László Nógrádi, Father of Beloved Csepel Camping Bikes, Passes Away

Bicycle assembly contest with Csepel camping bikes in 1982

László Nógrádi, the former director of the Csepel Works Bicycle Factory, who gained world fame in the 1960s with the creation of the popular Csepel camping bicycle based on his idea and designs, has died at the age of 90, the website of the Csepel District reported on Monday.

László Nógrádi contributed to the popularity of the Csepel bicycle brand, and as chief designer he was later involved in the creation of other models. His expertise was also recognized abroad.

László Nógrádi came from a Swabian family on his father’s side: his original name was Niederkirchner. His parents changed their surname to Nógrádi in March 1945, because people with German names were disadvantaged after the World War. After completing primary school in Csepel (21th District in Budapest), all secondary schools in the country rejected his application for admission because they considered him class-alien, as his father owned a restaurant, which was later nationalized.

The Csepel bicycle manufacturing site, 1976. Photo: Fortepan / Tamás Urbán

Thus, he became an apprentice lathe operator and started working in the machine factory of Csepel Works. In 1959, he was admitted to the Technical University of Budapest, where he graduated as a mechanical engineer and then continued his work as a design engineer at the Csepel Works’ bicycle manufacturing site.

Csepel bikes at the Budapest International Fair in 1967. Photo: Fortepan / Gyula Nagy

People – who had cars – mostly drove Trabants and Wartburgs, and we needed a bicycle that was small and could fit into these cars,”

László Nógrádi recalled to the district’s website a few years ago how he created the design that became world famous.

“My idea was that the bicycle should be foldable, but also stable enough. The Csepel camping bikes have been a great success,” he said, adding that many of the bikes have been produced for export to Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands.

Photo: Fortepan/Imre Leskó

“We have sold one million units in the domestic and foreign markets. The people of Csepel also benefited from it, because due to the lack of public transport, most of the workers used two-wheelers to go to work at the factory. Huge guarded bicycle lockers were set up at the gates of the Csepel Works, but these were removed in the 1980s.”

Photo: Fortepan/András Mezey

László Nógrádi remained active in Csepel’s public life in his retirement years, often giving lectures on Csepel’s history at the Csepel Local History and Town Planning Association. Even in his old age, he regularly cycled and took part in walking tours with friends. The Municipality of Csepel awarded him the Csepel Heritage Award in 2020.

László Nógrádi will be laid to rest in the local cemetery on March 5 at 10:30 a.m.

Via csepel.hu, Featured image: Fortepan/Magyar Rendőr