Montreal Bicycle Club
  • About
    • TV Series Montreal's Cycling Ghosts >
      • S1 E1 Pilot
      • S1 E2 Ghostly Commands
      • S1 E3 Running with the Bulls
      • S2 E1 Lessons from the Pandemic
    • MBC Historical Bike Tour >
      • Tour Starting Point Shaika Cafe
      • Stop #1 MAAA Grounds
      • Stop #2 Founding of Club at 33 Chomedey
      • Stop #3 Bertie Lane's CDN Hill Climb
      • Stop #4 Lacrosse Grounds
      • Stop #10 Queens park Velodrome Verdun
      • Tour Lunch Break: Lachine Rapids
      • Stop # 11 Fleming Windmill
    • How to join
    • Contact us
    • Issues >
      • Sherbrooke Street Bike Path
  • Minute Book
    • Fixtures Calendar >
      • Instructions on Adding Fixtures to personal Google Calendar
    • MBC Blog
    • Falaise Birder's Blog
    • 2023 Annual Report >
      • January 2023
    • 2022 Annual Report >
      • January 2022
      • February 2022
      • March 2022
      • May 2022
      • June 2022
      • July 2022
      • August 2022
      • September 2022
      • October 2022
      • November 2022 >
        • November 2022 (Google Slide)
      • December 2022
    • 2021 Annual Report >
      • January 2021
      • February 2021
      • March 2021
      • April 2021
      • May 2021
      • June 2021
      • July 2021
      • August 2021
      • September 2021
      • October 2021
      • November 2021
      • December 2021
    • 2020 Annual Report >
      • 2020 Composite Photo
      • January 2020
      • February 2020
      • March 2020
      • April 2020
      • May 2020
      • June 2020
      • July 2020
      • August 2020
      • September 2020
      • October 2020
      • November 2020 >
        • Rev Dreams
      • December 2020
    • 2019 Annual Report >
      • January 2019
      • February 2019
      • March 2019
      • April 2019
      • May 2019
      • June 2019
      • July 2019 >
        • 2-3 July 2019 Prince Edward County / Kingston
        • 18-23 July 2019 Saguenay & Charlevoix Tour
      • August 2019 >
        • 2-4 August 2019 Tout Le P'tit Train du Nord
      • September 2019 >
        • 1-2 September 2019 Simcoe County Loop (Wendat Trail)
        • 11-13 September 2019 Rivière-à-Pierre to Quebec City
      • October 2019
      • November 2019
      • December 2019
    • 2018 Annual Report >
      • March 2018
      • April 2018 >
        • Pittsburgh to Washington DC Excursion
      • May 2018
      • June 2018
      • July 2018
      • August 2018
      • September 2018 >
        • Park(ing) Day in Westmount 2018
      • October 2018
      • November 2018
    • 2017 Annual Report >
      • 4 March 2017, Nuit Blanche
      • 21 March 2017, Re-Founders Meeting
      • 25 March - Earth Hour / Turcot Bicycle Overpass
      • 02 April - Fixture Ride highligthing Issues
      • 18 May Atwater Library Lunchtime Series
      • June - Fixture rides
      • July - Fixture rides
      • August - Fixture rides
      • September - Fixture rides
      • October - Fixture rides
      • November - Fixture Rides
      • December - Fixture Rides
    • Club Minute Book 1878-1904
    • 2 Dec 1878 Meeting
  • Poppies
    • Sobriquets A-D >
      • F.E. Adams
      • Susan B. Anthony
      • Louise Armaindo
      • E.W. Barlow
      • A.G. Batchelder
      • Daisy Bell
      • Ernestine Bernard
      • G. T. Bishop
      • Amelia Bloomer
      • Elsa von Blumen
      • Claud Butler
      • Dorothy Cole
      • Phylis Cole & Joan Cole
      • Disreali
      • Dr. Parry E. Doolittle
      • Joseph Drury
    • Sobriquets E-L >
      • Miss M.J. Frothingham
      • Arhur Edward George
      • Forest Gnome
      • Daisy Greville
      • Arthur Harris
      • G. Harries
      • Alice Hawkins
      • Edmond Jacquelin
      • F.M.S. Jenkins
      • G. Kingan
      • Kittie Knox
      • Karolina Kocięcka
      • Karl Kron
      • Pierre Lallement
      • A.T. Lane
      • Exilda Lachapelle
      • G.S Low
      • Annie Londonderry
      • D. S. Louson
    • Sobriquets M-U >
      • Kirkpatrick Macmillan
      • Susan McCormick
      • Birdie Munger
      • Mile A Minute Murphy
      • W.G. Ross
      • Louis Rubenstein
      • Alfred Wesley Sherritt
      • S. Saxe
      • C.J. Sidey
      • The Snowball Sisters
      • James Starley
      • Henry Sturmey
      • Helena Swanwick
      • W. Tately
      • Major Taylor
      • Doreen Thomas
      • H.S. Tibbs
    • Sobriquets W-Z >
      • Vélocio
      • Queen Victoria
      • J.E. Walsh
      • Maria E. Ward
      • W.S. Weldon
      • The Royal Worcester
    • Places >
      • Velocipede Era 1867-1874 >
        • Drill Hall
        • Nordheimer's Hall
        • Crystal Palace
      • High Wheel Era 1874-1891 >
        • 33 Chomedey Street
        • Lacrosse Grounds
        • MAAA Clubhouse (Montreal Gymnasium)
        • Blue Bonnets
        • MAAA Grounds
      • Bicycle Craze of the 1890's >
        • The Wanderers Bicycle Club
        • YMCA Building Dominion Square
        • Queens Park Velodrome
    • Things
  • History
    • 1817-1867 Dandy Horse Era
    • 1867-1874 Velocipede era
    • Birth of the High Wheel Bicycle
    • The High Wheel Bicycle comes to North America
    • Founding of the Montreal Bicycle Club >
      • MBC Uniforms and Symbols
    • The High Wheel Era in Montreal >
      • Canadian Wheelmen's Association (CWA) Annual Meets
    • The MAAA grounds and the transition to the Safety Bicycle
    • The Bicycle Craze of the 1890's
    • The 1899 International Cycling Association World Championship in Montreal
    • Collapse of 19th Century Bicycle Organizations
    • Conclusion >
      • 1900-1918 Everyday transportation
    • Records >
      • Online Sources
      • Books and papers on subject
      • Where to find Artifacts
      • detailed references
      • Historical maps of Montreal
      • 1894 CWA Meet Montreal Map
  • Scrapbook
    • 1870's Ice Velocipede >
      • 1878 MBC By Laws
    • 1880 MBC Meeting to join LAW >
      • 1882 Louise Armaindo 100 mile race in Montreal
      • 1882 Group Photo and early race
      • 1883 MBC History from CWA The Bicycle
      • 1884 Mr Jenkins Ottawa-Matane tour >
        • 1884 CWA Meet in Toronto
        • 1884 CWA request for funds by Karl Kron
      • 1885 Notman Composite Photograph >
        • 1885 Fixtures and race reports
        • 1885 CWA Meet in Woodstock
        • 1885 kangaroos and tricycles
        • 1885 W.G. Ross, early champion
      • 1886 Fixtures, race and CWA parade reports
      • 1887 Bertie Lane & CDN hill >
        • Toast to Bertie Lane
      • 1888 Ottawa Meet >
        • 1888 CWA Belleville Meet
        • 1888 Gnaedinger Cup
      • 1889 CWA St Catherines Meet
    • 1890 MAAA grounds & road racing >
      • 1890 CWA Ottawa Meet >
        • 1891 Road Race, Safeties vs Ordinaries
      • 1891 Arrival of Safety Bicycle >
        • 1891 CWA Hamilton Meet
        • 1891 MAAA grounds racing
        • 1891 Annual Report
    • 1892 Springtime News >
      • 1892 Composite Photo
      • 1892 Racing News
      • 1892 Kingston Meet
      • 1892 Century Run
    • 1893 Annual Report
    • 1894 Sarnia to Montreal Relay Ride >
      • 1894 CWA Meet Montreal
      • 1894 CWA Racing Rules
    • 1895 Annual Report
    • 1896 Annual Report >
      • 1896 Montreal Star Bicycle Issue
      • 1896 Wheel and Cycling Review article on Montreal
    • 1897 Annual Report >
      • 1897 Notman Composite Photograph
      • 1897 Bicycle Map of Montreal
    • 1898 Annual Report >
      • 1898 Montreal Park and Island Railway
      • 1898 Queens Park Velodrome Verdun
    • 1899 World Championship Speculation >
      • 1899 Major Taylor sets World record
      • 1899 World Championship Report
      • 1899 Montreal Gazette 10 Aug
    • 1900 CWA & CCA
    • 1901 Annual Report
  • Cycling Without Age
    • Go Fund Me
    • Cycling Without Age in Westmount
    • The Sociable tricycle
    • 27 Nov 2020 CWA Kick Off Meeting
    • 15 Jan 2021 CWA Progress Meeting

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.



Picture
Montreal Bicycle Club Minute Book 2 Dec 1878  (6)
Picture
From MBC composite 1885 McCord Museum
Picture
C.J. Sidey,  From MBC composite 1897 McCord Museum
Picture
Charles Pratt
Picture
Picture
Louis Rubenstein
Picture
Ucal-Henri Dandurand
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  • About
    • TV Series Montreal's Cycling Ghosts >
      • S1 E1 Pilot
      • S1 E2 Ghostly Commands
      • S1 E3 Running with the Bulls
      • S2 E1 Lessons from the Pandemic
    • MBC Historical Bike Tour >
      • Tour Starting Point Shaika Cafe
      • Stop #1 MAAA Grounds
      • Stop #2 Founding of Club at 33 Chomedey
      • Stop #3 Bertie Lane's CDN Hill Climb
      • Stop #4 Lacrosse Grounds
      • Stop #10 Queens park Velodrome Verdun
      • Tour Lunch Break: Lachine Rapids
      • Stop # 11 Fleming Windmill
    • How to join
    • Contact us
    • Issues >
      • Sherbrooke Street Bike Path
  • Minute Book
    • Fixtures Calendar >
      • Instructions on Adding Fixtures to personal Google Calendar
    • MBC Blog
    • Falaise Birder's Blog
    • 2023 Annual Report >
      • January 2023
    • 2022 Annual Report >
      • January 2022
      • February 2022
      • March 2022
      • May 2022
      • June 2022
      • July 2022
      • August 2022
      • September 2022
      • October 2022
      • November 2022 >
        • November 2022 (Google Slide)
      • December 2022
    • 2021 Annual Report >
      • January 2021
      • February 2021
      • March 2021
      • April 2021
      • May 2021
      • June 2021
      • July 2021
      • August 2021
      • September 2021
      • October 2021
      • November 2021
      • December 2021
    • 2020 Annual Report >
      • 2020 Composite Photo
      • January 2020
      • February 2020
      • March 2020
      • April 2020
      • May 2020
      • June 2020
      • July 2020
      • August 2020
      • September 2020
      • October 2020
      • November 2020 >
        • Rev Dreams
      • December 2020
    • 2019 Annual Report >
      • January 2019
      • February 2019
      • March 2019
      • April 2019
      • May 2019
      • June 2019
      • July 2019 >
        • 2-3 July 2019 Prince Edward County / Kingston
        • 18-23 July 2019 Saguenay & Charlevoix Tour
      • August 2019 >
        • 2-4 August 2019 Tout Le P'tit Train du Nord
      • September 2019 >
        • 1-2 September 2019 Simcoe County Loop (Wendat Trail)
        • 11-13 September 2019 Rivière-à-Pierre to Quebec City
      • October 2019
      • November 2019
      • December 2019
    • 2018 Annual Report >
      • March 2018
      • April 2018 >
        • Pittsburgh to Washington DC Excursion
      • May 2018
      • June 2018
      • July 2018
      • August 2018
      • September 2018 >
        • Park(ing) Day in Westmount 2018
      • October 2018
      • November 2018
    • 2017 Annual Report >
      • 4 March 2017, Nuit Blanche
      • 21 March 2017, Re-Founders Meeting
      • 25 March - Earth Hour / Turcot Bicycle Overpass
      • 02 April - Fixture Ride highligthing Issues
      • 18 May Atwater Library Lunchtime Series
      • June - Fixture rides
      • July - Fixture rides
      • August - Fixture rides
      • September - Fixture rides
      • October - Fixture rides
      • November - Fixture Rides
      • December - Fixture Rides
    • Club Minute Book 1878-1904
    • 2 Dec 1878 Meeting
  • Poppies
    • Sobriquets A-D >
      • F.E. Adams
      • Susan B. Anthony
      • Louise Armaindo
      • E.W. Barlow
      • A.G. Batchelder
      • Daisy Bell
      • Ernestine Bernard
      • G. T. Bishop
      • Amelia Bloomer
      • Elsa von Blumen
      • Claud Butler
      • Dorothy Cole
      • Phylis Cole & Joan Cole
      • Disreali
      • Dr. Parry E. Doolittle
      • Joseph Drury
    • Sobriquets E-L >
      • Miss M.J. Frothingham
      • Arhur Edward George
      • Forest Gnome
      • Daisy Greville
      • Arthur Harris
      • G. Harries
      • Alice Hawkins
      • Edmond Jacquelin
      • F.M.S. Jenkins
      • G. Kingan
      • Kittie Knox
      • Karolina Kocięcka
      • Karl Kron
      • Pierre Lallement
      • A.T. Lane
      • Exilda Lachapelle
      • G.S Low
      • Annie Londonderry
      • D. S. Louson
    • Sobriquets M-U >
      • Kirkpatrick Macmillan
      • Susan McCormick
      • Birdie Munger
      • Mile A Minute Murphy
      • W.G. Ross
      • Louis Rubenstein
      • Alfred Wesley Sherritt
      • S. Saxe
      • C.J. Sidey
      • The Snowball Sisters
      • James Starley
      • Henry Sturmey
      • Helena Swanwick
      • W. Tately
      • Major Taylor
      • Doreen Thomas
      • H.S. Tibbs
    • Sobriquets W-Z >
      • Vélocio
      • Queen Victoria
      • J.E. Walsh
      • Maria E. Ward
      • W.S. Weldon
      • The Royal Worcester
    • Places >
      • Velocipede Era 1867-1874 >
        • Drill Hall
        • Nordheimer's Hall
        • Crystal Palace
      • High Wheel Era 1874-1891 >
        • 33 Chomedey Street
        • Lacrosse Grounds
        • MAAA Clubhouse (Montreal Gymnasium)
        • Blue Bonnets
        • MAAA Grounds
      • Bicycle Craze of the 1890's >
        • The Wanderers Bicycle Club
        • YMCA Building Dominion Square
        • Queens Park Velodrome
    • Things
  • History
    • 1817-1867 Dandy Horse Era
    • 1867-1874 Velocipede era
    • Birth of the High Wheel Bicycle
    • The High Wheel Bicycle comes to North America
    • Founding of the Montreal Bicycle Club >
      • MBC Uniforms and Symbols
    • The High Wheel Era in Montreal >
      • Canadian Wheelmen's Association (CWA) Annual Meets
    • The MAAA grounds and the transition to the Safety Bicycle
    • The Bicycle Craze of the 1890's
    • The 1899 International Cycling Association World Championship in Montreal
    • Collapse of 19th Century Bicycle Organizations
    • Conclusion >
      • 1900-1918 Everyday transportation
    • Records >
      • Online Sources
      • Books and papers on subject
      • Where to find Artifacts
      • detailed references
      • Historical maps of Montreal
      • 1894 CWA Meet Montreal Map
  • Scrapbook
    • 1870's Ice Velocipede >
      • 1878 MBC By Laws
    • 1880 MBC Meeting to join LAW >
      • 1882 Louise Armaindo 100 mile race in Montreal
      • 1882 Group Photo and early race
      • 1883 MBC History from CWA The Bicycle
      • 1884 Mr Jenkins Ottawa-Matane tour >
        • 1884 CWA Meet in Toronto
        • 1884 CWA request for funds by Karl Kron
      • 1885 Notman Composite Photograph >
        • 1885 Fixtures and race reports
        • 1885 CWA Meet in Woodstock
        • 1885 kangaroos and tricycles
        • 1885 W.G. Ross, early champion
      • 1886 Fixtures, race and CWA parade reports
      • 1887 Bertie Lane & CDN hill >
        • Toast to Bertie Lane
      • 1888 Ottawa Meet >
        • 1888 CWA Belleville Meet
        • 1888 Gnaedinger Cup
      • 1889 CWA St Catherines Meet
    • 1890 MAAA grounds & road racing >
      • 1890 CWA Ottawa Meet >
        • 1891 Road Race, Safeties vs Ordinaries
      • 1891 Arrival of Safety Bicycle >
        • 1891 CWA Hamilton Meet
        • 1891 MAAA grounds racing
        • 1891 Annual Report
    • 1892 Springtime News >
      • 1892 Composite Photo
      • 1892 Racing News
      • 1892 Kingston Meet
      • 1892 Century Run
    • 1893 Annual Report
    • 1894 Sarnia to Montreal Relay Ride >
      • 1894 CWA Meet Montreal
      • 1894 CWA Racing Rules
    • 1895 Annual Report
    • 1896 Annual Report >
      • 1896 Montreal Star Bicycle Issue
      • 1896 Wheel and Cycling Review article on Montreal
    • 1897 Annual Report >
      • 1897 Notman Composite Photograph
      • 1897 Bicycle Map of Montreal
    • 1898 Annual Report >
      • 1898 Montreal Park and Island Railway
      • 1898 Queens Park Velodrome Verdun
    • 1899 World Championship Speculation >
      • 1899 Major Taylor sets World record
      • 1899 World Championship Report
      • 1899 Montreal Gazette 10 Aug
    • 1900 CWA & CCA
    • 1901 Annual Report
  • Cycling Without Age
    • Go Fund Me
    • Cycling Without Age in Westmount
    • The Sociable tricycle
    • 27 Nov 2020 CWA Kick Off Meeting
    • 15 Jan 2021 CWA Progress Meeting