The Story of UNIT 1: How Everything Started
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Time to read 3 min
The UNIT 1 story begins with a personal experience. For co-founder Francisco Abelleira, creating a helmet people wanted to wear was a challenge he understood firsthand.
The Personal Experience Behind UNIT 1
Francisco shares his story:
Back as a child, when I was 12 years old, I used to ride to school every day. Being the only son of two doctors, wearing a helmet was mandatory. Although it was certainly useful, my helmet was extremely ugly. And to make things worse, I was the only boy in the whole school who wore one.
The truth is I didn’t like wearing a helmet. I was ashamed. Every evening, when I got home from school, I argued with my parents, begging them to let me ride to school without it.
One day, while my parents weren’t at home, I took off without my helmet. It was 7:30 AM, and the road was as dark as a black hole. Next? A car that didn’t see me, a bad maneuver, my head hitting the curb of the sidewalk, and the next thing I remember is waking up at the hospital. I had a concussion.
Creating a Helmet People Want to Wear
Fast forward 20 years, by a quirk of fate, I was sitting at a table with Juan & Javier, my fellow co-founders, to discuss FARO, a smart helmet with integrated lights for the urban commuter. The goal was clear to us from the get-go: safety + style. In other words, creating a smart helmet people will actually want to wear.
The day I saw a sample of FARO for the first time… well, I knew we had achieved it. We created a product with amazing quality, that’s sleek and nice to wear, and most importantly: that saves lives. But… hey! Don’t believe me, just see what our users have to say.
Hearing From Our First Riders
“We’ve just received two FARO helmets. Solid, high-quality product. Easy pairing and setup by polished mobile app. True safety upgrade, worth all the money spent.”
Pawel from Poland
“Everybody takes notice of the lights because FARO is very eye-catching and new in my town”.
Mark from the United States
“Showed it off to the family and now they are asking me where to buy theirs. Can’t wait for the sun to set to get the full effects!”
Alice from France
“It is a quality, innovative product that has impressed everyone who has seen it”.
Joseph from the United Kingdom
Where the UNIT 1 Story Goes Next
The question behind FARO remains relevant: what makes someone choose to wear a helmet every time they ride?
A helmet accompanies you through morning commutes, school drop-offs, errands, and weekend journeys. Protection matters, but so do fit, comfort, and how you feel wearing it.
The goal is to make wearing a helmet feel like a natural part of getting ready.
Today, riders can explore that approach through AURA and NEON. Both combine helmet protection with integrated lighting, offering different designs and lighting configurations for everyday journeys.
Protection and Visibility, Together
AURA includes integrated front and rear lights, while NEON includes rear lighting. Both offer Mips technology and meet NTA 8776, CPSC, and EN 1078 requirements.
These features address different needs. Impact protection concerns what happens during a crash. Lighting adds visibility while riding. Fit and comfort help determine whether a helmet works for the person wearing it.
Choosing a helmet means considering these things together, alongside the way you actually ride.
A Story Riders Continue to Shape
A product begins with an idea, but its place in someone’s life develops through use. The morning commute, the ride with friends, the journey home after sunset: these are the moments that give design decisions their purpose.
The early FARO reviews remain part of the UNIT 1 story because they capture those experiences in riders’ own words. They describe the details people noticed, appreciated, and shared with others.
That connection between a product and the person wearing it remains central to the story.
The Idea We Keep Coming Back To
The UNIT 1 story began with a personal reason to care about helmet design. It continues with a simple ambition: making protection, visibility, and style part of the same everyday choice.
Find a helmet that fits your head, your routine, and the way you want to move.
By UNIT 1 Team
