I picked up a Bertin at the Phoenix swap meet last Saturday. It is a touring frame with an integrated rear rack, 700c wheels, Alvit rear d with a three speed cog. It has Weinmann 810s with upright bars and levers. It is full fendered with a fancy aluminum chainguard. The rear fender is attached with a bolt through the brake stay vertically, and there is no traditional brake hole for the rear brakeset. A Weinmann adaptor sits over the fender bolt and brake stay and holds the rear brake in place.
The front fork has two clamp ons for a front rack. If anyone has a rack they would part with, I would be interested in it. It attaches to the fork with a bolts and nuts that tie into the clamps. The rack attaches in such a way that if the bolts were a foot long, they would run between the spokes. (Opposite direction to the way a TA rack attaches). I had one of these racks on a Gitane tandem a long time ago.
Also the front light attaches to a hole in the left fork blade. I need a clamp that can tie into the hole and to which I can attach the light. Being part-less is a drag, but I only paid $25 for the Bertin, so I figured I'm doing ok.
I also need an artistic opinion. The Bertin decals (Large white square letters) on the top tube and the down tube are frayed and pretty ratty. The paint is good and the white pinstriping is good. If I try to back fill the decals with white paint, I don't think I will be able to get clean enough edges to make the letters look good. I could just remove the letters and the bike would look pretty clean. Any thoughts on this, or a front rack, or a fork bracket for a light would be greatly appreciated.
Art Smith
Phoenix