Thanks SesameCrunch - I have already messed about with the belt tension. It was far too tight and after about six miles of riding in wet weather, the belt started making a clicking noise. I loosened it up and the noise disappeared (although it is still too tight according to the strida hints and tips manual that I found here: http://www.strida.us/Tips-from-Mark.pdf ). How tight to you have your belt in terms of mid run belt deflection under light finger pressure?

Also, the bottom bracket squeaked under heavy pedalling pressure until I lightly oiled the plastic shell with WD40.

The wheels need minor truing attention which is an almost universal fault in cheap bikes, but is very easily dealt with. A quick look suggests that a couple of loose spokes being tweaked a bit will sort that one out.

I'm not sure how high to take the seat. At the moment I am a bit feet forward, which is not a natural position for me, and I need to go far back on the saddle on hills to exert power. I think I'll raise the seat another inch and see how that feels.

Yesterday I rode it about ten and a half miles. After about six, my backside was feeling the strain of the arse heavy riding position. It may require a better seat because unlike my other folder, there is no way you can take much of your weight on the feet.

All that being said, it's a funny, quirky little bike with no vices. The brakes feel a bit spongy, but they work, and I am sure if I tinker with the adjustment, they will improve. I happen to have about ten pads for another disk brake bike I used to have.... I wonder if they will fit this brake design. I bet they will, but that's just the unnatural optimism of a guy who buys £110 fakes and expects them to be good. So far, this one hasn't disappointed me yet. At the worst, I lost very little, and more likely, I'll have a good bit of riding fun for the price of a good night out.

The weather is foul just now, but next time I get the chance to take it out, I'll take some close up photos of parts like the BB and see if they match up with yours. I don't know if you got to look at that link to Strida Fake makers, but there are at least eight different factories there registered with one particular China export portal. I bet there are twice as many churning them out.