Peter Bridge wrote: <snip>
In praise of Lyotard Berthets: What a treat they are to use. Solid, easy to get into, supportive, handsome, and a nice finishing touch for a period French bike. ++++++++++++++++
I've been a fan of the Lyotard Berthets for decades. an under-appreciated virtue, back in the era of mostly quill-ended pedals, was that the Berthet was about the least bad available for 'Merikuns with superwide feet. I certainly agree about them as a nice finishing touch for period French bikes.
But, one reason they are such a nice touch, to me, is that they seem so emblematic of French design of the period. Lots of stamped sheet metal (including the outer cones and the dust caps), and not very high quality. Big gap between spindle and pedal housing at the inner end, a veritable freeway for dirt to enter. I think I have seen three different spindle lengths as time progressed! I would never again use them for a long tour: had one fail in the appalachians. But, they did come both English and French, and with threaded stub lengths just right for steel cranks (short) and alloy ones (longer).
harvey sachs
mcLean va