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ewtI so want a Strida. Yeah, it came with the tyres already with air in them... so I do get to test it out after all.
I've only tested it in the hallway so far... it's a teensy bit wobbly at first (due to different steering pivot than I'm used to?) but by mid-way down the hallway is absolutely fine. It's easy for me to fold up, very easy to push around like a surveyor's wheel when folded, and although I had to be slow at assembly (I'm not that strong right now) it was not difficult. Riding it does not make my hip twinge, which is an improvement over, say, walking, although I'd want to take it on a longer run to really know how it will affect me physically. Having the carrier with a 5kg capacity is also a good thing as it means that for most light riding I would not need to have a backpack, further reducing stress on my joints (one of the problems I'm coming up against in the warmer weather is that I need to carry water but it weighs rather a lot).
The back light/reflector combination is a slight PITA because it isn't easy to remove the light; I would probably just leave the reflector on and get a different light for night riding, myself. I suppose this is slightly less an issue with a bicycle that can be safely stowed inside, but the lights they send with the thing are not the cheapest ever. Also the front light uses two size N batteries which are likely to be difficult to source in some circumstances. Sod that, I think, I'd get cheaper lights that I can get rechargeable batteries for instead.
I don't think I would do without the 'performance kit', though - £72.30 ex VAT but you get a padded gel saddle and the handlebars and pedals fold for a smaller folded size, which means you can ALSO get it onto an airplane (probably a good idea to spend the £60 on the padded travel bag at that point)... but more importantly means it takes up as little space as possible when on trains.
It's a beautiful day. I think I'm off to the Post Office to pick up a parcel, and then to Tesco to buy a bicycle pump...
:)))
(I so want one of these. Le sigh. It would be useful...)
I've only tested it in the hallway so far... it's a teensy bit wobbly at first (due to different steering pivot than I'm used to?) but by mid-way down the hallway is absolutely fine. It's easy for me to fold up, very easy to push around like a surveyor's wheel when folded, and although I had to be slow at assembly (I'm not that strong right now) it was not difficult. Riding it does not make my hip twinge, which is an improvement over, say, walking, although I'd want to take it on a longer run to really know how it will affect me physically. Having the carrier with a 5kg capacity is also a good thing as it means that for most light riding I would not need to have a backpack, further reducing stress on my joints (one of the problems I'm coming up against in the warmer weather is that I need to carry water but it weighs rather a lot).
The back light/reflector combination is a slight PITA because it isn't easy to remove the light; I would probably just leave the reflector on and get a different light for night riding, myself. I suppose this is slightly less an issue with a bicycle that can be safely stowed inside, but the lights they send with the thing are not the cheapest ever. Also the front light uses two size N batteries which are likely to be difficult to source in some circumstances. Sod that, I think, I'd get cheaper lights that I can get rechargeable batteries for instead.
I don't think I would do without the 'performance kit', though - £72.30 ex VAT but you get a padded gel saddle and the handlebars and pedals fold for a smaller folded size, which means you can ALSO get it onto an airplane (probably a good idea to spend the £60 on the padded travel bag at that point)... but more importantly means it takes up as little space as possible when on trains.
It's a beautiful day. I think I'm off to the Post Office to pick up a parcel, and then to Tesco to buy a bicycle pump...
:)))
(I so want one of these. Le sigh. It would be useful...)
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no subject
Date: 2007-04-19 12:10 pm (UTC)Pedal, pedal, pedal, WOOT!
Is this a possible solution to your keys-and-geography problems? Best route to Canary Wharf is Enfield Town; train to Cambridge Heath; Bishop's Way to the Canal; Newell Street (just before Limehouse Basin) and Three Colts Lane to Westferry Road... About three miles.
(Reply to this)
no subject
Date: 2007-04-19 01:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-04-19 12:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-04-19 01:18 pm (UTC)The main reason for going with the gel saddle that the Strida people provide is that it is wider than the standard model saddle; that said, it does look as if I could change it for a different one at a later date if necessary.
Another thing is that riding posture on the Strida is quite upright (which is good or I couldn't manage it), so the saddle does take quite a lot of the body weight rather than it being spread between saddle, arms and legs.
no subject
Date: 2007-04-19 01:26 pm (UTC)Wide hips>sympathy. I have a problem with getting saddles wide enough.
Upright>I ride really upright, and still have lots of my weight on my legs/arms (and still hate my stupid squishy saddle) but obviously ymmv.
no subject
Date: 2007-04-19 02:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-04-19 05:55 pm (UTC)I'd really like to get a cool folding bike, then I could make transformer noises when I'm opening and closing it!
no subject
Date: 2007-04-19 06:01 pm (UTC)I am considering lessons (http://www.cycletraining.co.uk/training/individual_training.php) to help with this, at some point.
no subject
Date: 2007-04-19 09:09 pm (UTC)