Member Profile:  Alejandro Albor

 by Larry Mesa

My introduction to Alejandro Albor was on the Wheelmen's Santa Express ride last year. I was fascinated with a small dark figure darting from one side of the street to the other and accelerating faster on his low to the ground cycling machine than the bicyclists could. I was observing Alejandro Albor riding a handcycle, designed and built by him, as he sought out the bashful children of the neglected southside neighborhood that the Sacramento Wheelmen had selected for gift and candy distribution. The children hidden behind the fences, crouched behind bigger kids, or silent behind the side of a house were the recipients of the candy Alejandro had tucked into his cycling shirt. He was looking for the children who needed his special attention. This is what the man is all about, helping those who can not afford a handcycle, those who need motivation to succeed, those whose situations seem most desperate and unfortunate.

As a result of meeting Alejandro that day, part of me changed as a cyclist and as a person. In our initial conversation Alejandro learned that I was about to have surgery on my right ankle in February. I was to be off my regular bike for about 6 months and the idea of riding a handcycle appealed to me: where else could I find a fix for exercise? Alejandro offered me the use of a back-up handcycle for as long as I wanted, so I went to his house sometime in mid-March for my maiden voyage. Looks easy. No way! It was a challenge just to sit on the machine, much less make it move efficiently. Realize there is no steering mechanism on the bike that a cyclist would be familiar with: it turns as a skateboard does, requiring body leaning and guts. Also, as one might guess, small muscle is not as strong as large muscle, i.e., arm vs. leg. No contest-leg is stronger, but doesn't recover as fast as arm.

After visiting Alejandro many times at his residence, one starts to realize that a handicap can limit a person only to the degree that is permitted. He cares for his children every day, taking his son Miguel to and from school, watching his dark-eyed daughter Maya all day, fixing meals for the children and his wife Kimberly each evening, and doing many other household duties. In his garage the other work takes place. This is where the handcycles are built and maintained. Machines, workbenches, tools, parts, and materials all line the perimeter of the room. His workplace is set up for maximum production, everything within his short reach. Alejandro recently rebuilt the engine of his Toyota truck, removing the engine with a hoist, placing it on a bench, completing the work on the engine and putting it back into the truck, with a little help from his brother. This type of strength is typical of everything he does, especially his competitive handcycling.

Some of you followed his recent victory in the Alaskan race, Midnight Sun Ultra Challenge, the toughest handcycling event in the world. What you didn't realize is that he was racing against two ex-world champions who were on the same sponsored team and who systematically attempted to block Alejandro for the sprint points, drafting each other for an advantage. In general, they did all they could to keep him from a victory. It didn't work; they could not keep up with the strength and spirit of the man. This year he has won the Los Angles Marathon, Los Angeles City Sprints (criterium), and placed third in the United States Handcycle Championships after leading most of the race. He has also completed the Ride Against Hunger and our own Sierra Century, including Slug Gulch. He will be competing in the Illinois Criterium August 18, the Long Beach Marathon in November and possibly a road race in Colorado, and the California International Marathon in the remaining months of the year. I am worn out just reporting this schedule.

His immediate goals are to represent the U.S.A. in the World Championships next year and to be on the American team for the Para-Olympics in 2004. Of course he plans to win. I asked him what he wanted from his success as a handcyclist. His response was no surprise; he wants to promote handcycling to everyone, especially those who are physically challenged and can't afford to purchase a handcycle. He charges only for the parts, or allows parents to bring old components, wheels and what ever they can gather that resembles a bike part to him, and he then builds the handcycle at no cost. For children of no means, a handcycle is given with no strings attached. Alejandro is presently looking for an organization or persons to subsidize his program so that more kids can enjoy the love of handcycling. As a motivational speaker at schools, hospitals, and other institutions, he meets many of the children who receive his handcycles. His company is called A-WON Handcycles, a good name.

A warm, family man, Alejandro would like to see his children complete college, marry and have children of their own, and to that end he and his wife Kimberly have created a great family environment. Kimberly, whom Alejandro met 17 years ago while they were students at Sacramento City College, is his biggest fan, whose encouragement has meant much in his success as a person and a competitor. She presently teaches special education children at Feickert Elementry School in the Elk Grove School District. While at Sacramento City College, Alejandro received an AA degree in Aeronautical Mechanics and hopes to continue his education in biology research after his children finish elementary school.

If handcycling were not enough for fame and fortune, one just need view his trophies and medals in his home to see the awards he has received as a member of The Friends of the River Kayak Team and as a competitive power lifter. It's been in sports that he has found the freedom that the loss of his legs had taken from him. At the age of 17, after the experience of extreme poverty, parental abandonment, discrimination, adjustment to a new culture, and ultimately depression over the end of a relationship, he ran his vehicle into a moving train in an attempt to end his life.

From the loss of his legs was born a rare strength that affects those who come in contact with Alejandro. It is very difficult to put in writing how he has affected me, but I realize that the fears we all face as humans can be overcome and in that victory a better place is reached.

Alejandro wanted some supporters acknowledged, people like Dr. Chun of Elk Grove, the kids and staff of Feickert Elementary, whose fund raising efforts helped offset the costs of racing, and groups like the Sacramento Wheelmen, whose donations of used bike parts helped build a few cycles for children.

Soon I will be riding a new handcycle designed and built by Alejandro Albor. Look for me to be breathing down on some of you slow Tuesday breakfast riders, along with my good friend Alejandro, when he is not seriously training at 20 plus miles per hour.