13.6.2025

Pyöräilyinfo

Cycling is for all -series, PART 5

THE BIKE ALSO LONGS FOR MAINTENANCE AND ADVENTURE

During Cycling Week, we also visited Garage Meilahti, a bike repair shop owned by Gökhan, or “Köka”.

Gökhan has always been fascinated by the freedom that bikes provide. With a bike, you can go wherever you want, at your own pace and intensity, without having to limit yourself. ”Weather may limit some, sometimes even myself,” Gökhan reflects.

CURIOSITY DRIVES FORWARD

”The more complex the network, the more enjoyable it is to be on a bike,” Gökhan tells us about his own cycling. Whether the route goes through the forest or the city, he is always on the lookout for new adventures. According to Gökhan, the easiest bike routes are usually found where there is a stream or a river. These areas rarely have uphills. However, Gökhan generally chooses his routes based on how he feels and what he longs for at that moment.

”Luckily, there are different bikes, terrains, countries, and people with whom you can cycle,” Gökhan says. Curiosity drives him forward and leads him to explore new bike paths.

Gökhan describes that currently, bike paths are occupied by busy people, some of whom see cycling as performance and others as pleasure. He worries about the younger generation and people who don’t see cycling as their thing. Gökhan wants to encourage people whose habits don’t yet include cycling or who may not feel that the city belongs to them. Cycling should not be seen as exercise, but as a mode of transport. For some, cycling is also a lifestyle. ”Cycling broadens your horizons,” Gökhan sums up.

When asked how to encourage new cyclists to get on a bike, Gökhan suggests focusing on comfort first and exploring new routes. Cycling beside main roads is one of the easiest ways to cycle, but Gökhan himself doesn’t find cycling in traffic too enjoyable.

A BIKE IS NOT JUST A BIKE

As an entrepreneur in the field of cycling, Gökhan sees many different types of bikes and bike owners. He hopes that the ”mechanical nature” of bikes wouldn’t scare people, but rather, bikes should be given a chance in daily life – including the chance to fail. ”A bike is a consumable item just like anything else, and people tend to spend large sums maintaining their cars and boats,” Gökhan explains. People aren’t necessarily ready to spend the same amount of time and money on maintaining their bikes, even though bikes also need care. ”It gives more than it takes,” Gökhan says.

Cycling also teaches a lot through mistakes. ”Getting lost in Helsinki is unlikely, except in Helsinki Central Park,” Gökhan jokes. There are many different mapping apps and experienced cyclists whose stories you can learn from. Gökhan encourages everyone to be curious and ask for advice.

Gökhan also praises the bike for its speed. In just five minutes, you can reach another neighbourhood and have a completely different experience compared to using public transportation.

Contact details for Garage Meilahti can be found on their website.

ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH HELSINKI REGION CYCLISTS – ALSO KNOWN AS HEPO?

We are a community and advocate for cyclists in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. Our goal is to improve the conditions for cycling and make the Helsinki Metropolitan Area a more pleasant, safer and smoother place to live and move around.

Helsinki Region Cyclists, aka Hepo, is an NGO focused on promoting cycling. Hepo has more than 1,500 members. Our goal is to influence law-making and traffic planning both on the local and national level. Hepo is not a political actor and is politically independent. In addition to influencing, bike travels have been an integral part of Hepo’s activities from the start and continue to be so.

By becoming a member you get access to member discounts and other offers for you and your bike. The annual member fee is 32 € and it pays back in no time. If you feel like making a difference in cycling conditions, you are welcome to join Hepo – in our activities or as a member. You get our member newsletter to your email once a month, member discounts from our partners – and you keep on track about cycling-related news and events.

By joining Finnish Cyclists’ Federation or any of its member organisations before September 28th, 2025 at 11.59pm, you have a chance to win Helkama’s electric bike (value approx. 2,800 €). Join Hepo now!

You can also take part in the draw by filling the Google Forms document.

Rules for the draw can be found on Finnish Cyclists’ Federation’s website.