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The Wheel World
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Puerto Rican Dad Prepares
for Bike Battle
New York Post, May 25, 2005
By Darren Teruel
For the past twelve years, Alfred, “Alfredo Sauce”, Bobe Jr. has spent
five days a week toiling as a bike messenger on the no-room-for-error
streets of New York, risking his life to deliver packages.
“There are rules and regulations out here,” says the soft-spoken but
confident South Bronx-born Puerto Rican, “And every day I take a
chance.”
Come Saturday, however, the 31-year-old father of two will trade his
mountain bike for a specially designed racing bike and will serve as
the co-captain for Team Puma,
a racing team comprised solely of bike messengers.
Puma
provides each of its members with health insurance for as long as
they’re part of the team pays their expenses on the days they
race.
Each week, Bobe and his eight-person team compete against other bike
messengers without brakes in various cities around the country for cash
and prizes.
The finale, known as the World Championship Race takes place June 30 – July 4 in
Jersey City.
Last weekend, at the Kissena Velodrome in Flushing Queens, Team Puma
collected the most qualifying points. Individually however, Bobe and
his peers didn’t win ant trophies.
But he did get the respect and attention of former Olympic gold
medallist Marty Nothstein, who told Bobe he has the talent and speed to
compete professionally.
“Right now I am the fastest messenger in New York,” Bobe boasts.
Good enough to beat Lance Armstrong.
“I can certainly beat him going up and down Broadway.”
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