Dear Team Strida,
I saw one of your fold-up bikes at Roll at the Greene in Beavercreek, outside Dayton, OH. I ride recumbent bikes, so I'm not averse to checking out unusual looking bikes. They were extremely helpful in demonstrating how to fold it, telling me about it and letting me take it out for a spin. It is VERY smooth and easy climbing hills; plus it folds up quickly and compactly. I can fold it up and roll it right into Panera's!
I was planning a trip to DC to take a class and was thinking about transportation, since I didn't want to drive in town. With money saved on my trip, I bought a Strida and it more than lived up to your claims! It's great for in town riding and much easier to take on trains and buses than regular bikes. When I travel and have limited room, it's great for taking to ride with my nieces, although they wonder if I'll ever have a "normal" bike. I've taken to leaving it in my car trunk and using it at lunch time to ride to local errands or lunch. So far I haven't needed it for emergencies if I have a breakdown in the middle of nowhere; but it's a great reassurance that I won't be stranded. I recommend that you advertise it as that also.
Where I've used it the most though is providing myself transportation when getting my car or my other bikes/trikes serviced! I just put a cushion on a bike rack and use 4 tie straps and I can carry it with me, so I don't need to use my car to drop off my bike! You're absolutely right that the average speed is 10-12 MPH; I average 12 coming back. I did swap out the seat for something with more cushioning. For a while I even swapped the rack out for a clamp-on Topeak rack; but reverted back to the stock rack and a light backpack or hip belt.
This is a great bike for students and campus living and navigating. It's so light and takes up so little space! I dropped my car off yesterday a couple miles from work and rode back, then stored it in my cubicle, resting on the tires and rack. One of our managers saw it and asked to try it and started riding up and down the aisles! He's a pilot and knows this would be a great thing to travel with.
It's fun watching people try it out and lots of people ask to. My favourites have been my brothers who, immediately of course, disregarded my safety warnings and crashed it pulling wheelies and slamming on the front brake. Awesome disc brakes by the way. Excellent! And the good part is they didn't even scratch the bike when they fell. Very durable!
Very clever and secure design. Great for in town, campus, and travel! Have you considered incorporating an internal rear hub? I know the tire assembly is kept narrow to maintain the folded dimensions. It might be something to look into. Also great job on selecting the belt drive! No grease, little maintenance, convenient and non-messy to transport and store!
Aces all around! I've been extremely pleased with my Strida! Also, very cool colour schemes. Works AND looks great!
Appreciatively,
Ray B.
Dayton, OH