The Canadian cycling community has lost Jim Miele, most famous for Miele bicycles, who passed away on January 12.

Born in Casino, Italy, Miele came to Canada with his family when he was six years old. His love of bicycle racing began at a young age under the guidance of his father, also a cyclist. Jim went on to be educated and work as an engineer in Toronto. Later, he returned to bicycles and with his father began the International Bicycle stores.

Inspired by Italian-made bikes imported into Canada, Miele began building his own frames. He sponsored the well-known Catena and Miele cycling teams and also introduced the weekday and weekend criterium series to Toronto.

Miele was instrumental in bringing the famous Carlsberg Grand Prix series to the streets of Toronto. In the early '90s, with an upsurge in mass-made bikes and weakened demand for companies such as

Jim's, he returned to retail, operating various stores such as Peel Cycle and and the Bike Factory. Jim Miele has many long-time customers and friends who will always remember his stores, frames, teams and races. Miele is survived by his wife, Valerie, and stepson, Wayne.

Pedal regrets not posting this earlier and extends its sincere condolences to Jim Miele's family and friends.