Strida's ride is very harsh due to aluminium tubes and short wheelbase............
Once again demonstrating that there is no substitute for individual bicycle testing.
I've ridden well over 1000 miles on my Strida 3, my wife has ridden hers less miles, but longer trips than I, with neither of us feeling the ride "harsh". Other BF contributors have done far more miles than us on Stridas.
With respect to your vast experience with a large collection of folders (far more than us) may I suggest your "The Strida's ride is very harsh due to aluminium tubes and short wheelbase." statement be qualified with "I have found"?
Many readers visit BF with a view to buying a folding bicycle, & reading your statement, possibly in isolation, could well put them off buying a potentially very useful & "fun" bike.
I've been riding a comfortable 406 mm wheeled non-folder for the last few weeks, & of course, with a big range of gears, it's faster & will take me further in a shorter time, but it isn't "fun" like the Strida is.........
OldiesONfoldies
07-05-08, 09:41 AM
The "fun" factor of the Strida is without doubt, one of its strengths and I fully endorse that wholeheartedly. It attracts people like magnet and is an introvert's nightmare :) That was why I bought it!
But compared to the many bikes I have tested and owned, it's ride IS "on the hard side" esp on poor roads, speed strips and bumps unfortunately. Seemed to notice it even more as the miles pile on when I had it. I'm not sure if any tech experts can offer a satisfactory explanation for this.
My apologies if my discussions here may steer people away from Strida. CJ, your point duly noted and my sentence in earlier posting amended. I like the way this forum helps all of us to be more knowledgeable & informed through open, civil and constructive feedback.
ps: I have posted this before but in case you missed it, this is an article I wrote extolling the "fun" of riding Stridas on a trip we did last year for a lobster lunch :)
Quote: I'm with Steve on this - maybe OnF you got a dud Strida3 ? - It sounds like some of the plastic crank mounts are stiffer than others. I've too put some miles on a Strida3 - commuting for 3 years and now have a 5 which is better with a welded mounting but will get less of a hard time from me. The 3 still rides well and is now my wife's daily ride... with none of OnF's creaky bottom bracket. I find the bit of flex in the plastic seat mounting actually helps comfort (unlike in the crank area).
Hi SS. I would hope that my creaking plastic crank was an isolated case but I know 2 other riders who have the same problem. Maybe it was a factory defect on this same batch of production? It bugged me such that I have sold my Strida. But to be fair, my problem does not seem to be reported much in this forum. The Strida 5's crank design is a vast improvement indeed.
Thanks for contributing SS! :)
BikeLite
07-11-08, 11:23 AM
The back fender on the strida looks useless for stopping water or mud.
Simple Simon
07-11-08, 03:00 PM
The back fender on the strida looks useless for stopping water or mud.
Agreed - BUT OK with the flap fitted (made my own before I knew it could be bought).