by Larry Lagarde

Since Interbike, there's been something of a buzz on the Internet about the Strida 5, the latest version of the original A-shaped bike that Mark Sanders released to the world back in 1987.

Popular with commuters, city dwellers and even yachties, all Stridas fold quickly and require very little maintenance (for example, the greaseless kevlar drive belt keeps clothing and the drive train free of oil & dirt). What sets the Strida 5 apart from earlier models is that the plastic hubs, brake parts, wheels, etc. have been replaced with high quality aluminum parts, improving the ride while decreasing the weight to under 20lbs.

Priced at $799, the Strida 5 costs hundreds more than other single speed folding bikes on the market. Is it worth paying the difference? I'll find out soon because Strida is sending me a brand new Strida 5 to review. Look for more info here including photos & video.

Labels: lightweight-folding-bike, Strida-folding-bike

by Larry Lagarde

Weight is frequently an issue with bicycles. Bike racers want low weight to win races; folding bike owners want a lightweight folding bike for practicality. The lighter the folding bike, the easier it is to tote onto a bus, up a flight of steps or into an RV, car trunk, closet, boat, plane, office, etc.

As folding bike sales increase, so does the pressure on bike companies to position their models ahead of the competition. This has led some makers to list the weight for their bikes without components that many folding bike consumers consider important (pedals, kickstand, fenders, carry rack, etc.).

In fairness, some folding bikes were designed without a provision for certain components (don't even think about placing a carry rack on an A-bike) so an apple to apple comparison on specs is tough to do. Regardless, questions about lightweight folding bikes come up all the time. For this reason, I've assembled the following Top 5 list denoting the lightest weight folding bikes now in production. I've included a photo and some key facts about each bike.

Lightweight Folding Bikes - Top 5

1. A-Bike
Wt: 13 lbs.
Carry Capacity: 185 lbs.
# of Speeds: 1
Frame: Aluminum & plastic.
Misc: No carry rack; practical only on smooth surfaces.
Price: $340

2. CarryMe
Wt: 18 lbs.
Carry Capacity: 190 lbs.
# of Speeds: 1
Frame: Aluminum.
Misc: No fenders. Tiny carry rack. Rolls when folded.
Price: $490

3. Hasa Minimax
Wt: 19 lbs.
Carry Capacity: 250 lbs.
# of Speeds: 9
Frame: Carbon fiber & alloy.
Misc: No fenders or carry rack.
Price: $2600

4. Strida 5
Wt: 19 lbs.
Carry Capacity: 200 lbs.
# of Speeds: 1
Frame: Aluminum.
Misc: No kickstand. Folds roughly to the size of a golf bag. Rolls when folded.
Price: $800

5. Kent Superlite 1
Wt: 22 lbs.
Carry Capacity: 200 lbs.
# of Speeds: 1
Frame: Magnesium/aluminum alloy.
Misc: Carry handle built into frame.
Price: $169



Do you know of a folding bike weighing less than 23 lbs (including pedals, kickstand, fenders & carry rack)? To be sure, there are plenty of other lightweight folding bikes out there.

If you feel I missed one, speak up by clicking on the comment button below. By the way, bikes that are not yet on the market don't count but deserve honorable mention. Two I can think of include Alessandro Belli's 9 lb. thermoplastic suspension folding bike (VERY COOL; see photo at right) and the 19 lb. Strida 5 that is to be released sometime next year.

Note: Although not shown in the photo, the Kent Nexus folding bike now comes with fenders.
:-)

Labels: lightweight-folding-bike