Crossword Genius

Steps taken to keep an Aussie's legs warm (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

strides

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'steps' is the definition.
(I know this)

'taken to keep an aussie's legs warm' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'keep' could be 'ride' (riding is a kind of keeping) and 'ride' is located in the answer.
The remaining letters 'sts' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for strides that I've seen before include "Walks, trousers (colloq.)" , "Long walking steps" , "Walks with long steps" , "Walks fast" , "Bags" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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