Clever, simple, functional and a great design., Dec 2 2007

Comment from:Strida 5.0 , Central coast California

The Strida 5.0 foldng bike has a simple four-step. fold/unfold process that is very easy and quick - around 10 or less seconds. There are “origami” bikes available on the market that may fold more compactly but the Strida is also small enough for transport on public transit systems or tucking into the trunk/boot or your vehicle. It is unique in that you don't have to carry it when folded (except up flights of stairs) but rather can wheel it along like a baby stroller or a golf club bag. except that the Strida is much narrower. As for the ride. it can be twitchy in handling at first. due to its extreme upright position and short seat-to-stem distance. but becomes surprisingly easy to control after a few minutes of riding (the trick is to keep a loose grip on the handlebars and never tense up - don't pull on the bars when mounting. accelerating or climbing). The build quality is nothing short of superb; Strida skimped on nothing. every design and manufacturing detail is top-notch. The single-speed Kevlar belt-drive is pure simplicity - no gears or chain to maintain and no greasy gunk to smear your clothing or hands. The new ergonomic grips add both to comfort and control over the previous cylindrical grip form. The switch to disc brakes and alloy spokes is a big plus - both features add to the quality of build and to the control of ride. not to mention weight savings (down by three pounds). After all is said though. I personally wouldn't care to ride this bike more than 10 miles or so on mostly level terrain due to the limitation of its single-speed gearing. 16-inch wheels and very upright position. The Strida. however was never designed for anything more than a short. fairly level commute between public transport and destination (and vice-versa). In that goal the design of the Strida. especially the newest 5.0 version. hits the nail on the head.