Sec Brunello Biography

Secondo Brunello (1911-2000) was twenty-two years old when Lakehead Wheelers Bicycle Club was formed on September 21, 1933. Sec was a member of the Fort William Rowing Club and was one of their senior four. Sec was also from the East-end, living at 720 McGillvary St. Louis Brunetta's bicycle shop was nearby and Sec would spend his free time with his close friend Paul Brunetta.

After LWBC was formed, Sec got elected as the Secretary-Treasurer. He enjoyed his participation in the clubs' executive, along with Walter Sargent, R. Walker, R. Smith and Paul and Louis Brunetta.

Sec was one of many cyclists from Fort William that had been following the career of Canadian William "Torchy" Peden from Victoria B.C. Peden was the North American champion of the six-day racing. Six-day racing is a rough and tumble endurance and speed cycling event that was held indoors at the gardens and arenas in cities such as Montreal, Toronto, Chicago, Boston and at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Also during the summer of 1933 there had been a Trans-Continental Bicycle race that started in Quebec went into Ontario and ended in Montreal. The three-week event lasted from August 1st - 21st. The race was suppose to cross Canada and the USA, but customs difficulty at the USA border in Sault Ste-Marie forced the riders to remain in Canada. The USA had tariffs and duties on foreign made bicycles and the American Customs refused entry of the racers and their bikes.

Bicycling was very much in the news and made the front page of the Fort William Daily Times-Journal. A female model on a bike displayed the latest cycling dress. Greek and English bicycle riders were taking cycling expeditions circling the world on a bicycle. Bicycling was seen as excellent exercising to stay in shape and to live a long life and travel. With all the news of cycling it was not surprising that the youth of the East end took up cycling as a sporting activity.

Cycling was also a social activity and a way to get back and forth to work. The young men from the East end of Fort William worked hard during the day at the coal docks or unloading freight trains. At the end of the workday at the local factory and mill it was a common sight to see 200 or more cyclist's riding down Simpson Street heading home. In the evening, after work, they would get on their bikes and explore the city and the countryside.

The local bike shops would hold races for the youth on Saturdays letting them try out a bike, to generate interest in bicycling.