A reader, Paul, sent me an email pointing out three interesting Scandinavian bikes. The first two were new to me, so I want to pass them along.
First is the Tunturi Chat (pictured here). The text on the website is in Swedish, so most of you will probably not be able to read it, but the site is worth checking out. The bike is a simple one speed and it has a lock cable integrated into the frame (it is the loop that is visible at the end of the top tube). A rack and basket are optional accessories for this bike.
Next is the Helkama 101i, which features a hollow cast magnesium frame. It looks like a pretty interesting design with two cast halves mechanically fastened together. The frame looks very clean with all the cables inside. Magnesium is incredibly light compared to other structural metals with a specific gravity of about 1.7. The material has its drawbacks, as anyone who has broken a Kirk Precision frame can tell you. According to “Bicycling Science”, magnesium has a low tensile strength and a modulus of elasticity that is about 1/5 that of steel. The old Kirk frames have a reputation for being brittle, but I would guess that the clamshell design of this Helkama bike creates a stronger frame than those lightweight Kirk thin girder frames.
Last is the Z8 frame from Skeppshult. This one has been around a while, but it is still worth mentioning. I would be interested in riding one to see how much suspension the twin small diameter downtubes provide. Check out the other bikes on the Skeppshult site if you aren’t already familiar with them.
Photo from the Tunturi website
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