Alternative versions

One disadvantage of bicycles was, of course, that unlike motorcycles, which fitted riders of most heights, bicycles were generally designed for taller folks. This was a hang-over from the early days of cycling when bicycles were used only by the aristocracy …who were generally taller. So, as well as selling the Cykelaid as a separate engine complete with front forks to be fitted to the customers bicycle of choice, Sheppee also offered a bespoke service.

You can see in the illustration below the ‘specially built drop frame’ for ‘riders of below average height.’ This was available as both bicycle and tricycle. The company did not charge extra for this service.

Also available was a Chater Lea tandem fitted with a Cykelaid. This was described as a Cykelaid Complete Motor Tandem.

Chater Lea stopped making complete machines in 1907, in order to concentrate on component manufacture. Orders for bicycles were passed to Raleigh, and Fred Scott took over their orders for tandems; having trained at Chater Lea, he set up his own company, F.H. Scott, for this purpose.