RobertFrith wrote:Share with us all!
Well George Bismire was one of 3 great mentors in my dads life. My dad's father died when he was 6 years old ... eventually my dad and his brothers got into the bike racing business and were looked after by a wonderful guy called Don Blackman. Don built bikes under the Blackbird name and my dad and his brothers were all given Blackbirds by this wonderful man Don Blackman who took it on himself to be a father figure to these kids. Don's shop was on Liverpool Rd Ashfield and my dad and his brothers raced with Ashfield. My dad's Blackbird bike has long gone and I would love to find one. I have seen a couple at the bike show owned by one of the forum members here.
My dad never forgot Don Blackman but the next man he came across was George Bismire who owned Bismire Cycles in Campsie. George was a hugely respected man in cycling circles and was a coach to many of the great riders of the early 40's, most notably Alf Strom who was the NSW road champion in those days. Alf famously took fastest time 3 years in succession in the iconic Goulburn to Sydney road race, in 1937, 38 and 41 (it wasnt held in 1939 or 40). Strommy was a weapon who eventually teamed up with one of my uncles who was the NSW State Track champion, and the pair went overseas and became the world famous Six-day race pair Strom and Arnold, winning 8 sixes as a pairing and the 1952 European madison championship. (I have written a book about all this called 'SixDayMan').
In 1943 George from the Campsie club and my dad and his mates from the Ashfield club, along with several other clubs, broke away from the official cycling union to form a breakaway association. George was influential in this rebellion which resulted in improved racing in NSW at that time. Somewhere along the way my dad acquired a Bismire track bike which has remained in our family ( I have it at the moment) and is in remarkably good condition. Like Don Blackman, George Bismire was a great human being and my dad always spoke very highly of him.
The third piece of my dad's puzzle comes in the form of a man by the name of Ron Bates. My dad and Ron became great mates in later years when my dad was in the mighty St George club. Ron was building bikes out of Hurstville called Royal Star and all the great St George riders had them. My dad rode Royal Stars later in his cycling life but unfortunately for my family, gave them away when he stopped racing. I have just this week been fortunate to be able to buy a nice Royal Star road bike which I will build up in memory of my dad who passed away aged 94 just last February.
Dad would have been able to tell us all the missing details about George Bismire, his bikes and his business. Unfortunately thats about all I can remember at the moment.
With my Dad's passing I am really quite emotionally attached to his bikes. I have his Bismire and his Cinelli road bike, his last good race bike which my uncle brought back to Australia from the Rome Olympics in 1960. I have a Royal Star now as well which I am excited about. So these brands of bikes - Blackbird, Bismire, Royal Star mean a great deal to me emotionally, as they are a link to my dad who I miss very much. To other people - well they are just little known bikes of little value.
To our friend who posted the question - if that bike reminds you of your grandfather, if it means something then keep it. Keep it in your family. If you intend to throw it away or sell it, please consider contacting me as I would love to have the opportunity to put it with these other bikes I have. My family is a famous cycling family, bikes and bike racing is our life, and it would be well looked after.
Cheers
Marcus Arnold
. Condition wise it's VERY good for it's age.
