Montreal Cycling History
1900-1918 Everyday transportation

   After 1900 the Bicycle started to lose its sense of cutting edge modernity and in North America interest in bicycle racing and bicycle clubs declined. However bicycle sales did recover after a few years and the machine continued to be widely used. It became less prominent in the public imagination. Unlike North America, bicycle racing remained popular in Europe as events such as the Tour de France were widely promoted. The Montreal Bicycle Club went into a slow decline from which it did not recover. During the Great War, cycle-mounted infantry, scouts, messengers and ambulance carriers were extensively used by all combatants. After the Great War those Montreal Bicycle Club members who returned did not restart the club.

    Many of the founding bicycle organizations disappeared or transformed into new ones. Much as the LAW had been earlier, the CWA was split apart by a dispute over how to run the racing aspects of the sport, then went into terminal decline. The more recent Montreal bicycle clubs founded in the 1890's also disappeared. 

   The MAAA exists now as Club Sportif MAA. Some of the functions of the CWA and LAW such as road lobbying and tour promotion were taken over by national Automobile Associations, the CAA and AAA.

   In 1905 the MAAA purchased it's present clubhouse building on Peel street.  The MAAA grounds were sold to the City of Westmount in the 1930's. The wood track at Queens Park Velodrome continued for a few years then was forgotten and it's exact location became a subject of debate.

  

Two girls with bicycle, Eastern Townships, QC, about 1900

The photo shows Commonwealth cyclist scouts, walking their bikes on a muddy road on the Western Front, in France.

The Coles sisters on a bicycle trip from Montreal to Ottawa, QC-ON, 1916