[CR]Re: Betrand Solite Tandem

(Example: Production Builders:Frejus)

Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 18:32:46 +0000 (GMT)
From: "Michael Butler" <pariscycles@yahoo.co.uk>
To: Peter Jourdain <pjourdain@yahoo.com>
In-Reply-To: <20051126170516.9128.qmail@web34113.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
cc: CR Rendezvous <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: [CR]Re: Betrand Solite Tandem

Peter, The Bertrand Solite tandem I was told was designed to get around the shortage of suitable tandem parts post war, lack of tandem tubing, lugs, bottom brackets and headsets all given up on the war effort saucepans for spitfires. It used all solo parts including tubing and fitment's. The design was an open diamond on the front and a Waller (Kingsland?) type rear. Diagonal stiffening tube from steersman's seat tube to stokers bottom bracket, vertical tube from rear top tube to stokers bottom bracket, short stubby seat tube same as Flying Gate or Waller and curved stiffening tubes from vertical to short seat tube and seat stays. Waller used the same curved tubes on the Kingsland or Kingsbury I can't remember which. There was no bottom bracket eccentric for chain adjustment instead they used a Simplex chain tensioner. These tandems were raced regularly but they mostly stripped the freewheel threads on the solo hubs they were using. The clever pairs used Baylis-Wiley unit hubs and the only problem they had was stopping with solo brakes! Somewhere in my old 40/50's Cycling's there is a road test report on a Solite tandem. Great to hear a famous maker get a worthy mention.

Thats all for now. Keep those wheels spinning, in your memories if not still on the road. Be lucky Mick Butler Huntingdon UK.