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Disaboom is proudly sponsoring handcycist Alejandro Albor in the 2008 Beijing Paralympics!   This will be his last Olympic competition; he has one thing on his mind: getting the gold.  Disaboom will be covering his quest for gold as Alejandro prepares for September.  

“I am so excited, I started my workout three weeks ago and I’m ready to go!”

Alejandro, a double amputee, has been handcycling since its inception in the 80’s.  When he first began this relatively new sport, it was recreational, “I just wanted to keep up with my girlfriend on the roads!”  When the U.S.  Handcycling Federation (USHF) started holding races, Alejandro was there.  With his seemingly archaic, homemade bike, the other competitors doubted his ability to seriously compete. 

Their doubts were soon diminished when Alejandro proved to be an intense competitor.  “When I started doing so well, they stopped making fun of me.”
Athens, 2004
Alejandro has been a part of several firsts in handcycling, including being asked to represent the U.S. when the Paralympics introduced handcycling as an official sport in 2004.  Alejandro took silver despite a last-minute rule that didn’t allow him to use his own racing bike.  Instead, he used a training bike, which added three pounds.
Custom Bikes
In addition to racing for gold, Alejandro wears many hats. He is a husband and father, a public speaker, and a builder of custom handcycles for people of all ability types.  Though his free time is nearly nonexistent, he still takes time to build at least one handcycle per year for donation.
Alejandro started building handcycles for people when he noticed their outrageous cost ($6,000+) and realized that he could build them for less. When asked why he would take the time to do such time-consuming and exacting work, he replied, “I like helping people and giving them the chance to experience handcycling.” 
The process for building a customized handcycle is complicated and labor-intensive.  First, Alejandro takes an individual’s measurements and assesses his or her ability.  He then sketches the bike and sends it to the client for approval.  This process of sending pictures back and forth continues for weeks as Alejandro assembles the bike. 
Once the bike is sent to the client, Alejandro coaches his clients to make sure they’re using it properly.  “Once they have the bike, they want to do 100 miles right away and they don’t have the muscle or lung capacity to do that yet.”  Alejandro is always happy and willing to answer questions and calls from clients about the bikes he has crafted.
Balance
When asked how he balances it all, he laughs.  “Every day is so busy—I need more hours in the day!”  His strategy is to just take it day-by-day and do his best to stick to a routine.  But his family comes first.  “If everything is okay with my family, I feel good, and I can go on the road. Then I come home and do my other work.”
Going for Gold
What makes Alejandro push to the next competitive level?  “It’s all within me.  It’s a drive to come in first.  No one likes to come in second.  I want to be first,” he declares. It’s that mantra of first place that pushes Alejandro harder and harder.  “I love racing for the excitement and adrenaline.  To bring bronze, silver, gold to your country makes it worth it.  To be on that podium with the flowers in your arms—that’s what I love and what I think about when I race.”

Learn more about Alejandro by visiting his Disaboom profile or reading Filming Alejandro: The Steven C. Barber Story.