This was posted by an esteemed UK classic rendezvous list Member
when the same question was posted there:
Path is the old fashioned Victorian/ Edwardian cycling term for track.
So a path bike is purely for the track. High bottom bracket no
clearances and no drillings for brakes. A Road-Path is a bike with
track ends that is dual purpose for both road and track racing, angles
not quite as steep and bottom bracket lower than a pure path (track
bike). Normally has the front fork crown drilled for a brake. Can also
be built with mudguard clearances and mudguard eyes. 27" or sprints can
be fitted. Another term for Road-Path is Road-Track.
Makers like Selbach and others used to call this type of bike a D.P.
prewar. Which stood for dual purpose.
Rotrax the maker coined their name by using the word play road/track.
This would be my understanding of the various terminology only hope
this helps and does not cloud the issue too much.
Another CR'er posted this:
Road/Path models were used for everything from general club riding, time trialing,
grass track and pure track. On the track they were used in sprints,
pursuits, point to points and devils.Our outdoor tracks of this period
tended to have quite shallow bankings.
Basically they were 73 degrees parallel with a bottom bracket height of
less than eleven inches and a wheelbase of around 41" invariably with
mudguard clearance and brake drillings. The type of track ends used on these
frames were the special 2" long slot type. This allowed wide variations in gear
ratios especially when using inch pitch.
Our pure track bikes of this period were of a much shorter wheelbase
less than 41" and with a bottom bracket height of over eleven inches. No
mudguard clearance or drillings and free from any braze-ons. Typical
head angle of 75 degrees and seat of 73.
Just to confuse you even more on these type of models there was a
fashion in the 60's to have a road/track built with Mafac cantilever bosses
brazed on the front forks. Primarily used for time trialing the weight of these
machines with all alloy parts was around the 16 pound mark on fixed
wheel.
These were also used on the track if you could get past the
scrutinizers, sometimes they refused or just asked you to tape up the cantilever
bosses if you were lucky. . .
Well that's clear as mud now isn't it?
marty