I couldn't find an organized thread about Bertin bikes here at BF so here it goes...

If you own a Bertin, post here. Please include photos, serial number data (found steamed on non-driveside dropout), year made and any stories. The more the merrier.

Website with more info: https://bertinclassiccycles.wordpress.com/

Here's mine...

I am not positive about year or model but I am told it is a C37 and probably from the late 60s or early 70s. It has a serial number of 4234 and has Nervex lugs and Reynolds 531 tubing. I acquired it from the son of the original owner. Condition is ok but getting better with my lite resort action I am currently doing.

(these are photos from the day I bought it. I will update with cleaner photos soon)

Come on, there has to be more out there!!

Patience guygadois. I know of at least one, maybe two other Bertin owners out there. The marque is mentioned prominently in the circa 1980 edition of Sloane's Complete Bicycle book. Cool picture of the factory. Your Mafac brake accentuator thingee is pretty interesting.

Bertins aren't that common, but there are more than a handful here on BF. As for appreciation: hell yes. Not sure what my bike is made of, but it's light enough, and tough as nails. Atom 3 spd; I've toured on it. It's the one bike I know nothing will be wrong with.

Mine is an early Belgian made Bertin. More pics on my webpage @ https://www.bygonebicyclist.com/?p=714

Bertin by djk762, on Flickr

2628

"Special Cyclo-Tourist"

-D

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https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...tin?highlight=

I had a yellow 60s one bought at a swap meet and sold to Japan...

This is my 60/70 Bertin C37. The frame and fork are Reynolds 531 Double Butted tubing. The rear dropouts and fork ends are Campagnolo. When I acquired the frame and fork it had only a brazed on rear deraillure cable stop. It came with a Stronglight 93 crank and bottom bracket, and a Pivo stem. Unfortunately I had the frame and fork repainted and therefore lost the decals. I've had it for over ten years and I've never finished a ride on it without saying to myself, "what a beautiful riding bike".

This thread deserves better! I've put fenders and a bagman on my Bertin, as well as a TA cyclotouriste crankset. It's now destined for long rides with a change of clothes for the train ride back home. Triple setup works fine, as long as I stick to a 24t cog max. A long cage SLJ derailleur wouldn't hurt though, well, except for my wallet...

wow, stunning. I have been keeping my eyes open for a nice Bertin or other vintage French bicycle. not easy to find.

I don't know the brand well but that is a good looking bike for sure.

MZilliox-

You have a beautiful Bertin! Mine's been posted elsewhere, but a different photo this time. By the way, try a Simplex SX 410 rear derailleur. Shifts beautifully but is nowhere near the cost of a LJ 5500 GT.

reminds me that I really need to get my Bertin frame painted :-)

Even those, in good condition, are hard to find. I believe you on the shifting though. But the SX'es don't look as nice and maybe they wear out faster too ?!?

CMAW-

The SX 410s certainly don't have that smoothly rounded soft anodized look of the LJ 5500s but a bit of Simichrome and they sparkle wonderfully! Ive used both and have found no difference in reliability. I've even used a short cage LJ 1000 with the black delrin knuckles on a Peugeot PF 40 randonneuse and it shifted the same as the short cage LJ 5500 I replaced it with. I simply lost about 2 ounces in the swap. Cost is an issue. A NOS 410 is on EBay for $247 but a NOS LJ 5500 GT I bid on at the EBay France site closed at over $600. I did not win. Luckily, used 410s show up for a lot less which is how I got the one on my C 37.

Right, patience and an appropriate donor bike will be the way to go.

Here is a Bertin spotted in the wild.


Where's all the love for Bertin's.

after


before

Is that enough love for you :-)

Looks good in the black, 1simplexnut.

I had forgotten to post my restoration here when I finished it so thanks for the nudge.