Early Racing Career
It is not clear when Pete Steinert first entered an organized cycling race. The earliest report of formal competition which I have found refers to an event held on May 30th, 1901, when he was 17 years old. He probably already had racing experience, for on that day he was victorious in two races, one of them ten miles long. As time went by, Pete showed confidence in his riding, competing on tracks, in road races, in hill climbs - and even in something described as a "Liverpool Steeplechase." Although Long Island offered opportunities in many places (e.g., Glen Cove, Valley Stream, Ronkonkoma, Manhasset, and Brooklyn), he was not content to remain a local success.
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He also raced at the velodromes of northern New Jersey, which regularly attracted the fastest cyclists in the Eastern United States. By 1909, he was ready for the U.S. National Championships (held that year at the Vailsburg, NJ track, shown here). He finished first in his qualifying heats for the one mile event, and solidified his place in the sport by placing third in the final. |
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Any joy was short-lived, however. A month later, Steinert was on the same track for a regional championship. During one race, he was riding part-way up the banked track, following close behind Clarence Carmen, the national champion. Suddenly, Carmen tried to dart to the inside, between two cyclists. He struck one of their wheels and went down. Pete could not help but crash over him; both men were seriously injured. One of Steinert's collarbones was broken into three pieces. It was time to convalesce.
