Comments on: Interview: Strida bike designer Mark Sanders

By: Osvaldo Pavanelli

Osvaldo Pavanelli — Sun, 25 May 2008 17:06:52 +0000

I am a brazilian graphic artist and a huge fan of folding bikes. Strida is obviously a great idea as regards form and function. God only knows how difficult it is to be simple. I dont have one, I sure would love to, but I do have the feeling the rider sits too near the steering stem, I dont know how confort that is. I saw a video showing a guy riding it, and he had his hands against his knees when turning the bike a couple of times.
I would buy it anyway, just for the pleasure of having one, but they are not sold here in Brazil.

By: Wayne Collier

Wayne Collier — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:52:49 +0000

Great bike. I’ve been a fan for years: I’ve had a Strida 2, a Strida 3, and now I really love the Strida 5. It takes a few minutes to get used to the ride, but it’s great for getting around in an urban environment: on and off trains, into stores and shops, even into the movies.

By: sprawlers

sprawlers — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 01:10:36 +0000

just to respond to some criticism of the bike:

I have one, and I find it is wonderful for its designed use: little bits of travel to and from train stations and mass transit. The excellence of this bicycle is how unobtrusive it is in crowded situations, and how quickly you can fold it, especially when fumbling for a train pass or ticket.

I live in Philadelphia, which is beautifully matched for a bike like this: the transit network is robust, but certain neighborhoods lack easy accessibility to the network. SEPTA would see a huge increase in ridership if these bikes were popularized, but they are a little pricey for many people.

People who look at this bike as a replacement for their road bike will be very disappointed, and they should be. It’s just not designed to do the same type of things. But used properly, the Strida is a superb instrument of urban transit.

By: SRIRAM.C

SRIRAM.C — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 12:27:19 +0000

I don’t know anything about the architecture of bike designing,automobile engineering.but in my primary classes during leasure time i used to design new models arising from my mind.sometimes i dreamt i will be a bike designer and took every one to my own world through my skills.
Now iam walking through commercial field(b.com)it is too far to reach my dream.Onething i can do is to send u my new modelsof bike through mail.if u agrees with me for changing new trend of bikes,iwant to have a chat with u.pls reply if u r ready to become friend.bye

By: CTLittleBen

CTLittleBen — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 03:44:22 +0000

Dear Sir:
May I post the whole article to my blog?
Thnak you!

By: Conrad

Conrad — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 16:36:59 +0000

Great article! I love learning about the Mark Sanders’ design process - it’s fantastic all the detail he can still provide. And I love the Strida. I learned about the Strida the week after they stopped selling them in the U.S. I went on a bit of quest to find one. I finally was able to make contact with someone at the manufacturing company, and was able to import one about a year and a half ago. I’ve ridden my orange 5.0 all over the city and I love it. It’s probably my most treasured possession.

By: Ettore Schioppa

Ettore Schioppa — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 08:04:54 +0000

Great Post. I’ve Strida in my architecture Graduation work dated 1997, and I’m really happy to discover so many things about the Strida design process. I like to ride by bicycle and I like the Ultra Light bicycle concept. I’ve fond that the traditional layout is the best, ‘would like to ride a Strida to feel if the project works good but it’s a bit too expensive. Anyway it was a completely different and new approach to the bicycle concept.

By: Architecture Nowadays...

Architecture Nowadays... — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 17:21:28 +0000

I would like to see a similar post on something from OMA or Hadid…

By: Simon

Simon — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 16:06:46 +0000

Strida IS getting about !!

Just seen it in Business Week - with some great pictures (coming of age ??)

http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/feb2008/id2008024_854191.htm?chan=innovation_innovation+%2B+design_top+stories

By: Simon

Simon — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 15:42:06 +0000

Thanks - great write-up !!

There is a video showing the design process on google… (search ‘ Strida ‘ on Google video) … link is HERE:
http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-344646924407298798&q=Strida&total=119&start=0&num=100&so=0&type=search&plindex=3

It explains how the early ones (maybe like Mondi Tried ?) followed traditional steering geometries, but had twitchy handling, but the later Mk3 & 5’s have much better handling tuned based on feedback from many new riders.