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Accessories - misc
Charlie the Bikemonger Wisecracker spacer bottle openerBikemonger Wisecracker

Charlie the Bikemonger Wisecracker spacer bottle opener

6
by TR McGowran
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Oct 25, 2012

6
£9.99

VERDICT:

6
10
A great idea for thirsty riders that could save on dental bills
Weight: 
18g
Contact: 
www.charliethebikemonger.com
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The Charlie the Bikemonger Wisecracker spacer bottle opener is a natty piece of machined aluminium that will come in handy when you stop for a bottle of your favourite Belgium import beer.

No more chipped teeth or bent keys trying to lever off a bottle top ghetto style.

This neat device is a 3mm, 1 1/8inch headset spacer (I know, a miss match of imperial and metric units but this is how it is) with a pokey out bit (technical wordage) that can prize open the lid on a bottle (bottle opener).

It is anodised and has a Charlie the bike monger (as in iron monger) logo on it. It works a treat and saves on having another keying on that ever growing clutch of keys.

Verdict

A great idea for thirsty riders that could save on dental bills.

road.cc test report

Make and model: Charlie the Bikemonger Wisecracker spacer bottle opener

Size tested: Black

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

"Its not only a few mm tall 1 1/8" aheadset spacer, but also also opens beer bottles." Almost entirely true apart from you have to open your own bottle of beer using it rather than it opening the beer bottle for you. Pedantic.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

This one is made from an Aluminium alloy, black annodised with a little logo on it or you can get a cheaper version made from steel. Fits a 1 1/8 inch headset and is a 3mm thick spacer with a built-in bottle opener.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10

Clean and well produced. It works too.

Rate the product for performance:
 
10/10

Took the lid of my beer clean off.

Rate the product for durability:
 
9/10
Rate the product for value:
 
5/10

It is a bit pricey for a gimmick but makes a great present.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

When the beer was open, life became better.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes, very much so.

Would you consider buying the product? For a friend.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? As a gift idea.

Overall rating: 6/10

About the tester

Age: 39  Height: 179  Weight: 79

I usually ride: Bike that I am testing at the time  My best bike is: Giant CFR pro, old school carbon converted to fixed. Kinesis Convert 2 geared work horse, Look KG241 skinny whippet

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, touring, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed, bare back

 

touring
gifts
Charlie the Bikemonger
bottle opener

Add new comment

6 comments

Avatar
Charlie The Bik... | 12 years ago
0 likes

Hi Chaps,
To address your concerns...

the alloy is plenty strong enough, one of mine has done several hundred bottles and going strong.

is this a good idea..? yes it is, does not effect the headset tension in any way.

carbon version.... carbon is nowt more than burnt toast and dead horses... you cant open beer with toast or horses... or can you?

Avatar
Nick T | 12 years ago
0 likes

18g?! No chance this is going on my weenie bike. Is there a carbon version in the pipeline?

Avatar
PJ McNally | 12 years ago
0 likes

surely the compression in the spacer stack is a fairly precise thing - unless you've tightened everything "as hard as it'll go" - so is this really a good idea?

Avatar
alg | 12 years ago
0 likes

come on guys - no self respecting cycle shed (or tool kit) is without a bottle opener and it wont cost a tenner to save your teeth

Avatar
jollygoodvelo | 12 years ago
0 likes

What a great idea. Not sure I'd trust an aluminium bottle opener though - doesn't it bend?

Avatar
pwake replied to jollygoodvelo | 12 years ago
0 likes
Gizmo_ wrote:

What a great idea. Not sure I'd trust an aluminium bottle opener though - doesn't it bend?

That's got to be a funny comment from someone who lists two AL-framed bikes as their rides!
Surely your bikes bend when you ride them? 1

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