82 replies to this topic

[wheelywendy]

like a lot of others on here not a day goes by without me poppoing a wheely, i have a tendency to do them when i'm queuing and getting bored, its great way to get across grass, gravel etc, i once decided to annoy one of my carers (she dont like me doing wheelies!) and balanced on my backwheels all the way round our local supermarket, when she was shopping with me!! at the tils someone asked me why i'd done my shopping on my back wheels, i replied just because i can!!
i've only tipped backwards once and that was in a lever operated chair i was testing, that had anti roll back, so hence could do a thing about correcting it as it went (i'd been sat in it talking and forgot i wasnt in my own chair!! whoops!!) , can turn a full circle on back wheels but not been brave enough to try stairs yet!!

[rue2you]

I can do wheelies over small steps, door frames, etc. but have never tried anything bigger. I get the same problem going out my front door that I tip on my front wheel and about end up on my nose. Also, if I have my purse or anything in my lap, it hits the floor and will not stay put. I tried one time to tip back and go over slow but I almost went over backwards and I scared myself to death. I decided to wait and be a little more gutsy after I am no longer pregnant. I don't want to hurt the baby by a fall. I am also being much more careful when I wheelie now because my COG is off as my belly has gotten bigger! I feel like where before I set up straight and my legs didn't sprawl so horrible (although annoying), but now I feel like I am laying backwards in my chair and my legs seem to go all the way to my wheels!! I feel like the pictures you see of pregnant women who are sprawled out on a couch with their legs all out and need help getting up. I know I really don't look that way but that is how I feel that I am sitting now!! Oh well, only about 7 more weeks to go!
Until then, I will play it safe but I have always been a sporty girl and am not afraid to try new things so I will learn! By they way, the YouTube video scared the dicken's out of me too so I won't be trying that. I showed my hubby that and he kept saying "is that guy okay??" Of course, I don't know the answer to that! Anyone else?

[knightrider]

rue2you, on Jun 12 2009, 07:01 PM, said:

By they way, the YouTube video scared the dicken's out of me too so I won't be trying that. I showed my hubby that and he kept saying "is that guy okay??" Of course, I don't know the answer to that! Anyone else?

I don't know but the fall was nasty, could of got another SCI from that! Hope the dude was ok.
I watched it so many times thinking damn that was bad! I haven't tried an escalator since!

For you all who havent seen it yet

Edited by knightrider, 12 June 2009 - 06:25 PM.

[percepied]

Swordfish, on Jun 12 2009, 12:25 AM, said:

percepied, on Jun 12 2009, 04:45 AM, said:

If you have anti-tipper bars on your chair, you might be able to replace them with a straight piece of metal tubing (something that won't break) that will allow you to practice wheelies w/o tipping over backwards. You can't use them to practice stairs or curbs though. That will take a spotter or two, lots of practice and maybe some headgear. Plus you have to be completely confident and fearless.

Personally I say let the super-gimps do the wheelies. I've already broken enough bones.

what do you mean? I have anti-tip bars, but what the heck are you talking about with replacing it?

Just use some straight tubing instead of the anti-tipper curved tubing. If the tubes are long enough they will catch you before you go over backwards. If the tubes are short enough they will allow you to get into a wheelie position with enough maneuverability to rock back and forth to find your balance point. This is how I learned. (I can't do them anymore ... stopped practicing.) Like I said it won't work for obstacles like curbs and steps but it sure allows you to roll around a gym in a wheelie by yourself w/o fear of flipping backwards.

[Jackiefff]

I learned in physical therapy.. I use tippers though, my backpack tips me backward going into the doors for school, but they always stop me! If I'm doing them I always have someone behind me... just to be safe
its been a while since I did them. lol

[qbounce]

I saw a 300+ lb. guy do a wheelie propped up against the wall. It was much easier for him to do that than a chair lift for pressure relief. Hey, whatever works.

And I second the NO TRUNK MUSCLES needed thing. My head does all the balancing I need. If you've GOT abs for trunk control, all the better, but not essential. Also, I learned to do wheelies on carpet first, then I took it to a slick hard surface. Problem with that was, I pulled back just as quickly as if I were on the carpet, only to find myself on my back!!! I had 5 physical therapists standing over me in no time to help me back up.

[Tinbasher]

It is a really useful skill if you can do it. I practiced in front of the sofa so i had a soft landing

[Yasko]

Wheelies are very useful indeed! I would not be able to go down the stairs or go steep downhills without doing wheelies. It is important to set your wheel center balance the correct why, so you don't end up falling over. You will need some practice and have AB behind to keep an eye if you push to hard. Good luck!

[Santa Cruz Soul Surfer (LRO)]

Santa Cruz Soul Surfer (LRO), on Jun 11 2009, 07:37 PM, said:

Well without launching into a huge discussion, most of the control you have while moving in a wheelie, is derived from trunk control and your ability to grip and control your rims quickly...So, if you don't have good trunk control or upper body strength, I would'nt recommend you trying to jump up curbs anytime soon.

Just to revise what I said about wheelies and trunk control, I meant it in the context of the conversation, which was applying to the possibility of him doing wheelies up curbs...

russ1, on Jun 12 2009, 04:20 AM, said:

(I have friends who can drink a pint of beer while holding a wheelie with one hand, an impressive party trick).

Now that certainly requires good trunk control, because you are not using the rims to counterbalance yourself...LOL, try balancing a indo board with one wheel, while simultaneously slamming a beer!

[LuckyinKentucky]

Now that certainly requires good trunk control, because you are not using the rims to counterbalance yourself...LOL, try balancing a indo board with one wheel, while simultaneously slamming a beer!


Impressive

[wheeliebear75]

I can & do pop wheelies to get me over obstacles but I don't go around balancing on my back wheels. I was not allowed to go home until I showed that I could at least do it well enough to get over a garden hose & a coil of electrical cord, and a few other things they threw into their obstacle course.

I have flipped over a few times & 1/2 the time I did hurt my back in the process so I don't do the big ones unless it is NEEDED. If I know how big the curb is (I don't have depth perception so I only hop the curbs I've done often & I start off with someone around me for the 1st few times on THAT curb, until I'm comfortable with it.)

[Swordfish]

Man, thanks for the replies folks. It really does appear to be not too difficult (or as difficult as it seems) and I may be chickenshit, but I'll overcome it!

My main fear is that ... last year I miscalculated the distance of a bump and I wheeled too close and then I tipped over head over heels -- the thing is I was stuck in that position! it was horrible! how the F*$K do you get out of that position? My fear of ever experiencing that again is holding me back.

Also -- I know I have a high injury, but I'm a paraplegic. I have upper body control/arm control. Although it's wierd since I can't feel the under side of my arms from pits to an inch before the elbow and can't exactly feel touch below my nipple.

[Kev-O]

Santa Cruz Soul Surfer (LRO), on Jun 12 2009, 08:43 PM, said:

Santa Cruz Soul Surfer (LRO), on Jun 11 2009, 07:37 PM, said:

Well without launching into a huge discussion, most of the control you have while moving in a wheelie, is derived from trunk control and your ability to grip and control your rims quickly...So, if you don't have good trunk control or upper body strength, I would'nt recommend you trying to jump up curbs anytime soon.

Just to revise what I said about wheelies and trunk control, I meant it in the context of the conversation, which was applying to the possibility of him doing wheelies up curbs...

russ1, on Jun 12 2009, 04:20 AM, said:

(I have friends who can drink a pint of beer while holding a wheelie with one hand, an impressive party trick).

Now that certainly requires good trunk control, because you are not using the rims to counterbalance yourself...LOL, try balancing a indo board with one wheel, while simultaneously slamming a beer!

RESPECT

wheeliebear75, on Jun 12 2009, 11:35 PM, said:

I can & do pop wheelies to get me over obstacles but I don't go around balancing on my back wheels. I was not allowed to go home until I showed that I could at least do it well enough to get over a garden hose & a coil of electrical cord, and a few other things they threw into their obstacle course.

I have flipped over a few times & 1/2 the time I did hurt my back in the process so I don't do the big ones unless it is NEEDED. If I know how big the curb is (I don't have depth perception so I only hop the curbs I've done often & I start off with someone around me for the 1st few times on THAT curb, until I'm comfortable with it.)

Like someone else said try it in grass first that's going to be the easiest place to do it at first

[Texaswheelz]

Love the picture, wish I had camera's back when I was younger and dumber and I'd try to one up ya. But to old and slow these days I guess. I think that would be a cool new thread though. Just name it Wheelie pic's and everyone can post pictures of them doing some crazy wheelie's in some crazy spots.

[wheeliebear75]

Swordfish, on Jun 13 2009, 04:56 AM, said:

Man, thanks for the replies folks. It really does appear to be not too difficult (or as difficult as it seems) and I may be chickenshit, but I'll overcome it!

My main fear is that ... last year I miscalculated the distance of a bump and I wheeled too close and then I tipped over head over heels -- the thing is I was stuck in that position! it was horrible! how the F*$K do you get out of that position? My fear of ever experiencing that again is holding me back.

Also -- I know I have a high injury, but I'm a paraplegic. I have upper body control/arm control. Although it's wierd since I can't feel the under side of my arms from pits to an inch before the elbow and can't exactly feel touch below my nipple.

I would think that would make you a quad with use of arms. If I've flipped over backwards & am still in my chair I lean over and use the ground to push up off of. I guess I'm pretty lucky in that Sharp hospital (that's where Children's is at) didn't let me go home til I demonstrated that I could do a few things & they spent weeks teaching me how to do them.

[wheeliebear75]

Here try this, this is how I was taught & what do ya know.....YOUTUBE.

[Bevan-L]

knightrider, on Jun 13 2009, 04:22 AM, said:

rue2you, on Jun 12 2009, 07:01 PM, said:

By they way, the YouTube video scared the dicken's out of me too so I won't be trying that. I showed my hubby that and he kept saying "is that guy okay??" Of course, I don't know the answer to that! Anyone else?

I don't know but the fall was nasty, could of got another SCI from that! Hope the dude was ok.
I watched it so many times thinking damn that was bad! I haven't tried an escalator since!

For you all who havent seen it yet

what.
the.
f*@k.

what exactly was he doing?? f*@kin hell!!

[twisted_ophelia]

knightrider, on Jun 12 2009, 02:22 PM, said:

I don't know but the fall was nasty, could of got another SCI from that! Hope the dude was ok.
I watched it so many times thinking damn that was bad! I haven't tried an escalator since!

For you all who havent seen it yet

Seriously, that video makes rarely get on escalators in my chair. I used to do it, now, not so much after seeing what can happen. I cringed thinking of sharp and hard those escalator stair edges are. I think at the end you can hear someone ask him if he's okay, and he goes "yeaaah" so at least he LIVED. Damn. That was honestly one of the worst chair crashes I think I've seen--if not THE worst.


And Christiaan: best. photo. EVER.

[Swordfish]

I think the worst thing about the elevator fall video was that the few people visible on camera were just looking back at him. No one was rushing to help... I'll never put myself in that position! I'll wait for the elevators, thank you very much.

[Rjeez]

First,i position my hands so have both forwards and reverse "play".Go backward about an 1/8 of a rotation,and quickly,"snatch" it forwards.This will get the front wheels in the air.Have your hands positioned so there is as much forwards "play" as there is reverse "play".You'll find that it is more about balance and even weight distribution as it is about wheel control.

I find(especially when I was in rehab)that the position of the head is very important.If you have trouble distributing the weight with your body,then try moving your head backwards and forwards.The head is probably exactly above where the wheels make contact with the ground.I mastered wheelies a few months ago.Now I can do 360's.I do them by slowly moving one wheel forwards,controlling the balance with the other.I am currently learning how to do a forwards wheelie.They are pretty tricky cos,obviously,you can only move the wheels forwards,making it tricky to distribute the weight.You have to get it right as soon as you get the front end off the ground.I seen this fellah go down kerbs and pull the front end up so that he didnt' have to stop,and wow!He was moving!

Anyone seen Boyz In The Hood?See the black guy in that!Wow!He can do forward wheelies faster than I can go forward normally!And his 360's?!WOW!He does them at about 720's per second!

[LeahC]

I found that clip on YouTube with a different user name and it says it's not genuine, that the guy isn't actually disabled.

[greybeard]

LeahC, on Jun 13 2009, 07:28 PM, said:

I found that clip on YouTube with a different user name and it says it's not genuine, that the guy isn't actually disabled.

He soon will be if he keeps pulling stunts like that.

[qbounce]

wheeliebear75, on Jun 13 2009, 01:14 AM, said:

Swordfish, on Jun 13 2009, 04:56 AM, said:

Man, thanks for the replies folks. It really does appear to be not too difficult (or as difficult as it seems) and I may be chickenshit, but I'll overcome it!

My main fear is that ... last year I miscalculated the distance of a bump and I wheeled too close and then I tipped over head over heels -- the thing is I was stuck in that position! it was horrible! how the F*$K do you get out of that position? My fear of ever experiencing that again is holding me back.

Also -- I know I have a high injury, but I'm a paraplegic. I have upper body control/arm control. Although it's wierd since I can't feel the under side of my arms from pits to an inch before the elbow and can't exactly feel touch below my nipple.

I would think that would make you a quad with use of arms. If I've flipped over backwards & am still in my chair I lean over and use the ground to push up off of. I guess I'm pretty lucky in that Sharp hospital (that's where Children's is at) didn't let me go home til I demonstrated that I could do a few things & they spent weeks teaching me how to do them.

Yes, I was about to say the same thing. If your arms/ hands are affected from the SCI in any way, technically your a lower level quadriplegic . . . like me. C7 affects your grip and forearms too, right? Even if it doesn't affect YOUR hand function, for the simple fact that your arms were minorly affected, your a quad.

If this get's you MORE rehab time, TAKE IT!!!-lol

[russ1]

qbounce, on Jun 13 2009, 11:11 PM, said:

wheeliebear75, on Jun 13 2009, 01:14 AM, said:

Swordfish, on Jun 13 2009, 04:56 AM, said:

Man, thanks for the replies folks. It really does appear to be not too difficult (or as difficult as it seems) and I may be chickenshit, but I'll overcome it!

My main fear is that ... last year I miscalculated the distance of a bump and I wheeled too close and then I tipped over head over heels -- the thing is I was stuck in that position! it was horrible! how the F*$K do you get out of that position? My fear of ever experiencing that again is holding me back.

Also -- I know I have a high injury, but I'm a paraplegic. I have upper body control/arm control. Although it's wierd since I can't feel the under side of my arms from pits to an inch before the elbow and can't exactly feel touch below my nipple.

I would think that would make you a quad with use of arms. If I've flipped over backwards & am still in my chair I lean over and use the ground to push up off of. I guess I'm pretty lucky in that Sharp hospital (that's where Children's is at) didn't let me go home til I demonstrated that I could do a few things & they spent weeks teaching me how to do them.

Yes, I was about to say the same thing. If your arms/ hands are affected from the SCI in any way, technically your a lower level quadriplegic . . . like me. C7 affects your grip and forearms too, right? Even if it doesn't affect YOUR hand function, for the simple fact that your arms were minorly affected, your a quad.

If this get's you MORE rehab time, TAKE IT!!!-lol

Actually high level paras do have very minor effects on their arms T2 like me get a loss of sensation on the underside of their arms as described above (classic T2) and T1's have slightly more effect to their arms hands but are still technically paras.

[Ches]

russ1, on Jun 16 2009, 07:36 AM, said:

qbounce, on Jun 13 2009, 11:11 PM, said:

wheeliebear75, on Jun 13 2009, 01:14 AM, said:

Swordfish, on Jun 13 2009, 04:56 AM, said:

Man, thanks for the replies folks. It really does appear to be not too difficult (or as difficult as it seems) and I may be chickenshit, but I'll overcome it!

My main fear is that ... last year I miscalculated the distance of a bump and I wheeled too close and then I tipped over head over heels -- the thing is I was stuck in that position! it was horrible! how the F*$K do you get out of that position? My fear of ever experiencing that again is holding me back.

Also -- I know I have a high injury, but I'm a paraplegic. I have upper body control/arm control. Although it's wierd since I can't feel the under side of my arms from pits to an inch before the elbow and can't exactly feel touch below my nipple.

I would think that would make you a quad with use of arms. If I've flipped over backwards & am still in my chair I lean over and use the ground to push up off of. I guess I'm pretty lucky in that Sharp hospital (that's where Children's is at) didn't let me go home til I demonstrated that I could do a few things & they spent weeks teaching me how to do them.

Yes, I was about to say the same thing. If your arms/ hands are affected from the SCI in any way, technically your a lower level quadriplegic . . . like me. C7 affects your grip and forearms too, right? Even if it doesn't affect YOUR hand function, for the simple fact that your arms were minorly affected, your a quad.

If this get's you MORE rehab time, TAKE IT!!!-lol

Actually high level paras do have very minor effects on their arms T2 like me get a loss of sensation on the underside of their arms as described above (classic T2) and T1's have slightly more effect to their arms hands but are still technically paras.

Learn something new everyday around here...

[CR_L1]

Thought I would be clever today & try to find my balance point, adjusted wheels forward a little & hay presto NEARLY got it then scared the out of myself
I may try another day but for now will stick with what I know, wheels are staying forward, has made some things easier.

[Slowlegs]

When I was in my chair I got quite good at them. I could watch TV for hours and maintaining the wheelie became automatic. One time I fell over backward and didn't have the strength to pull myself out of the chair with my legs on my footrests. I hadn't been standing on my head for some time, all the capillaries in my upper body didn't contract and most of the blood rushed out of my legs and into my upper body. Made it really hard to breathe and my brother had to drag me out of the chair which was stuck against a wall. Has anyone ever fallen asleep while doing one over a long period? I almost nodded off a couple of times.

[edlee]

While I was taught to balance on by rear wheels, it wasn't what I call a WHEELIE, in that it was just to hop up low curbs or over obstructions, not to maintain the stance and travel with it.

It never occurred to me that I needed that skill, till a friend of mine, also attending a fishing outing, negotiated a steep ramp carrying his fishing gear on his lap,, while in the WHEELIE position.

It was so steep that I was forced to use the old back and forth routine to get down,,, stopping to pick up various bits of my kit along the way.

I'm envious,, but at my age, I doubt I will ever obtain that talent.

I actually use my antitippers as a way to recline, for pressure relief,, and just for relaxing. I have set them high enough to let them touch just past my tipping point. With the slightly higher back I prefer, it is quite comforable,, and I have fallen asleep that way quite a lot. That is usually ended when I am startled awake by my chair hitting the ground (with the front wheels) scaring the bejeebers out of me.
ed

[Travelling Blackbird]

Reading through everything, I really see that I've been doing it wrong all these years. It's a big effort for me, I can't wheelie comfortably, and while I'll wheelie over grass and gravel for quite a distance, I'm shaking afterward. I need to relearn, and practice, darnit!

Fall asleep in a wheelie? Not how I've been doing it!

[Slowlegs]

Travelling Blackbird, on Jun 16 2009, 10:51 PM, said:

Fall asleep in a wheelie? Not how I've been doing it!

Mostly I was doing my wheelies inside my home or hospital - no kerbs, slopes. Just a big flat earth with windows. It was really just balancing and when I had been doing it for around an hour or so while watching tele in the dark or with my head resting back on my very high headrest I'd just start to nod off a bit. Thing is I have been known to fall asleep while sitting up if really tired too. Just like occasionally when I am driving but then I usually pull over.