unsaved:///newpage2.htm

Fred's guide to Titanium and Lightweight Wheelchairs

A webpage based on the experience of a long term wheelchair user

Since becoming disabled in 1984 I have owned around 20 wheelchairs and currently own and use 4 and have 2 handcycles and a Powertrike.

Swede, Quickie, Chevron, Panthera, , RGK, Davinci and Cyclone are some of the makes I have bought.

I have also had an active interest and been a part owner in one of Britain largest specialist wheelchair retailers.

Over the last 20 years I have got to know most of the manufacturers of sports and lightweight wheelchairs in the UK. I have also bought wheelchairs directly from the USA and travelled to Africa and and the Middle East. My wheelchairs have been used up mountains, in lakes, across deserts and even deep inside the tomb of Tutankhamen!

With the help of my true friend and fellow Inventor "Dangerous" Dave Mountain we produced the innovative Handem tandem see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whD86tuujxE

With this page I will attempt to give unbiased useful advice to prospective purchasers based on my experience and knowledge of wheelchairs. I don't claim to be an expert but I think my experience may be especially useful to those newly disabled or professionals new to the field.

My friend Russ - The R in RGK wheelchairs

...

Why Chose A Titanium Wheelchair

Many good wheelchairs have and are still being made from Chrome-moly steel and Aluminium. I.e. the Panthera. Both materials can produce a light and strong chair that can be repaired or re-welded by a well equipped engineer.

Titanium is lighter and stronger but costs a LOT more. It also has the disadvantage that it requires highly skilled welding techniques and real precision engineering. A badly made aluminium chair can be bodged up and often is. A badly made Titanium wheelchair is very bad news. A well made custom built Titanium wheelchair may be the best thing you ever bought, but getting it right takes skill - and luck.

Which type of Titanium?

There are a number of manufacturers making Titanium wheelchairs. Some use cheap Titanium and some use the best quality in the pursuit of excellence. You don't always get what you pay for and the best sometimes costs less.

Standard Size or Custom built?

Using the best quality metal is still no guarantee that you will get a good chair. Aside from the engineering it is crucial that the chair is the correct size and shape for you.

Potentially the best Titanium wheelchairs are custom built to your size. A custom built wheelchair can be lighter, and stronger but usually has less adjustment or options for accessories. If the person measuring you up for a custom wheelchair gets it wrong you might as well tie a rollerskate to a deckchair and use that. I have taken delivery and rejected 2 custom built wheelchairs in the last 10 years due to manufacturer error.

How to Buy a Custom Built Wheelchair- (Titanium or otherwise)

Buying a custom built wheelchair is risky. You need to have complete faith in the salesman who measures you and orders it and hope that the factory will build it to the correct specifications. One of my rejected wheelchairs was ordered to a ridiculous spec that pushed my knees under my chin and made my knuckles scrape the ground. Salesmen can be influenced by their own needs so if the guy trying to sell you the chair looks like an ape beware.

Measuring someone correctly for a wheelchair takes skill and training. Don't be afraid to ask the salesman how long he has been doing the job and how many of your type of chair he has sold. My experience is that there are a lot of untrained or unskilled salesman and a lot of bullshitters selling wheelchairs. One safeguard is to insist on trying a demo chair that is as close as possible to the one you want to buy. Trying a wheelchair means using it for an afternoon at least. Just sitting in one with flat tyres in a showroom for 2 minutes is not good enough.

Usually the salesman will take some measurements from your existing wheelchair if you are happy with it. The problems arise when you alter a dimension like the camber or width or position of a fixed axle. If you have not tried a chair with those dimensions you could be in for a shock when your new chair arrives.

Another way to limit problems is to either collect your new chair from the showroom or have the company deliver it to you IN PERSON. After hours of effort selling you the chair many companies then send it to you in a box and leave you to assemble it. If the salesman who sold you the chair is present when you take delivery of it many problems can be avoided. The 3 people I trust the most to measure me for a custom built chair are Vinny Ross at Davinci mobility, Stuart Dunn of Cyclone, and Russ at RGK, all are wheelchairs users and design and manufacture wheelchairs themselves.

What to do if It goes wrong

A custom built wheelchair is a bit like a new house. It is complicated and there may well be small things that need altering. The building trade call this 1st and 2nd fit and use a snagging list to get the house completed and perfect. Reputable companies will not be satisfied until you are, and should sort out any problem with your new wheelchair.. If you have a big problem that can't be sorted contact the British Healthcare Trade Association BHTA. All good manufacturers and dealers will be a member.

This is the new titanium chair from Cyclone that is designed for users who want a strong light wheelchair but don't want to take the risk of having a fully customised one made.

This chair is painted and has gold anodised parts to make it look good at a show. Unless you are 13, a total poser and must have a snazzy chair I would seriously recommend just having the chair with a metal finish as it will not chip, show scratches or wear off.

You can always wear ridiculous clothes or a carnival wig if you want to draw attention to yourself!. (Or have flashing castors like me!)

This is a similar new titanium chair from Davinci that is designed for users who want a strong light wheelchair but don't want to take the risk of having a fully customised on made.

The finish on this wheelchair is far more durable and will last for many years. My old polished aluminium Chevron is 18 years old now and still looks good. The brushed or polished titanium finishes are even more durable.

Fred's recommended wheelchair accessories

Over time I shall feature some of the best equipment that I use in this section.

Wheelchair Pushing Gloves

Over the years I have bought dozens of gloves and worn them out. None have been as good as these ones developed by a bloke called Trevor in Newport.

These gloves are re-enforced in all the right places and are flexible at the back. They secure tightly with Velcro and all the leather is toxic free and the leather purchased ethically.

Spinergy Carbon Fibre and Titanium Wheels

The best wheels have to be Spinergy Spox wheels. They have black carbon fibre spokes. and large, extra strong, aluminium hubs with quick release buttons..

The rims are black aluminium and the push rims are polished titanium. With the Spinergy wheels and high pressure tyres you will get the fastest ride out of your wheelchair with the minimum of effort.

Also the wheels are so light that getting them in and out of your car is a doddle. There are fancier looking wheels around now but I think they are gimmicks that don't perform as good as they look.

A set of Spinergy wheels costs about Ł495 and Ł22 for the axles.

Breaking News - literally

New Spinergy Wheels launched - but breaking already!

Spinergy have "improved" their fantastic wheels by making them lighter. They have done this by reducing the amount of spokes and machining out a slot in the alloy hubs - which looks great!

Now the BAD NEWS.

I have it from at least 2 reliable sources that these new wheels can easily break - what a bummer!

The wheel shown above is the old stlye, Spinergy Spox wheel with 18 carbon fibre spokes.

This wheel is widely regarded as the best available and I agree

This wheel is still available- e-mail me for details

The new wheel has 12 thicker spokes and I do not recommend that you buy it.

New - high pressure , Puncture proof tyres for wheelchairs

Schwalbe Wheelchair tyres

For a few years I used the solid "Greentyre" wheelchair tyres as my gardening work bought me into contact with thorns and prickles. For everyday non gardening use I found these solid tyres made pushing difficult. Next I used "Primo V trak" tyres but these wore out in a couple of months and where expensive to replace. Then I moved onto the more knobbly "Primo Passage" tyres and found that they last much longer and give really good grip in the wet. For this reason I recommend the Primo passage tyres as the best all round wheelchair tyre.

The latest in Wheelchair and bicycle tyre technology

Now I am using the new Schwalbe Smartguard tyres that have a built in Kevlar barrier to prevent punctures. Despite the toughened Kevlar strip I have managed to get 2 punctures so it cannot be said that these tyres are puncture proof.

These tyres give good grip and are the most durable I have used, although getting them on my Spinergy wheels was a struggle as they are so tough.

Schwalbe tyres are well known and loved by bicycle enthusiasts.

A pair of Schwalbe tyres and tubes cost about Ł41.50 inc p&p and in my experience will outlast any other similar tyre.

Wheelchair accessible holiday apartment in Kefalonia

I have just had a superb holiday at the Villa Serena in Kefalonia and made good use of the roll-in shower, pool with hoist , van with wheelchair lift and the wonderful accessible garden., mail me for details.

Villa Serena in Kefalonia has 2 bedroom apartments and is set in lovely grounds with this superb swimimng pool.

Best pump for wheelchair tyres

It is very important for wheelchair users to keep their tyres hard to make pushing easier.

If your tyres lose pressure you will find it much harder to get around and become tired very quickly. Recently I was worried that I was ill as I had so little energy. When I checked my tyres I discovered the reason!

I have tried many types of pump, both manual and electric and this "Road Morph" road pump is the one that stands out above the rest.

This pump is small and well made, it folds out like a track pump so you can get good pressure on it without slipping.

This is the simplest model that I keep in the car. The one I keep at home has a built in pressure gauge. Cost Ł20-Ł30

New lightweight wheelchair ramps

If you have a step or two that is a problem for a wheelchair user then this new range of budget priced, portable wheelchair ramps might be the answer.

The ramps are made from strong durable aluminium and the clever design enables them to fold for easy storage and portability. Ramps like this uses to cost a fortune but this new range is more reasonably priced at around Ł120. Larger sizes are also available.

buy lightweight wheelchair ramp

The Powertrike - and Powertrike Xtra

My good friend Vinny Ross - Inventor of the Powertrike

Winner of Tomorrows World Invention of the year

Breaking News - June 2008

3 new Powertrikes launched with amazing motors and batteries!

I have just tested all 3 new Powertrikes and was very impressed with the improvements, mail me for further details

The Doctors told me I would never walk again!

( and they were f***ing right!)

I bought my Powertrike as soon as they came out and love it. I took it to New York, Barcelona and Worthing.

The Powertrike was designed by my chum Vinny Ross. It won the Tomorrows World Invention of the Year award.

Although I love it, it was invented by my pal and it won a superb prize "there are two things ye should know about the Powertrike" before you buy.

Firstly.. it can be a sod to get on and off - if you are not a hunk like what I am. (even I struggle occasionally when tired)

Secondly.. it can go wrong occasionally, so it is better if you carry tools and are little bit mechanically savvy.. like what I am.

*** the more refined and reliable Powertrike Xtra has been developed to give more power, reliability and speeeeeed!

The original Powertrike was fast and manoeuvrable. However should you drop it or crash into something it might break. Like any complicated machine it has vulnerable parts and is not indestructible.

I have broken a few cables, wires and connectors, killed a battery and blown up a hotel electrical system, but with a few tools on board, some educated bodging and a lot of swearing I have usually got home on it again. ( the hotel is still in darkness).

The Powertrike costs about Ł1700 new and includes breakdown cover. Despite a few little problems I really love it and would not be without my Powertrike. This is a brilliant piece of kit for many wheelchair users but you need to be realistic about using it as it is fast and potentially dangerous.

Now available - The Powertrike Xtra 16mph - 60% more power and more reliable electronics!

Testing the Powertrike Extra at Naidex

Breaking News!

Powertrike gets bad press on Watchdog!

In March 2008 the BBC consumer program Watchdog did a real number on the Powertrike and its retailers PDQ mobility. Whilst I recognise there can be a few technical problems with the powertrike I think it is a great product and the BBC mis-represented it. If it is so crap then why did the BBC give it the tomorrows world award?

Maybe the BBC should be slagged off on Watchdog too?

Cleaning tools for wheelchair users

Gtech SWO2 Floor Sweeper

Sometimes the simplest machines are the best and this little battery powered floor sweeper fits that description.

The Gtech SW02 is so light and efficient, you can wizz round the room in seconds without the noise and effort of plugging in a heavy vacuum cleaner.

I was amazed how much it picks up and it is so easy to empty thanks to its nifty dirtbox that just slides out.

This machine can be used with one hand and is perfect for all sorts of people including wheelchair users like me!

DID YOU FIND MY PAGE HELPFUL?

If you would like to support my work please use the search box below when buying any products from Amazon as the small commissions generated help pay my running costs, thanks, Fred

Click here for GARDENING TOOLS FOR WHEELCHAIR USERS

click on the shed to return to the homepage

timely garden tips special deals site plan new products