LAKEHEAD WHEELERS BICYCLE CLUB

1937 Season

The winter of 1936-1937 had passed and the thoughts of bicycling were in the minds of many as spring approached. But circumstances had changed for the Lakehead Wheelers Bicycle Club. Opportunities for work had come to Fort William with the opening up of the Canada Car and Foundry Company's plant for the building of airplanes, the re-opening of the Abitibi Power and Paper Company's Mill at the Mission and the establishment of a huge Saw Mill with Forest Product subsidiaries on Island No.2. The young riders that were instrumental in starting the club and providing the Lakehead with good endurance and speed riding were now four years older. Their primary focus became getting married and starting a family for some and finding work in Fort William or traveling to work for others.

As well, on May 18, 1937 in the column 'One Foot on Sports Rail' by F. W. Edwards, Sports Editor of The Fort William Daily Times-Journal, it hinted that the LWBC was in trouble. Edward suggests that there has been a disagreement and that the present leadership of the club has not been able to revive the club aspirations referring to a conversation with Walter Sargent (former President of the LWBC) regarding the Canadian Wheelers Association's (CWA) Prairie Championships in Winnipeg June 26, 1937 and inviting members of the LWBC to attend: "Just what interest this will arouse in LWBC members is difficult to surmise. A review of prospects in this direction is none too bright to put it mildly. In fact, the Lakehead Wheelers Bicycle Club has seemingly fallen upon evil days and is in need of some sort of stimulant to revive it. There seemed no end to the possibilities of the Lakehead Wheelers Bicycle Club when Walter Sargent sat in the driver's seat and had as his lieutenants, such able workers and enthusiasts as Alderman Bob Walker, Dave Corbett, Louis Brunetta, Sec Brunello, Ray Smith, Ralph Aldrich and others. There were no obstacles to great for them to surmount and it wasn't long before their members were drawing attention to Fort William through their exploits. We do not hesitate to say that if the aforementioned were to take hold of the LWBC again it wouldn't be long in regaining the prestige it may have lost and then some."

This sports editorial by F.W. Edwards is very telling. It points to a perspective that the present leadership of the club has not been building on the success of the past. There also is an indication that there have been changes since last season. The editorial also hints that the stable of riders is not of the caliber of the past. What is very apparent is that the local track races that were held a McKellar Park, the 25-mile and 50-mile road races, and the Labor Day Sports Thunder Bay District Bicycle Championships did not take place. The question becomes why? Why did the LWBC that had been so active with local races sending riders to Winnipeg and training tours become inactive? I think the answer to those questions has a lot to do with the changes that were taking place in Fort William, Northwestern Ontario, Canada and the world.

In a review of the local Fort William Daily Times-Journal from January-August 1937 there were few articles on cycling. In fact, where in previous years there had been consistent reporting of 6-day races, this year there were none. Also it is of interest to note that the advertising for bicycles was very active in the local newspaper in the spring and early summer and then tapered off in late August:
The CCM Bicycles advertising:
a. April-------3
b. May-------2
c. June------2
d. July-------0
e. August----4

What may have become a social and economic reality was a saturation of bicycles in the marketplace. With people working regularly, cars became more affordable and the road network steadily improving, the thrill of going for a bicycle tour may have waned. This could have affected the general public's interest in bicycling and cycle racing.

One key perspective on the development of the Lakehead Wheelers Bicycle Club was it had provided the opportunity for the working class Italian youth in the East-end a way to express themselves and to develop self-confidence. There was racism and discrimination in the working class neighborhoods of Fort William and bicycle riding was a way to escape and rise above the prejudice. These young men were coached and mentored by Walter Sargent, a former bicycle racer himself, when he lived in Toronto, who was knowledgeable about bicycle training and racing as a long time member of the Canadian Wheelmen's Association. As well, Louis Brunetta's Bicycle Shop was on McTavish Street in the East-end. One can imagine the youth hanging around the bicycle shop listening to the exploits of those more experienced.
Just through the tunnel walkway under the railroad yard was Simpson Street where there were several bike shops as well. In an interview with Conrad Bottos, he remembers the sight of a convoy of 20 to 30 bikes coming down Simpson Street after a shift change at the mill.

After four years of racing, the best of the young men, Johnny DeGiacomo, had gone to Montreal and witnessed a 6-Day Race there. He also had an opportunity to try cycling on the steeply banked wooden track. Johnny had great success as bicycle racer and this trip was in one way a culmination of his dreams. He had been following 6-Day Racing for many years as he was growing up enjoyed the skill, speed and entertainment values of track racing. The sports heroes of the day were the 6-Day racers such as William "Torchy" Peden from Victoria B.C.
The rapid social change was affecting bicycle racing. Even Greyhound Racing ended in 1937 at McKellar Park. People no longer had the time to go to there to watch the local racers. Also, there were other sports such as box lacrosse that had arrived at the Lakehead.
One key point is the riders, that formed the nucleus of the LWBC, were all 4 years older in 1937. Several had gotten married and started families and perhaps did not have the recreational time they had in the past. Other LWBC members were traveling and living elsewhere. The pioneers that started the club were also older and were active in other business as well as sports endeavors. In NW Ontario development was happening at great leaps. The mining and forestry sector provided job opportunities and for many young men it meant living outside Fort William in the bush, mining camps or highway construction camps. At the national level Canada was preparing for war as the world was falling into crisis. Japan was attacking China, Italy was invading Ethiopia and Germany had aspirations on Austria and Czechoslovakia.

After the 'One Foot on Sports Rail' story by F.W. Edwards, Sports Editor, there were only three other times the Lakehead Wheelers Bicycle Club was mentioned in the news. June 4, 1937: "A meeting to re-organize the Lakehead Wheelers Bicycle Club held at Louis Brunetta's on McGillivray Street last night, revealed plenty of enthusiasm and resulted in the calling of another meeting for June 13 at 7pm at the same place, to elect officers and formally get underway."
What this article suggests is that there were cyclists who were interested in keeping the club alive and well. It notes that at the next meeting there will be an election of club officers and the development of a slate of events. Following the planned meeting on June 13, 1937 there was not an any reporting in the newspaper. We can only surmise that the meeting did not happen, or if it did, and nothing came out of it, that would warrant the LWBC reporting the results to the media.

Three days later on June 17, 1937 another story appears in the paper: Would Re-Organize Lakehead Wheelers, " With a view to re-organize the Lakehead Wheelers Bicycle Club, W. Robinson, manager of the Prince of Wales rink company has called a meeting for tomorrow night at 7:30 o'clock at the Prince of Wales Arena for all those who are interested in the sport. He hopes to organize two sections, one for racing and the other for touring."
This story indicates that there is split in the club; this Mr. W. Robinson is someone that previously had not been identified as a club member that was involved in any of the cycling events. This story also appears in the newspaper only three days after the meeting was planned for Louis Brunetta's place. We can only surmise that there was a split in the club and that some of the members wanted more emphasis on racing while others had a focus on touring. Whatever the results of this meeting, they were not reported in the newspaper.

A little over a week later, additional news of cycling at the Lakehead was mentioned by F.W. Edwards in his 'One Foot on Sports Rail' column. He writes, "Walter Sargent, district representative of the Canadian Wheelmen's Association and one of the prime movers in the organization of the Lakehead Wheelers Bicycle Club, of which he was president for two years, has passed along a letter to us that he received yesterday." It is from Joseph J. Verschaere of the St. Boniface Velodrome Association asking him to announce the first annual St. Boniface-to-Kenora 148mile bike race Saturday, July 10 to be held rain or shine. The event, which is being sponsored by the Kenora Board of Trade, has the sanction of the Canadian Wheelmen's Association and is open to all registered amateur riders. An entry form has been sent along and is available upon application.

This column, speaks favourably of Walter Sargent and the leadership he provided at the LWBC. But it does not mention the present status of the club.

The St. Boniface to Kenora 148 mile bike race did take place and the Canadian Press in the Fort William Daily Times-Journal reported the news but did not mention that riders from the Lakehead had participated. Charlie Higgins of the Seven Oaks Bicycle Club in Winnipeg, won the event in 8 hours, 35 minutes and 15 seconds. Only 12 of the 45 starters finished the race. We do know, from a personal interview with Conrad Bottos, that he and Peter Bodner, both LWBC members from Fort William, did ride in this race. Peter had to drop out because of cramps and Conrad dropped out after 90 miles completely exhausted by the constant attacks, wind and the lack of support.

That was it for news in the local newspaper on the Lakehead Wheelers Bicycle Club. The club did not hold a road race in 1937. Nor did the LWBC participate in the Labor Sports Events at the Exhibition Grounds like they had in the past. We can only assume that the club was made up of individual riders that were remnants of LWBC and continued to be active in Fort William and Port Arthur. Riders like Conrad Bottos and Peter Bodner kept the interest in cycling alive and made a good showing in the bike racing events that they entered.