Fred's guide to Titanium and
Lightweight Wheelchairs
A webpage based on the experience of a
long term wheelchair user
Also new products for disabled people.
Updated 19th July 2010
Breaking news!
My titanium frame
snapped!
I test the new Spinergy
Flexrim rubber push rims and the new Quickie
Helium
with its oval section
Aluminium tubing! ( and extra wide castor pods)
UK Charity Launch
Sports Wheelchairs For Under £500!
Laptray re-invented
with bag included!
This is me trying out the new Quickie Helium, the first wheelchair to
use oval section Aluminium tubing to achieve improved strength and
lightness. If you are thinking of buying one mail me for the latest
details, its available now from EPC.
My new Spinergy Flexrims were great - for about a month then split
in 2 places!
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| 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 , Levo 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 25 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.
Talking Chairs with Tennis Champ Peter Norfolk
(OBE)
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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
harder to rectify. 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.
Update- after 6 years my
titanium frame
snapped! - but has now been repaired.
My Cyclone Mirage Ti is an open
frame type chair and great for lifting into a car and getting past the
steering wheel. I would say this type of frame is the best - unless you
are really heavy, in which case get a conventional box section frame as
even Titanium is vulnerable to stress - I know as I broke one! . I also
recently discovered that the titanium tubing of my backrest had cracked
(same fault as my old titanium RGK). Whilst this may sound bad I did get
a lot of use form this wheelchair and like it so much that I drove to
Hull to have it refurbished at the Cyclone factory.
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. Always check that the dimensions of the
custom chair they deliver is the same as the spec sheet when you ordered
it.
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. Some people I trust to measure me for
a custom built chair are Vinny Ross at Davinci mobility, and Russ at RGK,
Stuart at Cyclone all are wheelchairs users
who design and manufacture wheelchairs in the UK. Also Peter Norfolk at
EPC has 30 years experience in a wheelchair and although he does not
manufacture them he can give you unbiased advice on any make of chair.
Buying a chair direct from a manufacturer has
advantages and disadvantages. They will invariably be biased and are
unlikely to recommend the best chair for you if it happens to come from a rival. As
with any expensive product shop around and don't rush your purchase. You
may well be sitting in it for the next 6 years so another hour or 2
looking is nothing. Purchase in haste, repent at your leisure!
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.
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Carbon Fibre Wheelchairs - Any Good?
I have seen about 5 of these and been involved in
the design of one of them. Whilst it SOUNDS like a good idea, carbon
fibre does not lend itself as well to tubes as it does to
panels. Therefore there is little or no weight saving compared to
Titanium or oval section Aluminium. Also the finish is far more liable to degradation through
scratching and chipping.
Carbon fibre chairs do look good though and the one opposite is
completely custom made for weight saving and is -(I believe) the
lightest wheelchair in the world. In fact it is so light I could wear it like a hat! the bad news is that is costs £8000!
The other bad news about carbon fibre is that when it fails it tends
to shatter, and you wont be able to re-weld it like you would with
metal. Frame Colours - Paint or
Polished finishes?
My old titanium chair has a polished frame and it still
looks good after 7 years. All the painted chairs I have owned looked
shabby after 2 years as the paint chipped off or got scratched.
A bare metal polished finish
on a 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 apart from scratches on the footbar. The brushed or
polished titanium finishes are even more durable and this is
especially important on footbars as these get scratched the most and
aluminium ones can wear right through or develop rough sharp edges. |
The lightest carbon fibre wheelchair frame - "on
my head" |
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New chairs for Wheelchair Tennis and Basketball
Until now if you wanted to take up wheelchair tennis or wheelchair
basketball you had to pay thousands for a specially built chair, or
bodge someone else's old one to suit your size.
UK charity Motivation has been solving the problem of making
affordable chairs in developing countries for many years now
and has developed a design for lightweight sports wheelchairs that
are available worldwide, to help all disabled people make a start in
sports activities.
The Motivation sports wheelchairs have been designed by an awesome
team of designers including David Constantine MBE who has been a
wheelchair user for nearly 30 years and also won several prestigious
awards. These new chairs are a combination of this experience,
modern materials and manufacturing techniques. Due to be launched at
the 2010 Mobility Roadshow, the chairs are expected to retail in the
UK for about £450 depending on currency rates and are available in
both adult and child sizes.
Click
Here To See the New Motivation Sports Wheelchairs For Tennis and
Basketball
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Fred's recommended wheelchair accessories
Over time I shall feature some of the best equipment
that I use in this section.
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Active Hands Gripping Aids
If you have a weak grip in your hands due to
conditions like Quadriplegia then these superbly designed hand grips
could help.
Designed by Quadriplegic Rob Smith they are
available in various sizes and options to enable you to hold tools
and all sorts of equipment.
This is Rob showing me how he could use gardening
tools in my garden in Oxford.
If you are interested please see
click here
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Spinergy Carbon Fibre and Titanium Wheels for
Wheelchairs
The best and strongest wheelchair wheels have to be Spinergy Spox wheels.
My original 18 spoke ones have
black carbon fibre spokes and large, extra strong, aluminium hubs
with quick release buttons, and titanium push rims.
Then Spinergy launched a new wheel with 12
spokes to save more weight but this compromised strength and a few
broke. If you were one of the unlicky people who experienced this
contact Spinergy and they will replace the wheel for you.
The 12 spoke design is still avaialbe and now has
thicker spokes available in a range of colours and also a stronger
hub.
These 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 £495 and £22 for the
axles.
New product Spinergy
Flex Rim for Wheelchairs Spinergy
have launched
new flexrim wheelchair pushing rim which gives you more traction and
therefore makes pushing easier.
I have bought a set and
found that indeed pushing is about 10% easier.
The wheels also flex
slightly, which can help when you squeeze through tight spaces.
The flex rims are
imported from the US (made in Mexico) and cost approx £800 a pair.
Sadly one of my rims came
apart from the wheel after 2 months and needs replacing.
Watch this space to see
how long these new wheels last!
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My Spinergy wheels are 6 yeas old and still going strong
My new Spinergy Flex rims only lasted 2 months before splitting1
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Trabasack - Laptray and a Bag Combined
My latest "must have" accessory for a wheelchair user.
This superb laptray is curved to go around your body and provide
more usable space for a laptop, food, books or whatever you want to
put on it.
The curved profile also makes it more stable and the best thing is
that this laptray zips open to provide storage space.
The Trabasack has carry handles and a long strap.
There are 2 versions, the curve and a smaller one ideal for notebook
computers
See www.trabasack.co.uk
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Laptray used with laptop
Laptop stores away inside
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The blue material is the kevlar barrier that prevents punctures*
* I have found that most of my punctures have been from the side so
I am not too fussed about this idea. |
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 £41.50 inc p&p and
in my experience will outlast any other similar tyre.
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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.
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Villa Serena in Kefalonia has 2 bedroom apartments
and is set in lovely grounds with this superb swimming pool.
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The best and easiest to use bin and a hands
free soap dispenser
This is my new stainless steel one touch bin that
graces my kitchen and adds a touch of style and sophistication to my
rubbish disposing activities.
Whilst I acknowledge that plastic has advantages
when it comes to kitchen hygiene I generally don't like to see much
of it in my house.
This high quality and well designed bin has a
removable plastic liner and the top skilfully covers the bag inside.
The best feature is the one touch mechanism which
works using a spring mechanism so there are no batteries to replace.
simplehuman Products make a range of these bins in
every shape and size as well as other stainless steel kitchen
accessories designed to make simple tasks easier.
Whilst simplehuman Products are not specifically
designed for disabled people many of them like this bin will be
extremely useful to people who have limited reach, balance or poor
dexterity. if you struggle with those pump dispenser handwash
bottles then have a look at the simplehuman soap dispenser that
squirts out a small jet of liquid soap when you put your hand under
its sensor.
click here for more details
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Just softly press the lid and it pops up for you.
(looks great too) |
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Best pump for wheelchair tyres
It is very important for wheelchair users to keep their tyres hard
to make pushing easier.
You can get solid puncture proof tyres but they are not as efficient
as pumped up tyres and make pushing harder work.
I only use these sort of tyres for activities like gardening where
there may be thorns about.
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 £20-£30
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Lightweight Wheelchair for
sale
Davinci Leggera compatta
Aluminium frame , comes apart to fit sports car
boot or airline luggage locker
15 inch wide seat width, 17 inch long
Jay backrest, push handles, sidegaurds.
Great condition ,Hardly used, cost £2000 without
backrest sell for £800
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(chair for sale on left)
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Powertrike
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The Doctors told me I would never walk again!
( and they were right for once) |
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! |
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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 £1700 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!
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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 bad, then why did the BBC give it the tomorrows
world award?
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For sale - Cowal Push Pull Hand controls for
MK3 Golf - £50
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Click here for GARDENING TOOLS FOR WHEELCHAIR USERS
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