STRiDA is a portable, belt-driven, folding bicycle with a distinctive ‘A’-shaped collapsible frame, designed by UK engineer and designer Mark Sanders. Aimed primarily at commuters and city dwellers whose storage space might be limited, STRiDA is designed to be simple to use, quick to fold, and easy to maintain. History of STRiDA
1977
STRiDA designer Mark Sanders takes an apprenticeship with Rolls
-Royce in Bedford, UK.
1980
Sanders graduates from Imperial College, London, earning a degree in Mechanical Engineering.
1981
Sanders accepts a position with the Mars Corporation, working as a design engineer in the Vending Systems division.He holds this position through 1983.
1983
Sanders “sees the light”. He realizes that products need not only sound engineering but also aesthetics and humanity. He enrolls in the Industrial Design Engineering program (IDE) run jointly by Imperial College and the Royal College of Art in London.
1984
Sanders designs a folding bicycle as part of his graduate studies.
1985
Sanders finishes work on his folding bicycle. He completes his postgraduate degree and receives RCA’s Giorgetto Giugiaro Award in the Concept Bike category. A STRiDA prototype appears on the BBC’s Tomorrow’s World.
1985
An article written in The Sunday Times leads to a meeting with entrepreneur and former Greg Norman manager James Marshall. Production design and tooling begins.
1986
A Glasgow manufacturer is chosen to produce the bicycle. The director’s 9-year-old son dreams up the name STRiDA, a better name than those submitted by professionals!
1987
STRiDA begin to roll off the production line. Its launch party is held at Harrods in London.
1988
STRiDA wins all three UK Cyclex Bicycle Innovation Awards (Best New Product, Most Innovative, Best British Design). Production moves to Nottingham (the original home of Raleigh).
1990
Production moves to Portugal.
1992
25,000 STRiDA Version 1’s have been sold to date.
1993
The British Technology Group (BTG), a company that licenses and commercializes medical innovations and other UK technology, controls the rights to STRiDA, through 1995.
1997
Roland Plastics, a UK firm, purchases the rights to produce STRiDA Version 2 and moves production back to the UK. Magazine’s Annual Design Award, Sail Magazine’s Pittman Award for Innovation and Safety, and the British Design Council’s Millennium Product Award. Steedman Bass, of Boston USA, purchases the rights to produce the STRiDA. With Bill Bennet , Eric Thomas, and Mark Sanders, Bass begins development of STRiDA Version 3.
2002
In order to meet increased demand, Bass moves production to Taiwanese manufacturer Ming Cycle. Version 3 is launched, with an inaugural shipment of 2000 units to Italy. Ming Cycle begins to establish distributorships in Korea, Japan, Netherlands, France and the U.S. Ming Cycle starts development on STRiDA Version 5.
2006
STRiDA Version 3.2 is the recipient of Fiestrai Award of INNOVATIE.
2007
STRiDA Version 5 is launched. It is the recipient of the TBEA Award. Ming Cycle bought the STRiDA brand & now 100% own the IP rights. For more information please check out www.mingcycle.com.tw
2008
STRiDA SD (2 speed system) is launched. STRiDA is not only a single speed folding bike, but 2 speed.
2009
STRiDA LT and STRIDA SX are launched.
2010
Quick release (Q/R) system is launched. People can adjust the height of seat easily.
2012
STRiDA EVO new 3 speeds system is in production to provide the rider easily ride on different road conditions.
2013
STRiDA EVO - 3 speeds will be launched.
2014
The carbon version was in R&D phase.
2015
The carbon version won award of Taiwan Excellence and is planned to be launched soon.
