The history of the Strida folding bike, one of the most unusual city bikes ever made
From Road.cc
by SUVI LOPONEN
Four decades after it was conceived as part of a master’s project, the Strida with its ‘A-shaped’ frame still stands out. You can even roll it round when you’re not riding it
In the world of folding bikes, the Strida stands out as a unique and innovative creation. Designed by UK engineer and designer Mark Sanders, this portable, belt-driven folding bicycle has evolved over the years around the ‘A’-shaped, collapsible frame. Here we take a little delve into the history and peculiar design features of this bike.
Over the years, Strida has garnered a bit of a reputation and become a sort of cult classic for its riders. What sparked our interest in this bike was a video that popped up on X/Twitter recently, showing a rider hauling what seems like quite an unrealistic load on their Strida. We also spotted one right outside the road.cc office a few years ago!
The Strida was originally created by Brit Mark Sanders as part of his master’s degree project between 1983 and 1985. It was born as a solution for urban commuters seeking a portable, easy-to-use, and maintainable folding bicycle.
The ‘A’-shaped frame and belt-driven system were chosen for simplicity and ease of maintenance, and the form was inspired by the Maclaren baby stroller, which was renowned for its compact fold.
Image courtesy of Road.cc
