Ernest Bayer rowed for the Penn Barge Club for many years. He won his first national title stroking the junior eights and junior fours from that club at the 1924 national regatta. In 1925 he moved up to the seniors and was joined by Bill Miller and Charles Karle, who would row with him in the fours at Amsterdam when they won a silver medal. Bayer retired in 1928 and spent a few years coaching, although he made a short-lived comeback to row in the 1936 Olympic Trials. He later became very active in rowing administration, serving as a treasurer, vice president and president of the National Association of Amateur Oarsmen. He made his career as a banker in Philadelphia before his retirement.