prikbord

Possibly the worst folding bike in history; but that is just my opinion.

Here is a description of the bike:

It does not really Fold - it sort of splits in half (see picture) - and then is supposed to stand upright or be laid down. Laid down it represents a tripping hazard of uncomfortable proportions; standing up unless you immobilise the wheels using the brake loops on the handlebars (a design afterthought if ever I saw one). A magnet holds it all together and is not very satisfactory being either too much or not enough and the bike is either impossible to unfold or comes unfolded at the wrong time

It is not convenient to carry - much is made of the ability to roll it along - do not be fooled it is akward piece of kit to lift and carry and even roll along; especially upstairs at stations etc.

You look a right dork riding one - the rear mounted position gives you the impression that you are on a penny farthing - Viscount Linley may have had a go at looking cool but the overall reaction is one of undisguised hilarity and mirth - and they are not laughing with you.

Not suitable for London - some seven inner tubes later I would conclude that the nature of the frame and tyre configuration is such that pinch flats are a way of life with this "bike" - this particular bike is supplied with a flat back tyre (sorry sick of changing them), but comes with spare inner tube and set of tyre spanners (if you weigh more than 80kg you will need them a lot). The bike has also been fitted with a stronger rear tyre supplied by Strida who appear to tacitly acknowledge that there is an issue. The tyre is the standard tyre used on a Brompton (strange that!) - however - you still get flats. If you weigh very little, only want to cycle a short distance on flat well repaired roads you will probably get away with it.

Design Defects/Product Recalls - for a bike that is supposed to be the pinnacle of design it has had two major structural issues in 12 months of ownership: first, the ball joint at the top of the A frame cracked and had to be replaced (an engineer admitted this had been an issue, although there was no formal recall) slightly off putting when the bike collapses while riding; secondly, there was a formal product recall (see website: www.strida.co.uk ) in relation to the steering pin that apparently could work loose. I have had both these items professionally replaced and the bike has been serviced.

Trendy but broadly useless Customer Service - lots of talk about customer service and focus, but not much action; after a year of constant issues I decided enough was enough and that I had given it my best shot but that bike was either a lemon or was just a design dud; after four weeks of delays and prevarications I was tartly informed that the would give me a 35% refund and I could pay for delivery and that the bike had "no frame issues" - well not since the last product recall in any event! After a bit of haggling this went up to 65% but I would have to pay for shipping. I felt that selling on Ebay would be more fun. Interestingly I have noted on my daily commute that three Strida's have come and gone in my 12 months of ownership and been replaced by something more suitable.

Other stuff you should know - the kevlar belt slips - this was particularly noticeable on the new bike (apprently factory tuned!) but was better after it was adjusted properly during its service; it comes with a couple of different colour mudguards (green and blue) - it also has the rubber muguard extension fitted (actually a "bribe" that came with the replacement steering pin!). It is not what you would call brilliantly clean, however it has been fully serviced. Funnily enough I will not ship it as I cannot think how to pack it and I would not waste my time so London purchasers or enthusiastic owners only please.

Specification - just over 12 months old - ridden about 5 miles a day during week; orange mud guards fitted (plus rubber extension); "performance kit" - folding handle bars and folding pedals, rear rack, new rear tyre (non-standard supplied by Strida), new steering pin, new ball joint, serviced by Velorution in London. Flat back tyre following last pinch flat - new inner tube and tyre spanner supplied for free, plus pump (so that you can check pressures every time you ride it)

Oh My Dear you mean you are actually going to bid - if after all this you still think that you want one of these then I look forward to meeting you; I will give you a free go on a Brompton just so that you will realise what a huge error you have made and that notwithstanding the supposedly bargain basement price it is, indeed very hard to drive a bargain - well for any distance without getting a flat or possibly it falling to pieces. Please ensure that you have a helmet. For blokes please note that if you come to an abrupt stop your front bits will clonk the A frame quite hard - I have watering eyes to prove this.

There is plenty of praise and adulation for this supposed design masterpiece elsewhere; but you will not find any here. Happy bidding...

Bij het bladeren door wat lagercatalogie eens de lagers vergeleken die in een modern hollowtechII crankstel worden gebruikt met de lagers zoals die in het tijdperk van de vierkante asjes heel gewoon waren. Was even zoeken, want je verwacht een lager voor een zwaar belaste trapas niet in de sectie 'thin-section instrument ball bearings"!

27/4/2007
external bearing crankset

Bovenstaande illustratie is het crankstel van een Victor uit 1897!
(outing magazine, via http://www.aafla.org/index.html)

lager	statisch draaggetal Co	dynamisch draaggetal C
W61805 (hollowtech) (25x37x7mm)	193 kg	257 kg
6003 (17x35x10)	285 kg	475 kg