Montreal Cycling History
1878-1918 Bicycle Organizations

    In the Victorian era clubs played an important role in defining social groups.

    "On 2 Dec 1878, Messrs C.J. Sidey and Horace  S. Tibbs met met by appointment at the house of the latter, 33 Chomedey Street in Montreal, and proceeded to the business of forming a bicycle club." Both were immigrants from the United Kingdom. Tibbs had taken a 300 mile bicycle tour in England in 1874(3), Sidney had been president of the Edinburgh Amateur Bicycle Club.(7)

    The Montreal Bicycle Club defined the badges and uniforms to be worn by members, as well as the rules of membership in that very first meeting. These two men were establishing a British understanding of cycling membership, and emphasizing gentlemanly conduct as amateur enthusiasts.

    One week later on 9 Dec 1878, A.T. Lane, another British immigrant, was added as an "original member".  At that time he was the owner of Canada's main bicycle import agency in Montreal.  The reason he was not acknowledged  as a member until a full week later remains a bit of a mystery.(7)

    News of the founding of the club was reported in the Montreal Herald and press releases were sent by the club to newspapers in Toronto, Quebec City and various sporting journals.(8)

    On 6 Jan 1879 the club received a letter of congratulations from Charles Pratt, president of the Boston Bicycle Club. Founded in Feb 1878, (9) it was the oldest in North America. Pratt also sent a copy of their by-laws, rules and regulations giving the Montreal Bicycle Club a connection to the American cycling community. 

     The League of American Wheelmen (LAW) was formed in May 1880 and the September Minutes note that all members of the Montreal Bicycle Club must join it as well. The club saw it's role as an advocate for cycling issues as well as a social and sports club.

     The Montreal Bicycle Club had close relations with the Montreal Lacrosse Club. Members of the club's racing team trained on the Lacrosse grounds Sunday mornings.  In 1881 these two clubs, together with the Montreal Snowshoe Club, jointly founded the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association (MAAA) and purchased the Montreal Gymnasium building which then served as the MAAA clubhouse. Previous to the purchase, the Snowshoe and Lacrosse clubs had only rented rooms in that same building.
      
     Although Montreal was the largest city, and at the time Canada's financial capital, most Canadian Wheelmen were located in Ontario. In 1882 it was felt that Canada needed its own national cycling association and the Canadian Wheelmen’s Association (CWA) was founded in St. Thomas, Ontario. Montreal was represented by H.S. Tibbs. However the MBC still remained within the LAW until July 1883. Throughout it's history there were many exchanges and joint events between the CWA and the LAW.

     Interest in bicycles throughout North America exploded with the development of the Safety Bicycle around 1890. The period that followed is referred to as the Bicycle Craze of the 1890's. Montreal was no exception, and an entire issue of the 1896 Montreal Evening Star  was devoted to cycling. New bicycle clubs such as the Wanderers, Shamrock, and the Ramblers as well as the YMCA club were started in Montreal. The influence of the MBC in that period was high as the presidency of the CWA from the mid 1890's onwards was held by members of the MBC.

     The International Cycling Association (ICA) was the first international cycle racing organization. Founded in 1892 by Henry Sturmey, and based in the UK, its goal was to establish a common definition of amateurism and to organize world championships.  The first was held 1893 in Chicago to coincide with the World Fair. This  annual competition was afterwards held in various European cities.

   Louis Rubenstein, a former world champion figure skater, member of the Montreal Bicycle Club, and president of the CWA,  lobbied the ICA  for the championship to be hosted by Canada. Montreal was awarded the championship venue near the end of the Bicycle Craze in 1899. It was held at the newly constructed Queens Park Velodrome in Verdun built by Ucal-Henri Dandurand.  He was also the first man in Montreal to drive an automobile later that year.

    In the 1890's a rival group of cycling racers and promoters called the National Cycling Association (NCA) split from the LAW in the United States. A large issue at the 1899 Montreal World championship was which group of racers would be permitted from the US.

    In 1900 the ICA itself was torn apart over arguments on such matters as amateur vs professional and how voting assignment should be given  to various components of the British empire.  Its role was taken over by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) based in France in 1901and continues to this day.

Montreal Bicycle Club Minute Book 2 Dec 1878  (6)

From MBC composite 1885 McCord Museum

C.J. Sidey,  From MBC composite 1897 McCord Museum

Charles Pratt

Louis Rubenstein

Ucal-Henri Dandurand