The New York herald., 1922-08-06
Put Him on Special Diet
and Schedule of
Living.
SOON BECAME CHAMPION
Now He Has Retired With
Competency-Quit Because
He Couldn't Repeat.

When Webster got up his dictionary
he must have had Frank l.. Kramer In
mind when he wrote in the word
regularity" Regular in sleep, regular
with his meals and regular In most
everything he does or wants done sub
scribed to the phenomenal success OF
the greatest athlete in the history OF
American sport. For twenty-seven
years Big Steve. as he was christened
by his friends in Newark, where he
made cycling famous. adopted regu-
larfty In his mode of living and train
ing, and in that space Of time not
only won thousands of races IN the
amateur and pro ranks. but hung up
four worlds records at the quarter.
one-third. half and quarters Of
mile.
Upon his retirement ten days ago
Kramer brought 10000 spectators to
their feet at the Newark Velodrome
when he equaled the worlds figures OF
IS rs seconds for one-sixth Of mile
and bettered his own mark by two
nfths OF a second. He also held The
American championship - one mile and
In 1912 won the worlds title. He made
three European invasions and cleaned
up. Several years ago he won the
Grand Prix IN Paris. where $4,000 spec
tators cheered him to the echo and the
oficlals later escorted him to the Presi-
dents box where he slipped wine with
the French President .
Tho fact that he has quit riding after
all these years has not changed kramers
mode Of living. He goes to bed every
night at . o'clock and arises early for a
long walk. Then he has his breakfast
a light lunch and a hearty dinner at .
II. NJ. His pet diversion. now that ne
will not climb on bike again. Is
golf which he likes very much and says
keeps him In trim. He may take up poll
iick as a side issue. lie Is an intimate
friend of both United States Senators
Frelinghuysen and Walter Edge.
Has Ansassed Fortune.
They say that Kramer has amassed
fortune of nearly a quarter of a million
dollars. I'm his heyday the great sprinter
used to clean up 5000 or 500 week on
an average.
81 would advise embyro bicyciists to
adhere to my old custom Of being regu-
lar In everything they do. particularly
sleep and food" declared Kramer yes
tsrday at his East Orange home. Frank
had Just finished playing few rounds
of golf and he was In great spirits.
II don't care who the athlete is OF
what sport he is engaged In. he must
live right" continued Kramer. "or else
he might as well give II up as bad job.
The doctors told my parents when
was IL years old that had symptoms
of tuberculosis, or something or other.
How was 10 prevent the supposed dis
easeg About that time cycling was all
the rage. and I ma1e up my mind to get
exercise and figured riding bikes was
Just the thing for me.
ct must have come natural TO me, for
I didn't need anybody 10 help me climb
on the seat. and got right in the thick
OF competition. My folks insisted on
my going to bed early and they picked
out the food should eat followed
their instructions 10 the letter: hence
my geod health and long years OF COM
petition. II make an appointment I
keep my word. In Paris one time had
an engagement with . promoter. and
because he didn't show up on time left
him flat.
why ne Retired.
II stopped racing because didn't
have tho power 20 repeat I am as fast
an ever was right to-day. but can't
come back after winning a heat. This
was forclbly brought 10 my mind re-
Gently ~ the New York velodrome when
/ beat Orlando Plant In a heat OF a
match race. That took all the sap out
~ me. Rikht then and there made up
nv mind 70 stop"
n u matter or record that Kramer
raced the fathers OF two great young
cyclists to-day. Jay Eaton and Robert
Waithaur. whose sons Ray Eaton and
Hobby Jr.. are making cycling history
both IN Newark and New York.
Kramer went 10 Europe 10 meet the
cfackS over there In 1906. 1905 and 1914.
tle competed with great success In
France. Germany. Belgium. Italy and
England.
when hs began Kramer competed
fruf years a. an amateur. anncxing two
,-fampionNhlna. That the game was not
strtnWous fer ths great athlete ~ evil
dencra ~ the fact that he rode thirty
one rarcs N thirty days back In 1907.
rlnishinw up ~ Manhattan Beach In the
afternoon ana a few hours later appear
lnn N the spfints ~ Madison square
Garden, In hin debut m a tandem race.
rleirm with Emil friol a Frenchman, al
Newark. thls pair rode 20 fact that the
hsir bfche IN half. ln5uring Friol.
krurner wfii - ~ years young n~xt
November. Mis one ambition In tho last
fsw years vas 20 win q ain day race.
with glmmy McrAn 81 q partner.