Thorsten is an enthusiastic single-speed cyclist and illustrator. For him, only one thing matters when it comes to bikes: purist, clean design without any frills. Since 2012, he has been living out his passion for cycling intensively—always on the lookout for the perfect combination of aesthetics and function. When it comes to the bikes he builds himself, he now relies entirely on MOTO Pedals.

Hi Thorsten, tell us: who are you and what kind of bike do you ride?

My name is Thorsten Hasenkamm and I've been cycling since my childhood – passionately since 2012. For me, it's only puristic, clean singlespeed bikes. Less is more, I don't like bikes that don't have a clean design and are cluttered with tons of attachments.

When did you get your first bicycle? And what kind was it?

Like most people, I got my first bike as a gift from my parents. It was a BMX bike in the 80s. After that, I had a folding bike that had been converted into a chopper bike with three forks welded together. 😊

And which is your favorite bike at the moment?

Actually, it's always the last one I've put together and built myself. In the photo with me, for example, you can see a SOMA with a Rush steel frame, riser handlebars (I've never liked drop bars, even as a child), and carbon wheels. One of my latest projects was a mini bike from kyoot-Bikes, where I customized a few components.

Where do you park your bike at night?

Basically in the living room. Literally “locking” it in the basement is out of the question for me. 😉

What do you do when you're not cycling?

When I'm not cycling, I pursue my other passion (aside from spending time with my family): painting, drawing, designing, and everything related to it.

What do you use your bikes for and where do you ride them?

Mainly as a sport and recreational activity, for two- to four-hour tours. Whenever time and weather permit. For me personally, the fun factor is the most important thing about cycling, closely followed by the fitness factor. Competitive cycling, like all those determined roadies in their colorful “Lycra costumes” who you never see smiling on their bikes, is not my thing at all and not my cup of tea.

You've been using Moto pedals for quite some time now. What kind of pedals did you use before that?

Before I discovered your pedals, I had the problem that there were no pedals that were both beautifully clean in design and functional. I was using ordinary, ugly, off-the-shelf pedals.

And what do you particularly like about Moto Pedals?

With Moto pedals, everything was just right for me from the start: superb grip combined with great design. The very first impression I had on my first ride can best be described as not even “noticing” the pedals, in a (very) positive sense, of course. Since I had my first pedals from Moto, I have never fitted any others to my subsequent bikes.

You can find even more bikes – and art – by Thorsten on Instagram @thasenkamm