Bikes are great. Great exercise, no fuel costs, very maneuverable, and no emissions. The biggest drawback to using a bike is its size. Most bikes are too big to take inside, 
but not big enough to deter thieves. What if you could just fold your bike up and carry it whenever you can’t ride it?
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The MAS Special Signature bike from STRiDA will fold down to the size of a musical instrument, and I don’t mean the sousaphone! Or the flute, for that matter. Maybe a guitar. When I first saw this design, I thought it was ugly. The more I look at it, the better it appears. It takes a little while to get used to wheels that are smaller than those on my kids’ bikes. The MAS Special is made of aluminum and weighs only 22 pounds. It folds down in only five seconds, which helps you make that elevator before it takes off. Now you can take your bike on the subway or bus, stash it in a car trunk, and park it behind a door or in a closet. Don’t worry about staining your clothing carrying it, the chain is made of greaseless Kevlar.
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Watch how easy it is to fold up.
This convenience is not cheap. The bike will retail for about $1400. At that rate, I hope you love bicycling, because you won’t have money for anything else! There are a total of five models of foldable bike from STRiDA for different size riders and different purposes. Available in spring 2009.
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Pretty nifty! Although for the price, it could look a bit nicer. As I write this, I’m looking at my husband’s bike that is mounted on our apartment wall. Not that pretty, but it won’t fit in a closet. This one definitely would fit in a closet!
posted by Amy D on 10-6-2008 at 8:47 am
My parent’s have 4 of these on their boat! They are kinda strange at first – take a bit of getting used to, but they are great for when you pull into different ports/marinas for exploring the towns. The 4 of them take up less space than my 1 beach cruiser, & because of how they are made, they dont rust, so they can be strapped up next to the dinghy on the fly bridge in space that is otherwise unused.
posted by Kathryn on 10-6-2008 at 10:49 am
Brompton Folding Bikes have been around since 1976 — they have a fanatical following among bikers who love to travel. I know several people who use them — they are very cleverly designed, and fold up easily — adjustable too. They cost about $700.
Check out the website or Wikipedia entry.
posted by Dolly Spalding on 10-6-2008 at 11:31 am
My first thought was that boaters would love these. Kathryn beat me to it. (What a life, eh?)
I would love one, but they will have to drop the price significantly. We ride as a family frequently, but it is getting harder and harder to tote 4 bikes around. As our children grow – so do their bikes.
posted by Karen on 10-6-2008 at 11:34 am
I’ve had a Dahon folding bike for years; perfect for short hauls from train station to work or home.
It weighs in under 20 pounds. I keep it under my desk in my office. They cost less than half of ths Stridas.
posted by AJC on 10-6-2008 at 2:37 pm