Charley Bergna
On his Schwinn Paramount
1937 amateur cycling national champion
A champion cyclist, and a champion for cycling.
Charley Bergna dedicated himself to the bicycle for most of his long life. He was the amateur national champion in 1937, and had a professional cycling career that spanned the war and into the late 1940s. Charlie won numerous six-day races, including the Montreal event in 1942 with his partner Torchy Peden, the Winnepeg Six in 1948 and the Cleveland Six Day in ’49.
The win at the Cleveland Six in 1949 with partner Cecil Yates was the last time that an American duo won a six-day track event for over fifty years (Marty Nothstein and Ryan Oelkers broke that particular streak by winning the Moscow Six in 2002).
1942 Montreal Six-Day Winner with Torchy Peden
1937 National Champion
Charley’s vast trophy collection recently came into our possession, and there are some beautiful pieces to check out in the shop.
We have the cup from the ’42 Montreal Six-Day with Torchy Peden. The 1937 National Champion trophy is enormous (and still in good shape). We have a bunch of medals and trophies from smaller races as well as a curious brass trophy made out of recycled spoons.
Bergna in his Dossche team kit
Charlie’s “Hill Cycle” Urago
That’s Bergna’s likeness in spoons
After his bike racing career had finished, Charley remained close to the sport. He promoted cycling and sold bicycles, flying the flag for pedal power in a country that had moved on to other pursuits. He was one of Raleigh bicycle’s first two traveling sales representatives in America, with his vast sales territory including the entire eastern half of the United States.
Mr. Bergna just passed away, nearly making it to 100 years.