In a message dated 1/21/01 7:08:42 PM Eastern Standard Time, nelsmiller@msn.com writes:
<< A lot of the British bikes were sold as "path racers" -- they had track
dropouts, and were drilled for brakes-- I assume that the next available
alternative was to put a derailleur hanger on it, also-- the theory being
that you would ride your bike to the track, make a few changes, and race it.
>>
Also some time trial special bikes used track ends, as it might be ridden as a fixed gear, or, with a hanger add, it might be used as a derailleur geared bike.
I had a McLean built like this for me in the late 1970s.
http://www.cyclesdeoro.com/
The super short chain stays also inclined builders to often use rearward
facing track ends. My New York bike show Chas Roberts tricky-dicky TT bike
has this feature..
http://www.cyclesdeoro.com/
Seems like a lot of one off TT machines used this as a radical and cool solution...
Dale Brown