Strida QR Seat Mount Explained

Strida QR Seat Mount Explained

This Strida QR seat mount post is one of my Strida Explained series. I have written this post hoping that it will help Strida fans install, adjust and maintain their Strida QR seat mount.  First the QR stands for quick release, the QR seat mount has quick release levers on the left side that make loosening and adjusting the seat mount much quicker than the original standard Strida seat mount.

If your new Strida has the Strida QR seat mount then you will need to install it and the rear rack when you receive your bike.  The parts you will find packed with your Strida are detailed in these photos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seat Pin Position

 

After unpacking the parts the first thing you will need to do is decide where the seat pin needs to be placed.  The seat pin is a pin that is threaded into the seat tube. This pin keeps the seat mount from moving in a side to side movement. The seat pin also is used for the height adjustment of the seat mount.

There are two positions for the seat pin in the seat tube. The Strida ships with the  seat pin in the lower of these two positions. This position is usable for riders  about 145 cm to 175 cm or 4′ 9″ to 5′ 9″. The higher position is for riders 175 cm to 185 cm or 5′ 9″ to 6′ 4″.

The seat pin is moved with a small hex key that is supplied with your new Strida. One of the things I do before I ship a new Strida bike is that I clean the threads of the upper seat pin hole.

Important only if you need to move the seat pin to the high position. I also insert a pin in the front side of the seat pin hole to remove over spray paint. If you have a new Strida from another source, care is needed in moving the seat pin as the threads are easily damaged. Inserting the head of the seat pin in the front of the hole will remove the paint that may obstruct the head of the pin entering from the other direction. When installing the seat pin, turn the pin clockwise half a turn than back it off, repeat this as you thread in the pin and the threads will clean as you go. Do not apply to much pressure as the 2 mm hex socket of the seat pin is very small and will strip easily.

QR Locking Mount

 

The next step is to insure the QR Locking mount is in position over the seat pin.

 

The next step is to install the left side of the seat molding.

The next step, hold the left side of the molding in place with one hand, with the other hand install the right side of the seat molding. The two bolts will need to be inserted through the seat molding and the nut started on the ends. The release levers are on the left side, the nuts are on the right side. Do not tighten the levers at this time.

The next step, is to install the QR locking lever. This red lever slides down from the top onto the locking mount. There are two grooves in the locking lever, one on each side that fit onto the ends of the locking mount. To make this operation easier I sometimes install the locking lever from the bottom upside down first so that I can see what I am doing. When installed upside down you can push the locking lever out from the tube, then you may be able to slip it off and install it in the correct position from the top.

The next step, installation of the QR locking lever safety. This small black part is what insures that the locking lever can not fall off the seat mount. Installing this part can take patience, I have discovered that if I connect one side at a time and then snap the center over the tab in the center of the locking lever it may be easier. There are small holes in the end of the locking lever safety part that ends of the locking mount fit into. To remove this part if needed, a small screw driver inserted in the center can pry it off the locking lever.

 

 

The next step, install the small QR hex head screw in the left side of the seat molding. There is a small metal washer that can disappear easily if you are not carefull. This screw can be tightened at this time and this screw does not need to loosened when adjusting the Strida QR seat mount.

The next step, install the seat. The rails of the seat snap down from the top onto the top of the seat mount. The seat rails fit into the grooves on the right and left side of the seat mount. This can be easy or this can be hard, it depends on the seat rails and their width. It will fit, it might take some pressure from the top, it may take sliding the seat rails in from the front or back, but it will fit. Be careful, I have pinched my hand more than once between the seat rails and the seat mount, be warned.

The next step is to install the seat bolt, washers and nut.  The bolt and nut size is 13 mm. Two adjustable wrenches or a socket set will do the job. The seat can be adjusted to be closer to the seat tube or further away. Don’t forget about this seat adjustment when you are adjusting the seat mount to your desired height.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next step, is to install the Strida rear rack. The rear rack is attached to the Strida QR seat mount with a bolt. The hole for the bolt is at the bottom of the seat mount. This sometime can be a tight fit. Tilting the end of the rack up when inserting the bolt may help. The included Strida multi hex key can be used to tighten this bolt. The plastic cap is to protect your skin from the end of the bolt. When the seat mount is in it’s lowest position the clip that holds the rack to the seat tube will not fit well. I have made this Custom Strida rear rack clip that works well in this situation.

Adjusting the Strida QR Seat Mount, lift the rear rack so that it is not clipped onto the frame. Loosen the two levers on the left side, push, pull the red locking lever forward, raise or lower the seat mount to the desired position. Make sure the red locking lever is retracted against the seat tube, tighten the nuts on the right side and close the QR levers on the left side. The levers need to be tight enough to secure the seat mount, but not to tight so the operation is difficult. Moving the seat mount in a side to side motion while moving the red locking lever can help if the seat mount is stiff. If the seat mount is not tight enough on the tube the result can be the seat pin breaking.

Enjoy your Strida, I hope this post will make installing the Strida QR seat mount an easy operation for you. Your comments are appreciated.

Link to Strida’s QR Seat Mount manual.

Link to the product, Strida QR Seat Mount.