The more I deal with them, the more I'm intrigued by the Helico. They're an important step in the development of the geared bicycle. It was a well-thought-out system that we'd probably still be using if it had been introduced 5 years earlier.

I wonder if using a better grade of bearing to help the 5/16" balls deal with the load, and using an asymmetric rim, would help alleviate what has been commonly held as the system's weak points.