BROOKLYN CLOSEUP
 

By Gayle Cinquegrani
Newsday, August 9, 1990

Dexter Benjamin rides his bicycle about 75 miles each workday in hisjob as a messenger for Unique Courier.

"I ride hard," said Benjamin, of Flatbush. "The only problem I haveis when I go up hills. I go up slow, but I still go up."

Working hard is not new to Benjamin, who lost his leg in a cycling accidentin his native Trinidad. After the accident, he came to New York to runin the marathon  -  on crutches.

Benjamin described his bike as a "fix" because it has been altered bya bicycle mechanic. The bike has only one pedal, which is on the left side.Benjamin mounts the bike with his left leg and swings his right leg -  which goes only to mid-thigh  -  over the right side.He ties his crutches to the right side of the bicycle bar after carefullywrapping them in rubber from a bicycle tube so they will not scratch thebike's paint.

Benjamin has been a courier for about five months. Referred to UniqueCourier by a friend who worked there, Benjamin asked the superviser, StephenAlexis, to let him prove himself.

"When I went to the guy, he just asked me how would I do it. I toldhim I had a bike. He was surprised," Benjamin recalled. "I told him togive me a try for a week."

Benjamin has been there ever since, even during a period when he didn'thave a bike. His bike was stolen from in front of a building where he wasmaking a delivery, he said. "I had to walk for a couple of weeks untilI could get a bike again."

Kevin Lessington, a friend of Benjamin's and a fellow courier, said,"This guy's amazing. He rides through rain, sleet, or snow. He can go fromeast to west, from river to river."

Despite his hard work, Benjamin said, he usually does not complete quiteas many runs, or pick-ups and deliveries, as the other couriers. "I haveto leave my bike, unwrap my crutches, and go upstairs, so I take more time,"he said. But he does not get discouraged. "I love bikes. I love riding,"he said.

He became familiar with New York after his accident when he came hereto run in the New York City Marathon, using his left leg and two crutches.He has competed in the marathon four times.

He said he planned to participate again this fall, but he said he wouldlike to try boxing after that. Before Benjamin lost his leg, he said, heparticipated in track and field sports and weightlifting.

Some can't hide their surprise when they learn his accomplishments.Often when he arrives at an office to deliver a letter, he said, "Peoplesay, `Are you our messenger?' I say, `Yeah.' They say, `You ride a bike?'I say, `Yeah.' "