17 replies to this topic

[Patd]

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I've been talking with students on campus who don't use their FreeWheels to get around the bumpy sidewalks and curbs because they don't know what to do with their FreeWheel when they enter a building. I found that the clamp of the FreeWheel can be used to secure it to the back crossbar. It's simple and out of the way! I'm working on a simple clamp-on bracket that will accomodate different sizes in the event that your footerest is different than your crossbar behind you.

Now users can stroll down the street at the University and look at the pretty girls/guys instead of scanning the ground in front of them! It's true. We scan the ground in front of us constantly because a 1" high crack it the sidewalk can send us out of the chair! With a FreeWheel you can push and actually look at the person next to you, for example, without worrying about that 1" high bump!

I put a video on www.gofreewheel.com that shows this way to store your FreeWheel when not in use.

I wanted to see what you all thought.

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[wheelywendy]

hi pat,
that sounds a brill idea, i tried to look at it on your webb site but cant find the video clip, i'd be interested to know more, just tried to work out how your doing it but couldnt clip mine to back of my chair as couldnt work out how you meant,

[Yong]

i think the freewheel is such a good idea....if only it were affordable to a REAL college student...

[greybeard]

I agree it's a great idea and can't wait for mine to arrive. But I wonder why no wheelchair manufacterer has produced a chair with just one, larger wheel at the front instead of standard two dinky ones that effectively confine you to smooth surfaces.

Pat's wheel has to be mounted in front of the footplate, and by extending the wheelbase, gives an extra advantage of greater stability.

Obviously there would be no wheelbase extension, but wouldn't a single fatter, larger, wheel mounted centrally behind the footplate, on the same line as the current small castors, allow the chair to be used on un-even, rougher surfaces? It probably couldn't be done with a folding chair but has it ever been tried on a rigid? Would it be too unstable?

Edited by greybeard, 03 May 2009 - 01:20 PM.

[greybeard]

greybeard, on May 3 2009, 02:20 PM, said:

I agree it's a great idea and can't wait for mine to arrive. But I wonder why no wheelchair manufacterer has produced a chair with just one, larger wheel at the front instead of standard two dinky ones that effectively confine you to smooth surfaces.

Pat's wheel has to be mounted in front of the footplate, and by extending the wheelbase, gives an extra advantage of greater stability.

Obviously there would be no wheelbase extension, but wouldn't a single fatter, larger, wheel mounted centrally behind the footplate, on the same line as the current small castors, allow the chair to be used on un-even, rougher surfaces? It probably couldn't be done with a folding chair but has it ever been tried on a rigid? Would it be too unstable?

Added - Just found this pediatric chair. Not quite what I had envisaged but close.

[Patd]

wheelywendy, on May 3 2009, 05:10 AM, said:

hi pat,
that sounds a brill idea, i tried to look at it on your webb site but cant find the video clip, i'd be interested to know more, just tried to work out how your doing it but couldnt clip mine to back of my chair as couldnt work out how you meant,

Hi Wendy!

I clamp mine onto the crossbar behind me. It's 3/4" tubing just like my footrest and it's at a height that keeps it up off the ground.

I have improved my design that includes a new feature that allows this easy storage. That is a feature that really improves the usability and performance of the FreeWheel. Basically, the wheel is lightly held in the straight position and won't fall due to gravity when hung on the back of my wheelchair. But also, this feature allows better performance when pushing where you use so much less effort to steer straight.

Email me and I can help you with your model!

I totally appreciate users comments like hearing you use yours everyday and also how at $400 I'm not charging enough because of the mobility the FreeWheel offers!

Pat

[Jax]

greybeard, on May 3 2009, 08:27 AM, said:

greybeard, on May 3 2009, 02:20 PM, said:

I agree it's a great idea and can't wait for mine to arrive. But I wonder why no wheelchair manufacterer has produced a chair with just one, larger wheel at the front instead of standard two dinky ones that effectively confine you to smooth surfaces.

Pat's wheel has to be mounted in front of the footplate, and by extending the wheelbase, gives an extra advantage of greater stability.

Obviously there would be no wheelbase extension, but wouldn't a single fatter, larger, wheel mounted centrally behind the footplate, on the same line as the current small castors, allow the chair to be used on un-even, rougher surfaces? It probably couldn't be done with a folding chair but has it ever been tried on a rigid? Would it be too unstable?

Added - Just found this pediatric chair. Not quite what I had envisaged but close.

Check out this one GB. I found it a while back on youtube. It's in French, I believe, but the chair is freakin sweet.

Edited to add: Watch closely people. The guy actually adjusts the ride height of the chair WITHOUT GETTING OUT OF IT!! I almost fell out of my chair when I saw it.

Edited by Jax, 04 May 2009 - 06:50 AM.

[greybeard]

Thanks, Jax.

Now that is cool!

[Jax]

greybeard, on May 4 2009, 02:40 AM, said:

Thanks, Jax.

Now that is cool!

Just wish I had a clue what the hell they're saying. lol.

[wheelywendy]

greybeard, on May 3 2009, 02:27 PM, said:

greybeard, on May 3 2009, 02:20 PM, said:

I agree it's a great idea and can't wait for mine to arrive. But I wonder why no wheelchair manufacterer has produced a chair with just one, larger wheel at the front instead of standard two dinky ones that effectively confine you to smooth surfaces.

Pat's wheel has to be mounted in front of the footplate, and by extending the wheelbase, gives an extra advantage of greater stability.

Obviously there would be no wheelbase extension, but wouldn't a single fatter, larger, wheel mounted centrally behind the footplate, on the same line as the current small castors, allow the chair to be used on un-even, rougher surfaces? It probably couldn't be done with a folding chair but has it ever been tried on a rigid? Would it be too unstable?

Added - Just found this pediatric chair. Not quite what I had envisaged but close.

wow love the 3 wheel chair in photo pity they dont do an adult one, i'd love to try it, the one in video is great too wonder how easy it actually is to adjust height as looks too easy, why dont the uk come up with one of these designs

Edited by wheelywendy, 04 May 2009 - 09:56 AM.

[greybeard]

wheelywendy, on May 4 2009, 10:52 AM, said:

greybeard, on May 3 2009, 02:27 PM, said:

greybeard, on May 3 2009, 02:20 PM, said:

I agree it's a great idea and can't wait for mine to arrive. But I wonder why no wheelchair manufacterer has produced a chair with just one, larger wheel at the front instead of standard two dinky ones that effectively confine you to smooth surfaces.

Pat's wheel has to be mounted in front of the footplate, and by extending the wheelbase, gives an extra advantage of greater stability.

Obviously there would be no wheelbase extension, but wouldn't a single fatter, larger, wheel mounted centrally behind the footplate, on the same line as the current small castors, allow the chair to be used on un-even, rougher surfaces? It probably couldn't be done with a folding chair but has it ever been tried on a rigid? Would it be too unstable?

Added - Just found this pediatric chair. Not quite what I had envisaged but close.

wow love the 3 wheel chair in photo pity they dont do an adult one, i'd love to try it, the one in video is great too wonder how easy it actually is to adjust height as looks too easy, why dont the uk come up with one of these designs

I'd have a big problem with that height adjustment thing. My gut wouldn't let me reach it. Seriously, it looks as though the guy must be taking his weight on his feet while making that adjustment. I doubt everyone could do that. But it is a sweet chair.

[wheelywendy]

hi pat





found the video clip you refered to on your webb page, see how you mean now, i thought it clamped on but now i can see you just hook it on, solved the problem with my prototype i just put a strap on it to stop wheel rotating and getting in the way
wendy

Edited by wheelywendy, 04 May 2009 - 04:42 PM.

[Patd]

wheelywendy, on May 4 2009, 09:39 AM, said:

hi pat

l.jpg



found the video clip you refered to on your webb page, see how you mean now, i thought it clamped on but now i can see you just hook it on, solved the problem with my prototype i just put a strap on it to stop wheel rotating and getting in the way
wendy

tn.jpg

That's great! Thanks for showing us this!

Pat

[greybeard]

Today Pat informed me that the custom FreeWheel attachment he has made for me is about to be shipped. He sent me this photo of it.

The clamp had to be specially designed to fit my modified footplate. My chair originally had swing-away foot rests, but because I really wanted a FreeWheel, I converted them to a fixed footplate as you can see from this photo.

The clamp will locate on a solid metal bar (the shiny square) It was a simple D-I-Y task and only cost around £20 for materials. If anyone wants details, feel free to email me.

Other members have purchased these attachments from Pat and have been satisfied, so I had no hesitation in ordering mine. Obviously making sure the clamp would fit securely to my new footplate required a number of email exchanges, but I have been pleasantly surprised by how easy Pat made the whole process. His service has been first rate.

I'm impatient to try it out.

[Patd]

greybeard, on May 7 2009, 02:36 PM, said:

Today Pat informed me that the custom FreeWheel attachment he has made for me is about to be shipped. He sent me this photo of it.

freewheel.jpg

The clamp had to be specially designed to fit my modified footplate. My chair originally had swing-away foot rests, but because I really wanted a FreeWheel, I converted them to a fixed footplate as you can see from this photo.

ModRest.jpg

The clamp will locate on a solid metal bar (the shiny square) It was a simple D-I-Y task and only cost around £20 for materials. If anyone wants details, feel free to email me.

Other members have purchased these attachments from Pat and have been satisfied, so I had no hesitation in ordering mine. Obviously making sure the clamp would fit securely to my new footplate required a number of email exchanges, but I have been pleasantly surprised by how easy Pat made the whole process. His service has been first rate.

I'm impatient to try it out.

Oh stop it....some more!

Pat

[wheelywendy]

greybeard, on May 7 2009, 10:36 PM, said:

Today Pat informed me that the custom FreeWheel attachment he has made for me is about to be shipped. He sent me this photo of it.

freewheel.jpg

The clamp had to be specially designed to fit my modified footplate. My chair originally had swing-away foot rests, but because I really wanted a FreeWheel, I converted them to a fixed footplate as you can see from this photo.

ModRest.jpg

The clamp will locate on a solid metal bar (the shiny square) It was a simple D-I-Y task and only cost around £20 for materials. If anyone wants details, feel free to email me.

Other members have purchased these attachments from Pat and have been satisfied, so I had no hesitation in ordering mine. Obviously making sure the clamp would fit securely to my new footplate required a number of email exchanges, but I have been pleasantly surprised by how easy Pat made the whole process. His service has been first rate.

I'm impatient to try it out.

that looks pretty impressive adaption to your foot plates, hope you'll soon be enjoying your free wheeling, yours will prob be even better than mine as my footplate is a bit flexible so i do get a bit of bounce, i am thinking of getting the footplate replaced with a less flexible one eventually, but yours looks pretty robust. the tip pat gave about storing your freewheel on the back of your chair is brilliant, problem is its so easy i keep forgetting i've put it there!
happy freewheeling wendy
ps Pat how many more nice remarks do i need to put about your freewheel to win a bonus?!! hehe just teasing.

Edited by wheelywendy, 08 May 2009 - 12:11 AM.

[greybeard]

wheelywendy, on May 8 2009, 01:09 AM, said:

ps Pat how many more nice remarks do i need to put about your freewheel to win a bonus?!! hehe just teasing.

Oi !! Get back in line.

That "hang it on the back" idea won't work for me as it's a folding chair -- no bar!
It should fit nicely into a string bad hung behind the seat, but to be honest, I'm buying the thing to use it, not to have a nice place to store it.

[Yasko]

I've ordered one for my XTR as well! Can't wait to try it out! for Pat and FreeWheel!

Edited by Yasko, 08 May 2009 - 04:24 PM.