Hi. I'm new to the forum.

My local bike club has weekly winter trainer "rides." This week a guy showed up riding an old 10 speed (5x2...not Campy 10 spd) that he bought for $15 at a Salvation Army store. The frame waas Italian lugged steel. The front derailleur was Campy but the rear was like nothing I'd ever seen. A flimsy little thing, it was protected by a cage bolted to the chainstay. It was basically a spring, two screws, a short pulley cage, and a flat sheet of metal stamped "Svelto." I've been able to determine that it was made by Huret in the early 60s. Inefficient by modern standards, there was an elegance to its simplicity.

Has anyone here ever come across one? Or ridden with one? Do you know anything about them? Pertinent information and amusing anecdotes will be greatly appreciated.