International Cycle-1958

WWII handed Europe and it's citizens incredible disaster and destruction. In rebuilding Europeans and other war torn countries looked for prosperity and hope in new lands. The decade following the War saw many Italians immigrate to places through out the world. It was during this time that the Miele family had decided to search for new hope in another country; the hopes and dreams for a better life lay in Canada. The reasons for Canada were simple, my grandmother, was born in Canada in 1919 and immigrated back to Italy by 1925. The paperwork was clean and the econmy offered the family an opportunity.
Canada during this time welcomed immgriants to help build the Canadian economy and many resourceful people from Europe decided to make Canada their home. Canada encouraged entrepreneurship and the Miele family had the means to offer a new type of business and culture to Canadians. In 1958, after a few years of living and working in Southern Ontario, the Miele's decided to open a bicycle store at Keele and Wilson in North York, Toronto. The new store was called International Cycle and Sports.
The bicycle business at the time was made of practical offerings, heavy three speed english-styled or coaster-braked CCM cruisers. There very little understanding of the sophistication of the mulitspeed external geared drivetrains or frames designs to rocket downhill at high speed. There were no Campagnolo parts or Bianchi or Legnano brands. No one knew the Fausto Coppi or the Tour de France. The world of bicycles were made for light family leisure; a toy for families to spend their leisure time. Kids of the time enjoyed their first bicycle from Canadian Tire, an institution in bicycle retail.
Umberto Miele was an independant, proud man who was driven for business opportunities and my Nonna always supported him and the family in his business life.
There are no pictures of this first store but I was told a story by Klaus a German man two years ago, of my grandfather building wheels in a cluttered back room workshop, seated on a small wooden stool, crouched over spinning wheels with a cigarette in his mouth. He was described as a friendly but an intense man. Klaus at the time was a bicycle racer in his early teens and would do anything to earn his first racing bike, that he purchased from International Cycle.
International Cycle supported this new type of cycling that Europeans were excited to participate in. It was this spirit from new Canadians that began to build the cycling scene. To build a "culture" you need to particpation of people and the emotions to incorporate into daily life. It's a lifestyle chosen by people who find something special in their participation. Klaus described his passion for the sport, the respect he had for Nonno Miele, as well as the struggles he made to race for the store. FYI, Klaus in his eighties and still racing bikes and competes local as well as at International Masters events. His love for the sport will never wain and as he told me he will die on a racing bicycle.
International Cycle was born by Umberto Miele with the intention of getting back to his passion, but this land were not all Italians who supported cycling as integrated part of daily life and sport. This was a hard new land that challenged him in new ways, he and the family's determination were stressed and the finnacial investments needed time to nurture and grow.