 LAKEHEAD WHEELERS BICYCLE CLUB |
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Conrad Bottos
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Recently I had the opportunity to spend an evening with Conrad Bottos and two adult children of former LWBC members: Jack DeGiacomo and Joanne Dagsvik. Jacks' dad was Johnny DeGiacomo and Joanne's' father was Sec Brunello. Both Johnny and Sec were renowned racers of the Lakehead Wheelers. Johnny was the riding captain for several years and the LWBC President. Sec was the Secretary-Treasurer.
Conrad was born in 1918 and lived with his father and family in the 500 block of McLaughlin St. in Fort William's East-end. The East-end was the twin cities hotbed for up and coming cyclists. The DeGiacomo, Brunello, and Brunetta families were prominent in cycling during the early years of the Lakehead Wheelers Bicycle Club and all lived in the East-end. Louis Brunetta had a Bicycle Shop on McTavish Street where he sold the CCM Cleveland, a top of the line racing bike. The Canada Cycle and Motor Company (CCM) were the largest manufacturer of bicycles in Canada in the 1920s and 1930s.
As a youth Conrad worked hard in the nearby railway sheds and in the family garden plot in the intercity area. During those years the East-end families kept their own cows, pigs, chickens and rabbits. Conrad had a little business where he herded cows from the East-end area to the fairgrounds for grazing on a daily basis. He charged two dollars a month for herding the cows to the pasture area between the two rivers. If he had to untie the cow from someone's barn or yard then Conrad charged an extra dollar. For Conrad cycling became a way to explore the twin cities and the surrounding countryside. Conrad went to the Fort William Vocational School on Selkirk finishing when he was 16 years old.
The summer of 1936 the LWBC were holding "Bicycle Races" at McKellar Park. The dirt track was ¼ mile in length with events held over ½ mile, 1 mile, Australian Pursuit Race, Miss and Out Race, a 3mile race and a 5-mile team race. Some of the races were for standard bikes only and others were for racing bikes. A special event, which excited the cycling enthusiasts that summer, was the appearance of Leo Marchiori, Victor Ruocco and Tom Haynes from Vancouver. These gentlemen had participated in the 1936 Olympics qualifying race in Toronto. Marchiori was originally from Thunder Bay and inspired the young racers with his style and ability. Marchiori had represented Canada in the Los Angeles Olympics. In early July they raced against the Lakehead best and thrilled spectators with their panache and cycling prowess. The 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin was a world event that captured the imagination of the young riders at the Lakehead during the summer months and inspired the LWBC members.
Later in July the LWBC planned a Bike Marathon. In actuality there were two events a 50 mile race for experienced racers and a 25 mile race for novice riders on standard bikes. Conrad was 18 years old and was encouraged to enter by Art Zanutto, a local LWBC member and racer. Art loaned Conrad a standard bike and Conrad turned the handlebars down so that he could assume the racing position and become more aerodynamic.
With little training under his belt Conrad entered the 25mile event. The local newspaper published the "Rules of Race", 'Every rider must finish on the bicycle he started with. No rider may use more than one bicycle or change bicycles with another rider. No rider may be paced by a car or truck. The rider must not take his hands off the handlebars while on the road and must keep his hands on the bars until he dismounts. No rider shall touch another. When passing another bicycle the rider must not cut in on the bicycle ahead of him until he is one bicycle length ahead. The rider must not try to prevent another rider from passing him at any time during the race. The penalty for breaking any of the above rules is disqualification from the race.'
The day of the event July 18, 1936 dawned sunny and hot. The racecourse started on Rt. 61B just after the James Street Bridge (known as the Grand Trunk bridge), in front of Bannon's store. From there the racers proceeded west and down the hill to Mosquito Creek and then up the hill to the International Highway. The 50-mile race went out to Cloud Bay and back and the 25-mile race went out to the turn-off to South Gilles and return. In the 50-mile event eight riders answered the gun. There were nine racers in the 25-mile race using standard bikes with the 28 x 1¾ heavy wheels. The novice racers stayed together for the first mile or so but by the time they had raced down to Mosquito Creek and up the opposite side Conrad was in the front pack. At the turn around point Conrad was in a group of three riders; Viandro Belluz of Slate River and Norman Zentil. As they came off the International Highway and down the Mosquito Creek Hill with a little over a mile to go Conrad made his move. The three riders sprinted to the finish with Conrad winning in 1hour 12minutes flat, a bicycle length ahead of Viandro Belluz in 2nd and Norman Zentil 3rd, twenty yards behind the winner. The 50-mile race was won by Frank DeGiacomo, Jim Walker 2nd and Sec Brunello 3rd.
Several weeks later at a banquet held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Brunetta, Conrad was awarded by Fort William Alderman R. Walker, a beautiful silver medal engraved with the LWBC letters and a cyclist on one side and on the opposite side his name, distance and the year.
Conrad purchased his first racing bike from M. Dolcetti in Port Arthur, it was a CCM racing bike. He paid $40 for the bike that was second hand and originally went for close to $80.
Conrad continued to train during the month of August for the Labor Day Sports Bicycles Races at the Exhibition Grounds sponsored by Fort William and Port Arthur Trades and Labor Councils. A parade with eight floats and the Fort William City Band kicked off the sporting events. The District of Thunder Bay Bicycle Championships were held at this time and included events in the ¼ mile, ½ mile, 1 mile, 5 mile and 10 mile bike races on the Fair grounds dirt track. It was not uncommon to have over 1000 sport fans watch the cycling events, running races at the Exhibition Grounds stands.
Conrad had been training all summer, going on rides out to Boulevard Lake and cycling closely behind the square cars of the day to block the wind as he raced along Memorial Avenue. Conrad spoke of the difficulty training as it was not uncommon for men to work 12 hours/day 7 days a week. He remembers his first pay cheque was $111.00 for 2 weeks. A lot of men were involved in the highway work camps along the north shore of Lake Superior. If not working on Sunday, Conrad would go to church and then bike to the border and back as part of his training. He also made money by hunting wolves. In the 1930s there was a fifty-dollar bounty which included turning in the wolf hide to the agent.
The Labor Day Sports Bicycle events went well for Conrad. He placed 2nd to Frank DeGiacomo in the ½ mile event, 3rd to Sec Brunello and Frank DeGiacomo in the mile event and 3rd to Johnny DeGiacomo and Frank DeGiacomo in the 10-mile event.
In the following years, 1937 and 1938 Conrad had good success. In July of 1937 Conrad went to Winnipeg to compete in the 148 mile race from Winnipeg to Kenora. This was a national event with cyclists from Manitoba, Ontario, Alberta and the USA. At 19 years old Conrad was still "green to the game", with little formal training and lacking consistent coaching and a support vehicles to assist him on this long ride. There was a strong wind that day that sucked the energy out of the riders. Also in areas where the road was not paved racers had to negotiate very muddy sections. There was a small contingent from the LWBC in the race. Peter Bodner had traveled with Conrad and they stayed in St-Boniface the evening before the race. The race tactics were new to Conrad and when someone would attack Conrad would try and cover the break. Conrad stayed with the leaders for most of the race. Peter Bodner had to drop out because of cramps. With only the food and water he could carry Conrad soon tired and dropped out after 90 miles. He was in eighth place when he dropped out. Winnipeg rider Charlie Higgins of the Seven Oaks Bicycle Club came in first at 8 hours, 35 minutes and 15 seconds. Edmonton riders captured the next five places. Only 12 of the 45 starters finished this difficult race.
In 1938, Conrad now 20 years old, was a seasoned rider. He trained all summer taking rides to Boulevard Lake and out to Kakabeka and back. In September he entered the Labor Day Sports put on by the Trades and Labor Council at the Exhibition Grounds. The bicycle races were for the Thunder Bay District Bicycle Championship. A large crown of over 2500 spectators took in the track and field events, riding events, the horseshoe pitching contests and the cycling events. Conrad was determined to do well and capture the annual trophies given out for winning the cycling events at the ¼ mile, ½ mile, 1 mile and 5-mile distances.
Conrad had an excellent day, winning the Dr. J.W.Cook Trophy for the Quarter Mile in 36.15 seconds. Winnipeg rider and Canadian National Rowing Team member, Theo Dubois took second and Sec Brunello took third. The Half mile was won by Theo Dubois in 1:28.25. Dubois also took the one-mile in 2:45 with Conrad a close second. The final race of the day was the 5-mile race on the dusty track. Conrad gave it everything he had and led the whole way. On the final corner with the Exhibition Grounds spectators cheering the race on Theo Dubois came around Conrad's wheel on the outside and won in 14:26.4. Conrad came in second with the same time and Peter Bodner third.
As the war years approached the Lakehead Wheelers Cycling Club went through several transitions. A lot of the young men were recruited to the Canadian Armed Forces. In the late 1930's and early 1940's, Conrad was involved with the Canadian Armed Forces Reserve while in Fort William. In 1941 Conrad was in the CAF full time and was stationed at the Val Cartier Base near Quebec City. He was paid $1.05/day for his work as a private. His cycling background helped him in his military career. A general was coming into town and needed a motorcade escort. A parade was scheduled with soldiers from the base marching in the streets of Quebec City and the general's car was to participate. Conrad's sergeant asked if he knew how to ride a motorcycle.
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Conrad spent four years in the military from December 4th, 1941 until December 23rd, 1945. When he returned after the war he continued to bicycle race, taking in competitions that went from Boulevard Lake to Kakabeka return. In one of the Kakabeka races Conrad was in the lead on the return leg from Kakabeka. As they headed down Algoma Street a crowd stood at the spot he thought was the finish and he started to slow down. The finish was actually at the pavilion and a rider scooted by him to take first.
Today, Conrad's bicycle racing days are behind him. He is retired and lives with his wife Magdaline on a quiet street in Westfort. Conrad has three adult children. Conrad's memories of those pioneering days of the Lakehead Wheelers Bicycle Club are strong. He still has the trophies and news clipping from that time. His most cherished remembrance is the solid silver engraved medal he won in 1936 for the 25-mile Bicycle race.