Hi Otto! When did you start building bicycle frames and why?

I think a lot of people have started framebuilding the same way as I did, making minor modifications like adding waterbosses, derailleur hangers and discbrake tabs to bikes. I’ve always been keen on fiddling with bikes and I’m generally a very keen tinkerer and DIYer and the general idea for building a frame or modifying bikes comes from the fact that I saw other people doing it.

In the end I had to actually go through old pictures and check the timestamps to see when I started with building frames and this was in 2015. Antti Konga from Konga Bicycles let me use his workshop guided me through the whole process. I’m very grateful for that and I think that this spared me from the usual trial-and-error approach in learning the ropes. And once you manage to ride your own frame for the first time you kind of get hooked. Either you’re extremely happy with the results and think “whoa, this came out great, I should build another one” or a bit unhappy with and think that this can be improved in the next build. Still, to be honest, it seems that generally my process for trying everything is I’m not afraid to fail miserably, so the threshold for trying to do new things is relatively low for me. With each of my builds I like to try something I haven’t done before just to see if it can or should be done.

What excites you right now?

Oh, I’m working on finishing my very own framebuilding workshop! Back in the day the framebuilders in Helsinki used to have a definitive lack of workspace that allowed welding and brazing. In 2017 me and a few other framebuilders set up shop in a 20 foot shipping container and while it was cold, cramped and rather expensive, a bunch of nice frames were built there. We’ve since moved out of the shipping container to a new workshop that I’ve build in my barn, and while it’s small, its still a huge improvement and it makes me very happy to be able to both have a nice workshop at my backyard, as well as to be able to provide other framebuilders like Antti and Eetu) access to it. Currently I’m learning manual machining as lathes and milling machines in the new, workshop are still something I’m not regularly working with.

Biggest dream as a builder? 

Hhmhm, this is a tough one. I’m a down to earth kind of person and my dreams are equally mundane. Probably building a frame that once ridden, leaves me with a peace of mind that everything was designed and built in a way that leaves no room for speculation on whether something should have been differently.

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Biggest nightmare as a builder? 

Probably burning down my workshop! Or somebody else burning down my workshop. 

Your proudest moment? 

That would be completing the first frame I build completely by myself and realizing on the test drive that I actually managed to pull the build off and that the frame fits me and rides like a dream. Generally, first rides on new builds are absolutely magical. 

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What distinguishes you from other builders? 

That I’m not that great at planning my builds. I usually have the general geometry drawn out so I know how the bike will handle and fit. Apart from that I tend to make up details and technical solutions up on the fly, mostly because on not very good or patient with CAD. The approach seems to have worked for me fairly well as I’ve been happy with my creations so far but I know I should hone my design skills. I just don’t seem to find time for it as there’s always something to keep me busy. 

Where will you be in five years? 

Heh, probably right in the same place that I’m in right now. I bought a 100 years old farmhouse a couple of years ago and renovating this place has and will keep me busy well into the foreseeable future. Maybe by then I’ve taken the time to master 3D CAD although I find that unlikely. 

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