LAKEHEAD WHEELERS BICYCLE CLUB

1934 Season

The 1934 season was the second season of the Lakehead Wheelers Bicycle Club and saw some significant changes. Newspaper articles started to appear in the local paper in April 1934 as the snow had started to melt and the cyclists were getting the itch to get back on the roads. Members of the LWBC had spent the winter months congregating and working out at their winter headquarters at the Hamilton Block on Victoria Ave.

April 16, 1934: Bicycle riders are beginning to feel the urge of the road again and with this in mind the newly organized Lakehead Wheelers Bicycle Club is holding an executive meeting, at their club room in the Hamilton block tomorrow night at 8 o'clock, to draft up plans for an active season. A series of race meets and tours are to be proposed. It is requested that the following attend: A. Widnall, W. Sargent, S. Brunello, R. Walker, R. Aldrich, R. Smith, P. Brunetta, W. Fairbridge, F.W. Edwards and L. Brunetta.

April 17, 1934: Wheelers Active-Meeting Tonight. President Sargent and Vice-President Walker of the Lakehead Wheelers Bicycle Club are extremely confident over prospects for the forthcoming season.

April 18, 1934: Wheelers To Meet Again April 24-Plan colors and insignia for members-Discuss trials and Inauguration of Distance Race. Following a general discussion it was decided that club colours and an ensigna should be worn in all races. It was also agreed that some form of time trials should be conducted to arrive at handicaps and to avoid any unfair competition during the season. Prospects of the inauguration of a distance race was gone into and a course mapped out, a definite announcement of the event, however, being deferred until a later date.

April 24, 1934: Twincity Bike Riders Invited to Meeting of Wheelers Tonight. All members and prospective members of the Lakehead Wheelers Bicycle Club are reminded of the general meeting that is being held tonight at the club's fine quarters in the Hamilton Block at the foot of Victoria avenue, commencing at 8 o'clock.

April 25, 1934: Wheelers Form Two Sections-Active Season Planned By Lakehead Bike Enthusiasts at Meeting Yesterday. It was finally agreed that the club be divided into two sections, one to govern racing and the other touring. A leader for each group was elected. W. Sargent was elected as leader of the racing group, while R. Smith was elected as leader of the touring group.
Colours Are Changed: Samples of colours were shown, and it was discovered that the colors picked for last year, were already in use by another club, making it necessary to change the colors to light blue and purple. Sweaters with insignias were ordered, and from samples and colour schemes shown, it should prove a very distinctive uniform.

May 4, 1934: Wheelers Meeting To Plan For Ride. President Walter Sargent and Vice President Bob Walker, respectively, leaders of the racing and touring sections are looking forward to seeing a good turnout of the enthusiasts of both sections.

May 5, 1934: Wheelers Active-Plan For Outings-Call Meeting For Tuesday Night To Build Up Club's Touring Section. The meeting completed plans for a weekend ride to McKenzie, and discussed at some length the staging of a ten-mile road race for members within the course of the next few weeks. It was decided to give more attention to the touring section of the club, and toward this end a meeting has been called by Ray Smith for next Tuesday at 8 o'clock in the club rooms. It is the proposal of the touring section committee to plan for hikes into the country once a week and to make this one of the best outing organizations in the city. Any boy with a wheel will be welcomed at Tuesday's meeting.

May 9, 1934: Bicycle Club Growing Fast-Twenty-four New Members are Added to Touring Section Under Leadership of Ray Smith. The initial run of this section will be held on Saturday afternoon, when the boys, under the leadership of Louis Brunetti will go to Black Bay Bridge. To ensure a maximum of safety it has been decided that the boys be given an hour's coaching in club riding, and that all members intending to participate are expected to be on hand at the club rooms at 7 o'clock Friday night for this purpose. The racing section is also reminded that there will be a meeting in the club rooms Friday night at 8 o'clock for the purpose of making final arrangements for a ten mile road race, to be held over the week-end. All members wishing to take part in this event are expected to be on hand.

May 12, 1934: Wheelers Are to Hold Initial 10 Mile Road Race-W Sargent and R. Walker Prepare Course for Members of Lakehead Cycling Club. The initial ten-mile road race of the Lakehead Wheelers Bicycle Club is being held this weekend. The course has been carefully measured and mapped by President W. Sargent and Vice-President R. M. Walker, who has chosen a stretch that will test the endurance of the riders and at the same time permit the clocking of fast times. Among the entries is Joe Coran, a promising young Westfort rider, who performed exceedingly well last year. Lou Desourdy, recently of Toronto, now living in Port Arthur is another formidable contender, and since becoming connected with the Lakehead Wheelers has proven himself to be a rider of no mean merit. G Cerruti, a young man making his debut in bicycle racing may prove to be a surprise. Other entries are: J. Brescia, S. Brunello, J. DeGiacomo, W. Cassella, A. Zanutto, T. Sandrim, D. Moro and P. Brunetta.

May 14, 1934: Bike Race Called for Cold Weather. Conditions put a crimp in the plans of the Lakehead Wheelers Bicycle Club for the holding of their initial ten-mile road race over the weekend, the event being called off on account of cold weather. It is expected that arrangements to hold it in the latter end of the current week will be made at the regular Tuesday night meeting at the clubrooms in the Hamilton block.

May 18, 1934: Ladies Section Lakehead Wheelers Club Seems Assured-Bicycling is Becoming Fad. Meeting To Organize Ladies' Section of Local Club Encouraging-Meet Again Next Week. Enthusiasm in bicycling has spread to the fair sex. Following the lead of the Lakehead Wheelers Bicycle Club they now seek the privilege of forming a ladies section of that go-ahead organization. Vice-President Bob Walker, in announcing the decision of the ladies to hold further meeting, states that the members now have their new sweaters and will be easily identified on the road. They are natty outfits, offset with the club's conspicuous crest of a winged-wheel.

May 21, 1934: Teen Age Boy Wins First 10-Mile Race of Wheelers Club-Cyclists In Close Finish. J. Brescia Places First, J. Coran Second and P. Brunetta Third in Club Event. With weather conditions ideal for the first ten-mile road race of the Lakehead Wheeler's Bicycle Club that was held over the week-end. Ten riders started off a minute apart each with the determination to clock the fastest time over the course. The surprise of the day was scored by J. Breschia, a young lad in his teens, who covered the distance in 26 minutes and 15 seconds to capture first place. Joe Coran came second in 26 minutes and 38 seconds, and Paul Brunetta third in 28 minutes and 33 seconds, Breschia, who was eighth man to start, quickly passed W. Cassella and G. Cerutti. Paul Brunetta rode a very consistent race to gain third place, and from observations, should prove a dangerous man over a longer distance. Eight of the ten riders wore natty new uniforms of the club, with large winged wheel crest.

June 4, 1934: Cyclist To Race At Football Game. Football enthusiasts will be treated to a little diversion during half-time at the football game at McKellar Park tonight. The Lakehead Wheelers Bicycle club, through the co-operation of the N.O.F.A., will run off a miss and-out race. This type of race should appeal to the crowd, as it is very fast and exciting, due to the fact that the last man over the line at each lap drops out. The following riders have been lined up and will be numbered as follows: Joe Breschia 1, P. Brunetta 2, D. Moro 3, N. Cemone 4, Joe Coran 5, Art. Zanutto 7.

June 5, 1934: Wheelers Put On Fine Race-Joe Breschia Shades Joe Coran in Thrilling Miss and Out Event at Football Match. Football fans were thrilled by the miss-and-out race staged by the Lakehead Wheelers Bicycle Club at half-time in the cup tie match between Wanderers and Legion at McKellar Park last night. They were first impressed by the natty appearance of the seven riders that took part in their club colours of light blue and purple.

June 13, 1934: Cycle Riders Plan Handicap-Will Provide Attraction for Cup Tie Match at McKellar Park Tonight. Not since the days of the old-fashioned tricycle has there been anything like the interest being taken in cycling as there is today. Almost like a bolt from the blue has been the formation and the rise of the Lakehead Wheelers Bicycle Club, organized from an informal field day less than a year ago and today a flourishing organization upwards of a hundred active and associate members with colours and crest.
Walter Sargent, one of the old school and long a member of the Canadian Wheelmen's Association when a resident of Toronto is at the head of this increasingly popular organization, operating now in three sections, one taking in the enthusiasts of racing, another the cross-country lovers and the other the ladies. There is a surprising show of interest being taken by the latter as a happy medium of recreation.
Of late the Wheelers have been foraging to the front by providing special attraction at football matches during the interval. Tonight they intend performing at the Canadian Legion-MacDonald Cartier Challenge Cup tie at the McKellar park, staging a two mile handicap. Joe Breschia and Joe Coran, a pair of brilliant exponents and who knows perhaps Canadian champions in the making, are to start from scratch.

June 21, 1934: Plan Bicycle Carnival Day-Lakehead Wheelers Club Holding Open Meet at McKellar Park Saturday. Something big for bicycle riders of the two cities has been planned by the energetic Lakehead Wheelers Bicycle Club for Saturday afternoon at McKellar park commencing at 2:30. It is a bicycle carnival day. A fancy dress parade will head it off, starting at the LWBC rooms in the Hamilton Block at the foot of Victoria Avenue and wind up at the grounds. In this connection there will be two prizes awarded for the best decorated bikes. The program of track events will include a number of open races, in which any bike rider may take part.

June 22, 1934: Wheelers Prepare for Carnival Day. Entries close tonight for the First Bicycle Carnival day of the Lakehead Wheelers Bicycle club being held tomorrow afternoon at McKellar park, commencing at 2:30 o'clock. Eight events are carded in all, open to anyone wishing to take part, including five mile open for standard bike; 1 mile, girls 16 and over; 1 mile, boys 16 and over; half mile, girls 15 and under; half mile, boys 15 and under; 220 yards, girls 10 and under; 220 yards, boys 10 and under; and 75 yards, tricycle and side-walk bicycle race, 8 and under. There also will be a miss-and-out race for members of the Wheelers club only. The whole thing will be headed off by a fancy dress parade starting at the Wheelers' club rooms in the Hamilton block at the foot of Victoria Avenue and winding up at McKellar field. Prizes for the best decorated bike and races have been arranged. Any one wishing to make entry can do so at the Wheeler's club rooms tonight.

June 23, 1934: Bicycle Riders Pile Up In Special Race at Football Game-Sec Brunello Crash Victim-Sorely Bruised in Spill at McKellar Park-Joe Coran and Joe Brescia Unscathed. Bike riders crashed at McKellar Park last night in a miss and out race sponsored by the Lakehead Wheelers Bicycle club between the interval of the MacDonald-Cartier and Canadian Legion Challenge Cup match. The racers had hardly got underway when three of the seven starters piled up. They were pedalling for all they were worth to escape elimination at the starting point in this crowd-pleasing event in which the last one over the line each lap automatically is retired. There was a loud thud as wheels and riders went down in a heap, the result of close riding. It happened at the turn when one of the three endeavoured to cut in. Sec Brunello, secretary of the Wheelers club and a member of the Fort William Rowing Club's crack senior four, was the only one to suffer injury. He was sorely barked along the right side. Happily Tim Costigan of the St. John's Ambulance Corps was on hand with his medicine kit to administer first aid. The other two riders Joe Brescia and Joe Coran escaped unscathed. All three wheels were damaged, one having the rear wheel pulled right out of its sockets. There were several spokes broken. Dave Moro coasted home a winner. This afternoon the Wheelers are staging a carnival day at McKellar Park, commencing at 2:30, to be preceded by a fancy dress parade from their club rooms on Victoria Avenue to the grounds.

June 25, 1934: Wheelers Carnival Day Is Postponed. Old Man Weather played such pranks Saturday afternoon that the Lakehead Wheelers Bicycle Club saw fit to call off their first "Carnival Day" until next Saturday. Rain fell in torrents for an hour before the program was scheduled to start. Scores of enthusiasts were disappointed. One youngster spent a painstaking last hour decorating his bike for the parade from the clubhouse to the grounds. He showed considerable ingenuity and originality in his layout, having everything ready to assemble together for the event. It is expected that the forced delay will see a bigger entry than ever.

June 29, 1934: Postponed Bike Races Tomorrow. Lakehead Wheelers Bicycle Club Prepares for First Carnival Day.

July 18, 1934: Wheelers Taking Keen Interest In Saturday's Meet-Valuable Prizes Offered For Winners in Events at McKellar Park. The joint sports meet, scheduled to take place on Saturday afternoon at McKellar park, sponsored by the Lakehead Wheelers Bicycle Club and the Fort William Olympic Club is gradually taking shape, and has every appearance of being one of the outstanding events of the season. Members of the bicycle club are anticipating some keen competition during their part of the program, which will consist of six events, namely, quarter mile, half mile, one mile, five mile, novelty race and a miss and out race.