At the Pelago opening party
Pelago is a nice Helsinki based bicycle brand that recently moved it’s showroom downtown from sunny Vallilla. Because we here at the Kasper Stromman Design Blog basically get invited to all non-lame design related events we went along to have a chat with Pelago founding fathers, the Hyppönen brothers.
– Timo Hyppönen, I hear Pelago has a couple of new bicycle models out this year and… wow, there’s beer at this opening party!
– Sponsored beer. Look, I know your interviewing technique. Try to ignore the beer and let’s focus on the bikes instead.
– Of course. So this is the new Pelago San Sebastian?
– Indeed. A lightweight, agile bike with very responsive steering. There’s two different options for the handle bars, and we also sell it as a frameset.
– That’s very nice indeed. And this year you have also brought out your top of the range model, the Pelago Stavanger?
– That’s correct. This is the highest quality bike we have built to date. It has a unique frame geometry and is designed to meet the demand of different users. It’s as appropriate for those long hikes as it is to zoom around town.
– It definetely looks like a first-class bicycle. What I really like as well is that you not only sell bicycles, but also carry the best bicycling accesories. At least I haven’t seen anyone else in town sell the kind of stuff you have in here?
– Kasper, I actually think you will like this bag. Have you had a look at the detailing?
– That is one cool bag.
Top 3 Helkama two wheelers
Helkama is a Finnish company involved in a broad variety of activities such as manufacturing refrigerators and importing cars, but is foremost known as a bicycle brand. Here are the Kasper Stromman Design Blog top 3 favourite two wheelers made over the years:
3. Helkama Tossu (early 1970s)
Originally a mini moped of late 1960s Italian origin, the Fantic TX7 or Fantic Broncco was sold in Finland in the early 70s under the name Helkama Tossu. It was never a commercial succes, but paved the way for many later mini mopeds like the Suzuki PV or Honda Monkey. A design classic.
2. Kuntojopo (early 1970s)
The Helkama Jopo was a popular compact bike manufactured from 1965 to 1975. With over a quarter of a million sold it was immensly popular, and the manufacturer quickly brought out special versions like the Tandem Jopo (Tuplajopo), Postijopo (postal Jopo) and the foldable Jopo Mobil.
The most intriguing version though got to be the exercise bike Kuntojopo wich was created by removing the front wheel and adding a steel frame for balance.
And remember folks – the nice gentleman in the picture proves it’s never too late for taking up exercise.
1. Helkama White Power (early 1990s)
A pretty basic mountain bike by 1991’s standards, was it not for the unfortunate name which curiously noone seemed to find odd at the time. By now most of these are starting to rust away, so if you want one now would be the time to pick one up for cheap, as long as they’re still around.
Future design classic, y’all!
DIY conspiracy theory juggernaut
So who was really behind 9/11? The Illuminati? The US government? Big Pharma? Guess the only way to find out is to build a gargantuan Mad Max style vehicle out of scaffolding and scrap bicycles and ride it around Helsinki.
