Raleigh Stride 3 (2023 - ) review

Cargo bikes come in all sizes, configurations and designs but, in keeping with Raleigh’s values, the Stride 3 keeps things straightforward and affordable. Where the related Stride 2 uses a more conventional two-wheeled format the Stride 3 (clue in the name!) is technically a tricycle, with two wheels up front either side of the load bed. This means a greater carrying capacity – up to 100kg against the 80kg of the Stride 2 – while sparing you the need to put your feet down when you come to a stop. Something you’ll appreciate, especially if you’re less confident on the road or fear you’re not strong enough to hold up a fully loaded two-wheel cargo bike. The basic steel frame cleverly pivots around its middle, removing the need for steering linkages, while the back is basically a traditional, step-through frame design for a more conventional feel. A cargo-bike optimised Bosch motor is built into frame where the Stride 2 uses hub-mounted one instead.

For all the novelty of riding a cargo bike credit is due to Raleigh for keeping the bit the rider sits on as conventional as possible, with a riding position and feel much like a traditional ‘Dutch bike’ style machine. There’s only one size and you sit very upright, but that’s good for comfort and your view of the road ahead, while quick-release adjustment for saddle means you can quickly switch between riders of different sizes. Which is handy if mum and dad are taking turns for the school run. You can also adjust the height and angle of the handlebars, though this requires the spanners. The only thing to watch is how much the bars swing in tight turns, the fact you’re turning the whole front of the trike with them possibly proving a bit of a stretch for smaller riders.

The Stride 3 really is a load-carrying champion, and when it comes to what you might want to sling in the large ‘tub’ up front the only limit is your imagination, as demonstrated on the Auto Trader TikTok channel! (Link to external site) Shaped like a huge box, the load area can be configured for whatever job you may have in mind, including getting the kids to school. To that end you can add various configurations of child seat, from a bench for two to dedicated toddler or baby seats. All come with the necessary safety harnesses, and the combination of a sturdy steel frame around the load bay and the impact resistant foam on its sides gives you confidence your special cargo will be kept safe. An optional rain cover is available if you’re committing to the school run in all weathers, though the rider out back will still need their own waterproofs to stay dry! For shopping or other cargo the load bay is roughly comparable with the boot of a small hatchback car, so you can fit plenty of stuff in there. Life with a cargo bike is not without challenges, though, given the Stride 3 big and heavy machine. Even getting it up a kerb can be a struggle, so you’ll ideally need a flat, secure and easily accessible space like a garage to store it.

The frame-mounted electric motor is connected directly to the pedals and should respond faster to your inputs than the hub motor arrangement on the Stride 2. Like all e-bikes it is regulated by law to 250W of continuous power and a maximum assisted speed of 15.5mph, which is fine for what you’ll be using it for. It drives the back wheel via a conventional chain and a neat ‘automatic’ gearbox in the rear wheel. Without getting too bogged down in technicalities it offers continuously variable gearing, with the option to adjust this manually with a twist-grip shifter if you need easier pedalling for hills or pulling away, though we did find this a bit stiff to use and the change in effort somewhat abrupt. That’s not too much of an issue because for most situations you’ll be leaning on the motor, which in common with Bosch systems on other e-bikes offers a satisfyingly assertive burst of power off the line, with various levels of assistance selectable from the handlebar controller. The higher the assistance the faster you’ll use up the battery, Raleigh claiming 40 miles of supported pedalling though of course this will vary a lot according to how hard you pedal, how fast you go, the terrain you’re riding and the amount of load you’re carrying. The beauty of the electric assistance is, of course, that you don’t have to be super fit to cart kids, shopping or whatever else around and as long as you keep the pedals turning the motor takes nearly all the strain out of it. And when it comes to slowing down the fact you’ve got brakes on two wheels up front means much more stopping power than a two-wheeled cargo bike, the hydraulic assistance meaning you can safely slow the Stride without pulling the levers to the bar.

There are pros and cons to the Stride 3’s tricycle configuration. On the plus side it feels generally more stable and you don’t need an expert cyclist’s sense of balance to control it, the fact you don’t have to support the weight of it at a standstill another huge bonus at traffic lights and junctions and meaning you can stay seated with your feet on the pedals. On the flipside the fact you’re turning the whole load bed with the bars and not just the front wheels takes some strength, and willingness to get out of the saddle as needs must. You also need to shift your weight into the turn to avoid tipping the whole rig over, which is fine if you take a cautious approach to your speed but does require some contortions in tight corners given you need to swing your arms one way and your body the other. Even then the smallest camber in the road or pavement can leave the Stride 3 feeling a bit top heavy, so perhaps commit to practicing with some non-human cargo before trusting your nearest and dearest as passengers. To be fair the whole thing does feel a lot more stable with more weight on the front, so it’s probably safer to ride with the kids onboard than without!

Unlike a car there’s no ‘road tax’ or third-party insurance to worry about, cover against theft probably advisable but often available as an add-on to your home contents policy. Nor, beyond a bit of electricity to charge the battery (and, perhaps, a couple of extra slices of toast for the rider), does the Stride 3 cost you anything in fuel. So, if the concept of a cargo bike works for you and it means you can ditch the car you’ll more than make back the starting price. The mechanical simplicity should also keep things cheap, and maintenance costs should be minimal.

Hard to say, as we only borrowed the Stride 3 for a day so can’t comment on what it would be like over the long run. But from the motor to the brakes Raleigh has sensibly chosen parts from proven, big-name manufacturers, all of which work well in the other applications we’ve used them for. So, we have few worries there, and any competent bike shop should be capable of fixing any issues.

Raleigh guarantees the frame for five years against failure due to manufacturing defects, while the motor system has a two-year warranty. We’re encouraged Raleigh has gone with a Bosch system here, on the basis that unlike others in the market it is fully serviceable, so even if you encounter issues further down the line it should be fixable by the growing number of specialists in this field. We also like the choice of hub gears, on the basis it’s a sealed unit so requires a lot less upkeep than cargo bikes with conventional derailleur gears. Other than that servicing will be very much down to how many miles you cover, so keep an eye on wear and tear for tyres, brake pads and other ‘consumable’ parts. Day-to-day, though, just keep the tyres pumped up and a dribble of oil on the chain and you’ll be good.

The Stride 3 comes with everything you need to enjoy an e-cargo bike’s endless practicality, up to and including a basic bench for two passengers with harnesses already installed. Options include cushions for kids accustomed to riding in first class, a bolt-in baby seat for little’ns aged between three and nine months and a car seat style one for toddlers. You can even add an additional rear-facing bench for carrying a total of four kids if your legs are up to it! We’ve already mentioned the optional ‘soft top’ rain cover if required, while if you do need to store your Stride 3 Raleigh offers a dedicated weatherproof shroud. Other than that it comes with all you need, including mudguards, a rear rack and lights.

Swapping your car for an e-cargo bike is a committed choice, and one dependent on the terrain and cycling infrastructure where you live. Because, best will in the world, you’ll feel more comfortable riding the Stride 3 on segregated bike paths than mixing it with the traffic on all but the quietest of roads. The upfront price may seem a lot as well, but if it works for you that can be recouped (with change) against the cost of running a car, while you can’t put a number against the satisfaction of knowing your transport is way more sustainable and better for the planet’s health as well as your own. The idea of parents all taking their kids to school and doing the supermarket run in a cargo bike rather than a big SUV may seem idealistic, but in places where it works it’s a dream worth realising.