C. Bertrands & Company Trike

Bertrands Racing Trike, 1960’s

Would you believe that this isn’t really a custom creation?

This racing trike probably came out of the UK in the late 1950’s or early ‘60’s. While the Bertrand brand had fairly small production numbers, this wasn’t something that was built only once by special request. Adult tricycle racing was actually a thing.

Racing adult tricycles in the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s (when they enjoyed modest popularity) must have been a hoot.

When going around corners at speed, the trikes tended to tip up onto 2 wheels.  The riders would lean to counterbalance the tricycle like sailors leaning out over the edge of their catamaran.  Heavily crowned roads posed a problem, as the rider could spend an entire 5-mile stretch leaning to their left or right while trying to pedal. 

Beware the British-made (meant for the left side of the road) adult trike when riding on the right side of the street, as the driving wheel will sometimes loose contact with the pavement.

A super short wheelbase made for quick handling

One cable pulls up gears, one pulls down

Multiple gears and a differential

Sometimes you’ll see two brakes doubled up on the front wheel of a trike, but this Bertrand only has one. The gear range is a little limited with only four gears managed by the Cyclo twin-wire derailleur, but with three wheels on the ground the exhausted rider won’t be tipping over halfway up a steep climb for lack of lower gears.

Watch out for Jeff riding by on one of these on slippery winter Bainbridge Island roads.  He sometimes chooses the trike since ice and moss pose much less danger with three wheels on the ground…