Ditto the Cinelli M-71 widowmakers. But they have mojo also, so why is it only slightly flaky Italian designs that have mojo, not French ones? The only thing the Helicomatic beer opener lacks to be perfect is that it should be magnetic so it stick to the side of the frirge.
Regards,
Jerry "May make good use of the Helicomatic tool this Friday evening" Moos Houston, TX
Chuck Schmidt <chuckschmidt@earthlink.net> wrote:
Jerome & Elizabeth Moos wrote:
>
> I like Helicomatics. I've never broken a spoke on one and I find it easy to obtain spare parts, as the undeserved badmouthing they have been subjected to means there are always used Helicomatics for sale dirt cheap. Shimano certainly refined the design, but I thiink Maillard should get more credit for the innovation represented by the Helicomatic. You can't get spare parts for Cinelli Bivalents either, but no one considers them infamous.
When I look over the tops of my rose colored glasses at my Cinelli Bivalents I can clearly see that the concept and the execution of that concept are poor. And have found that other owners of Bivalents share my opinion that they are stupid!
But they sure have lots of mojo on my 1960 Cinelli S.C.!
I also had some Maillard Helicomatics and always felt they were the answer to a question nobody had asked, in other words, stupid! Just my opinion of course. (I've got lots of the goofy Maillard freewheel remover / bottle opener tools for $5 each if anyone wants them.)
Chuck Schmidt South Pasadena, Southern California http://www.velo-retro.com (T-shirts, Reprinted Catalogs & Timelines)
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