[SethBove]

Hey Everybody,

I'm new to the boards, but it's so great to see such a great resource here! My name is Seth, and I'm a 24 year old T-3 para. This will be the 17th year I've been in a chair, so I've certainly been around the block a bit. The most exciting development for me in wheelchair technology this year has been a disc brake system designed by a company called "D's Locks" in San Diego. I had one of the designers install this system onto my chair when I was in San Diego last November and I was completely amazed.

Instead of using the clunky old scissor-brake style locks that hurt my back, always had to be adjusted, and never really worked all that well, the Ds Locks use one simple lever installed by the seat cushion that connects via a cable to two high quality pistons. The pistons lock themselves into the discs installed at each wheel hub and they lock simultaneously. So when I need to keep myself in one spot, I simply move the lever by my cushion and the whole chair stops dead - without having to bend over at all.

It's so very rare for me to be excited about a product... but wow... it cleaned up the look of the chair frame and it's just so damned functional that I wanted to post a message about it here in case anyone else will benefit from it as much as I have. I will NEVER have another chair without this style of locking system. It's a nice welcome into the 21st century for chair technology I suppose.

The website and flyer for the brakes can be found here: http://www.dslocks.n...DsLockflyer.pdf

Let me know if you have any questions about them, as I really feel that they are a necessity now.

Hope this helps some people.

Take care,
-Seth

[russ1]

Wow - what a great idea, if they really can be added to existing wheels and chairs I want a set - NOW!

I can see ther're going to have to offer a myriad of different fixing kits or the installation is going to look very heath robinson and keeping the weight down is going to be a real priority but it would solve the problem of interchangeable wheels at a stroke.

Their website is still under construction so it looks like we'll just have to wait a bit longer to order them from the UK

[Gary Anderson]

Definitely - I am getting a set of these. I have my "souts" searching at the moment. Anything that gives stability getting in/out/transferring is good in my book - 'specially as I now have a permanently dicky arm and transferring is even harder now. Tell us where/when we can buy them here in the UK? Or, can they be ordered from USA?

[SethBove]

Hi Guys,

Yeah it is a great idea isn't it? The brakes fit a whole bunch of wheels already without modification, though there are a few wheels which have hubs that are not compatible. I am very conscious of how heavy my chair is, and honestly, the whole D's Locks system weighs less than the two scissor brakes I had standard before (which blew me away). I know that they're working on their website, but give the number on the bottom of that flyer a call: The toll free one was 888-279-3483 or the local California number was (619) 441-9995 or fax at(619) 441-9996.

You could email the dude Steve directly at dslocks@cox.net and ask him about UK ordering. Steve is the man... he spent a long time helping me out with everything. Amazing customer support, and just a cool guy in general.

Luckily, I was in San Diego visiting my girlfriend's family so I was able to have Steve himself install my set onto my Colours Zephyr chair. He sends out instructions with each set, so if you're not able to do the installation yourself, a bike mechanic or someone could help out I'm sure. Once they're on, they stay on very stable - and it's great to finally have that peace of mind and stability when transfering (especially onto my shower bench).

Let me know if you guys want any more info. Here, I just took some photos from my own chair that I will enclose here - it's better to have some pictures to see what the hell is goin on. Pardon the dust on the chair in the pictures as I live in the desert of New Mexico - very dusty!

[kanga2433]

Well, looks fine. I really don't use the brakes on my chair much at all, especailly when trasnfering in and out. ([smacks hands]) Since I hold the wheel when doing so, it doesn't get the chance to go far! However, hills are different and sometimes I could do with some brakes that hold. As I am looking round at the moment for a chair I'll wait until I decide on that and then see if these brakes can be added to it.

Anyone got an idea on costs by the way?

[kanga2433]

For the record, Cyclone have these brakes on offer but at £295 they are not a cheap option.

[russ1]

kanga2433, on Apr 27 2006, 10:58 AM, said:

For the record, Cyclone have these brakes on offer but at £295 they are not a cheap option.

And spinlife have them on offer at $400 D's locks on spinlife - for a change seems us Brit's aren't being ripped off but it looks like I might have to wait at that sort of price until the new extension is finished

[stef01be]

I agree they are cool but there's only 2 options, right? Free or locked.
Many quads use their brakes for deceleration or steering going downhill and that's what these babies offer: E-brakes

[KimAndSophie]

SethBove, on Apr 26 2006, 02:46 AM, said:

Hey Everybody,

I'm new to the boards, but it's so great to see such a great resource here! My name is Seth, and I'm a 24 year old T-3 para. This will be the 17th year I've been in a chair, so I've certainly been around the block a bit. The most exciting development for me in wheelchair technology this year has been a disc brake system designed by a company called "D's Locks" in San Diego. I had one of the designers install this system onto my chair when I was in San Diego last November and I was completely amazed.

Instead of using the clunky old scissor-brake style locks that hurt my back, always had to be adjusted, and never really worked all that well, the Ds Locks use one simple lever installed by the seat cushion that connects via a cable to two high quality pistons. The pistons lock themselves into the discs installed at each wheel hub and they lock simultaneously. So when I need to keep myself in one spot, I simply move the lever by my cushion and the whole chair stops dead - without having to bend over at all.

It's so very rare for me to be excited about a product... but wow... it cleaned up the look of the chair frame and it's just so damned functional that I wanted to post a message about it here in case anyone else will benefit from it as much as I have. I will NEVER have another chair without this style of locking system. It's a nice welcome into the 21st century for chair technology I suppose.

The website and flyer for the brakes can be found here: http://www.dslocks.n...DsLockflyer.pdf

Let me know if you have any questions about them, as I really feel that they are a necessity now.

Hope this helps some people.

Take care,
-Seth

I'm getting a chair made by Lasher Sport and these breaks are an option. I would be charged $895 for them! Is there a reason they would cost so much more than people have said here and I've read from other sites that sell them?! Also could a c6 quad (with no hand function) use these breaks? They seem great from what I've read, but that's a lot of money to spend on something if it wont work for me!

Thanks