HH Racing Bottle Openers Are So Much More Than Tools
The only thing worse than standing around post-ride without a bottle opener is having nothing to talk about. The HH Racing bottle opener has you covered on both fronts.
The chrome-plated opener comes with an amazing backstory, involving a small frame builder who bought all of the Campagnolo dropouts out from under major bike brands in the ‘80s. After the 1978 Pennsylvania State Time Trial Championships, Harry Havnoonian was hoping to crack open a brew to celebrate his brother’s second-place finish, but couldn't find a bottle opener. Inspiration struck when he saw a front fork hanging out of his brother’s car.
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A Category 3 racer with a frame-building obsession, Havnoonian went back to his shop in Media, Pennsylvania, made a notch in a dropout, and created his first bottle opener. He made 10 more and his friends snatched them all up. Havnoonian was soon receiving calls from major bike brands, including Trek, inquiring after why he was buying up the world’s supply of Campagnolo dropouts. His large orders even caught the eye of Tulio Campagnolo, who ordered 400 to give out as personal gifts.
Although Campagnolo discontinued the original dropouts, Havnoonian still makes the bottle openers out of his shop, Cycle Sport.
To snag one of the $28 openers for yourself, visit hhbicycles.net. If you want a dynamic duo of Campy-inspired bottle openers, add the Campagnolo BIG Corkscrew to your collection, too—it's on sale through January 8.
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