February 24, 2008

About Unione Sportiva Italiana (U.S.I.)

Two-Wheeling Since 1908

Early Days

Unione Sportiva Italiana (USI) Cycling Club was founded in 1908, making it one of the oldest cycling clubs in the United States. Our name translates as the Italian Sporting Union. Although cycling has been the USI’s main sporting activity for more than a century, club members participated in many athletic endeavors. Although the USI attracted Italian-Americans and newly immigrated Italians, it was open to anyone interested in becoming a member. The first club champion was Louis Rabbino, who won the title in 1915, and the Unione’s second club champion was Nelson Johnson who took the prize 3 years running.

Before 1920 the USI maintained club offices at 410 8th Avenue at 37th Street in Manhattan. In the above photo, taken in 1915, Louis Rabbino is standing third from the left and Nelson Johnson is standing in the center of the club officials.

The Changing World

As the roaring 20’s began the world of cycling in America was changing. Amateur racing cyclists developed their own national organization, the Amateur Bicycle League of America (ABLA), which was founded in New York City. The ABLA evolved into the United States Cycling Federation which is currently the road division of USA Cycling. The first ABLA national championships were held in Washington, DC and that year’s USI club champion, Arthur Nieminsky, took the road title home.

The USI is an historically notable organization, but not only because it played a central role in the development of amateur bicycle racing in the United States. It supplied officers for the fledgling ABLA, and through the efforts of the La Sportiva Italian Benevolent Society, known as the Mutual, served the needs of the changing New York and American society. The club moved to new headquarters on 45th Street in Manhattan in the early twenties. The club headquarters housed the USI offices as well as a gymnasium, restaurant and banquet hall. The banquet space saw events honoring great sportsmen like the champions who came from all over the world for the Six Day Bicycle Races at Madison Square Garden. Through the Mutual and in-house restaurant, USI sponsored Italian immigrants entering the US by providing them with work which had become required for entry into the United States. USI banquets were well attended and guests often included Italian Consulate members. During this period the USI numbered around 300 cyclists and the Mutual counted over 600 members.

When a young racer named Otto Eisele was sponsored to join the Unione in 1922 by his friend Teddy Bendi, it was a fortuitous moment in USI and American cycling history. Soon after becoming a member of the club Otto volunteered to be USI’s club secretary and held the post for 55 years until his passing in 1976. Along the way Otto, who was the USI representative to the ABLA, was elected president of the organization and served in this capacity for ten years. Chief among the accomplishments during Mr. Eisele’s time in office was recognition of the ABLA as the US representative to the UCI. Otto Eisele Sr was inducted into the US Bicycling Hall of Fame in 1994.

Riders of Distinction

Several outstanding cyclists have distinguished USI by winning or placing well in National or Junior National events. Throughout its history, the Club has had members selected to participate on National and US Olympic teams. In 1948 a young rider named Wendell Rollins moved to New York, joined USI and stayed with the Eisele family. Wendell proved to be a better racer than anyone thought and became USI’s first representative to the US Olympic team.


In the years that followed other talented riders came through the ranks of the USI.

Pictured below (circa 1960) left to right, are National Champ, Jose Nin, & USI Olympians Herbie Francis and Oliver Martin. Oliver went on to be a national coach, was elected to the US Bicycling Hall of Fame, and is coaching these days in the Pacific Northwest.

Our newest member of the US Bicycling Hall of Fame is Nancy Burghardt-Haviland. In about 1957 Nancy and her twin sister Liz, who were twelve years old at the time showed up at the park in Queens that USI used for racing. They both went on to have great junior careers. Nancy carried on as a senior rider amassing nine national titles and representing the US at international competitions including the World Championships during the 1960’s.

Nancy is pictured below with Otto Sr who is presenting her with the 1964 national championship trophy.

Riding into the Future

After some lean years the USI has enjoyed a renaissance in in the last 20 years growing from a dedicated band of racers and enthusiasts in the late 1980’s to a well supported 100+ strong membership today.

The current club profile includes members of a wide variety of ages (from 14 to 70+!), ethnic and cultural groups and occupations. Members enjoy our regular rides, just as they have since our beginning and many are active racing on the road, at the velodrome, in triathlons and during cross season.

We invite you to come along!

USI Contact Information


2010 Elected Club Officers