Vintage Bike Hub Halocramatic? Spelling?
#1
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Vintage Bike Hub Halocramatic? Spelling?
I am butchering this word. What is this hub called. It looks like you use a can opener like tool to remove the hub?
I had a bike like this once it was a Gitane Performance. Figures I have several pics of the bike but none of the hub.
I had a bike like this once it was a Gitane Performance. Figures I have several pics of the bike but none of the hub.
Last edited by StarBiker; 08-02-22 at 08:21 PM.
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Helicomatic. Made by Maillard. Not for removing the hub, it's for removing/installing the lockring that held the freewheel on. I have one of the tools somewhere, it has a bottle opener on the other end. I've opened way more beers than removed freewheels.
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#4
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Yeah, I was trying to explain it to an experienced bike mechanic today and was surprised he didn't know what it was. Me butchering the word didn't help.
The bike I had above the hub came loose and the front wheel was moving about 3 inches side to side. The bike had some modern Campy Bits and that's why I snagged the bike. Paid $50, sold for $250 in two days..........I double checked the Campy stuff before flip, so I was pleased with the sale.
The bike I had above the hub came loose and the front wheel was moving about 3 inches side to side. The bike had some modern Campy Bits and that's why I snagged the bike. Paid $50, sold for $250 in two days..........I double checked the Campy stuff before flip, so I was pleased with the sale.
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Yeah, I was trying to explain it to an experienced bike mechanic today and was surprised he didn't know what it was. Me butchering the word didn't help.
The bike I had above the hub came loose and the front wheel was moving about 3 inches side to side. The bike had some modern Campy Bits and that's why I snagged the bike. Paid $50, sold for $250 in two days..........I double checked the Campy stuff before flip, so I was pleased with the sale.
The bike I had above the hub came loose and the front wheel was moving about 3 inches side to side. The bike had some modern Campy Bits and that's why I snagged the bike. Paid $50, sold for $250 in two days..........I double checked the Campy stuff before flip, so I was pleased with the sale.
I mean I will see 1000 standard HG freehubs to every Helicomatic I might see so if I weren't such a bike nerd and lover of my craft I probably wouldn't bother to learn it, I would be more interested in learning how to work on the new DI2 stuff or Fazua or Bosch Smart System or all the new stuff coming out.
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The Helicomatic Museum is the best place for information about these hubs.
#7
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I would have had the bike serviced, and maybe road it, but honestly I find vintage roadies uncomfortable. Road several over the last 20 years, and had one in the mid 80's that was bought new in a bike shop.
I was going to flip this (I rarely find anything worthwhile anymore) but decided to hold onto it. I could find 20 decent older road bikes for every 80, 90's steel mountain bike find....nothing really shows up cheap anymore.
Sorry, off topic.
I was going to flip this (I rarely find anything worthwhile anymore) but decided to hold onto it. I could find 20 decent older road bikes for every 80, 90's steel mountain bike find....nothing really shows up cheap anymore.
Sorry, off topic.
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I think their rarity was primarily a result of their exceptionally poor durability... AFAIK they were included on bikes from the factory up until the mid 80s, but almost none remained by 1990.
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I got my first job as a bike mechanic in 1990, worked in that roll on and off (mostly on) for the next 16 years. I saw two (2) Heliocomatic hubs during my career.
I think their rarity was primarily a result of their exceptionally poor durability... AFAIK they were included on bikes from the factory up until the mid 80s, but almost none remained by 1990.
I think their rarity was primarily a result of their exceptionally poor durability... AFAIK they were included on bikes from the factory up until the mid 80s, but almost none remained by 1990.
#10
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After I wrecked my Maruishi in 1987 I bought a used Trek 660 from a guy at my college. Don't know what year the bike was from or if the wheels were original, but the rear was built with a Maillard heliocramatic. I was pretty new to riding as an adult and had no idea what that even was. IIRC, I took the bike for some hub work and found out then.
I had a beautiful Trek 660. What a neck breaker that bike was. Was one of the most attractive bikes I ever had though.
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Mine was that burnt orangish red Trek used to use. Campy Nuovo drivetrain. Black Modolo brakes with aero levers. I felt like I had arrived as a serious cyclist. Rode the hell out of that thing. It developed a big crack in the head tube so it became a trainer bike. Dialed it up to 400 watts during a workout and snapped the right chainstay clean through near the dropout.
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Good god, hopefully you fixed the saddle and bar position at some point.
#13
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I just can't ride vintage roadies. They don't work for me. Never have. That's why I blew off the Gitane.
I will set the bars anyway I please thank you.......Or the seat. It's what works for me, not another rider. (I had $140 in the 660 and sold it for $350 Locally)
Now if I could have only found the Giant in an inch bigger frame, and the beautiful purple I saw on an enormous Lotus Unique I passed on a couple months ago with meh components.
Anyway thanks for the info on the Hub in question.
I will set the bars anyway I please thank you.......Or the seat. It's what works for me, not another rider. (I had $140 in the 660 and sold it for $350 Locally)
Now if I could have only found the Giant in an inch bigger frame, and the beautiful purple I saw on an enormous Lotus Unique I passed on a couple months ago with meh components.
Anyway thanks for the info on the Hub in question.
Last edited by StarBiker; 08-05-22 at 04:40 PM.