In 1895 it was common to see bicycle messengers from rival Toronto telegraph companies racing each other with fixed gear racing bikes and no brakes. 20 year old Toronto bicycle messenger Robert McLeod astonished the world by beating a strong field to win Gold in the 10-mile cycling race at the 1934 British Empire Games. Robert’s Gold medal performance was unmatched by a Canadian for almost 40 years.

Between 1933 and 1936 Robert won all three official races at the Canadian Cycling Championships (half-mile, mile and two-mile) and was named to the 1936 Canadian Olympic Team to compete in Berlin.  In 1999, Robert McLeod was listed as one of the Top 25 Canadian Cyclists of the Century.