52 replies to this topic

[wheeliebear75]

knightrider, on 14 December 2011 - 08:14 PM, said:

If you can't back wheel balance (Hold wheelies) then the safest way of going down curbs is going backwards and lean as far forward as possible like putting your chest on your knees, make sure both wheels are lined up so they go off at the same time and than slowly roll off.If you can back wheel balance just simply roll up to the curb pop a wheelie and hold it and slowly line both wheels up to the edge and roll off, but if the curb is Big then do the same by lining up the wheels but this way is safer then just rolling up and jumping off the curb so to speak. Once you are in a wheelie, try make it a deep one so that the casters are as high as you can get them and your knees are touching your chest, but only if you can do these types of wheelies of course, then slowly roll up to the edge and roll off very slowly, once you've dropped the curb you can even lean back against the curb holding the wheelie and not fall back, it's a very controlled way of doing it, and that way is the safest way of conquering steps as its slow and controlled. I might not be the best at explaining in text lol and i always say it's better seeing it in action than reading it but if you understood then cool.Wheelies are a thing all wheelchair users should try master because it makes life so much less of a hassle when out and about. If you need to learn, the best way is maybe get someone behind you (AB of course) then roll back slightly and gently flick your wrist kinda thing on the hand rim to go forwards, once the castors are up just try doing gentle hand/finger movements back and forth until you find your sweet spot, that is your balance point, doesn't take too long as long as you keep practicing, once mastered, you'll probably be sitting in a constant wheelie for a few weeks because you love it lol.As for steps or curbs once you've mastered the wheelies and if you're not brave enough, get two AB's with you, one behind incase you tip back too far and one infront of you, the one in front has a rope or something that can be tied to your front forks so they can help keep the front castors up and prevent you from tipping out on your face lol if you suddenly lose the wheelie. Then it's up to you, just try as i said above and slowly roll off holding the wheelie, once done and when you've done curbs a few times and confident you can then drop the ropes/cord or whatever you used with the person who was helping infront of you and try by yourself and then you're away. The more you do the more confident you'll get, it's like anything the more you practice the better you get.

That so does NOT sound like a good idea at least not to me! So I'm curious have YOU ever gone up/down a curb backwards? I'm just wondering.....cuz IF you have & have done it successfully then maybe you'd be willing to YouTube it for us. I'm a long time chair user (Jeez I just realized I've been chair-ed longer than SOME of our members have been on the planet ) of 21+ yrs & MY feeling is that going down backwards would make you MORE LIKELY to flip yourself.

[greybeard]

Vanessamaee manages it without problems. See her post earlier in this thread.

[Beautiful]

It's so interesting that so many people feel like going off a curb backwards is dangerous or odd. I thought it was really popular. At my physical therapist years ago, and even recently, that's the only way they taught you because they feel it's the safest. The only real way you are going to flip back is if you don't lean forward. Of course, if the curb is higher than normal, your chances of flipping backwards go up because the balance will be different. When I go putt-putting, I go up the curb straight and to get back down I go backwards. It's super easy and I have to do it like 30 times.

Am I the only one tripping out about this? Haha.

[knightrider]

Well said Beautiful, I find it odd too that people think it's dangerous, i've done it many times and still do from time to time. It is the safest way like you said, if you lean right forward like your chest touching your knees then you not gonna tip out and saying that, my chair is very tippy and i've never fell out or come close to tipping out when doing this. I guess the ones on here who have freaked out by the idea simply think we just roll off backwards and just sitting up like normal lmao, well yeah you would tip out if you did that. I only go backwards when i feel uncomfortable about the curb/step or whatever but most of the time i wheelie off them.

Edited by knightrider, 15 December 2011 - 01:51 PM.

[paul1404]

most higher lesions are taught this way as many do not have the trunk muscles or the grip to do a wheelie. in fact its the safest way to go down a kerb!!!

[knightrider]

Oh and Wheeliebear, yes I have obviously otherwise i wouldn't of wrote my opinions if i never done them before. Going up curbs i roll up to them at pace and then pop a wheelie so the casters don't bash the curb then just push up the curb once the rear wheels touch the curb, obviously, AGAIN you have to lean forwards as you push up. Going down like i just said above, I mainly wheelie off curbs unless i'm not too comfortable with the style of the drop etc, then i'll roll off backwards to be safe. I don't do Youtube videos, because Devos will be perving me up on them, but if i can get someone to record one for me as i do them then yes i'll post a link from my Photobucket account.

Edited by knightrider, 15 December 2011 - 02:15 PM.

[knightrider]

paul1404, on 15 December 2011 - 02:09 PM, said:

most higher lesions are taught this way as many do not have the trunk muscles or the grip to do a wheelie. in fact its the safest way to go down a kerb!!!

Well said Paul.

Case closed!

[paul1404]

knightrider, on 15 December 2011 - 02:11 PM, said:

Oh and Wheeliebear, yes I have obviously otherwise i wouldn't of wrote my opinions if i never done them before. Going up curbs i roll up to them at pace and then pop a wheelie so the casters don't bash the curb then just push up the curb once the rear wheels touch the curb, obviously, AGAIN you have to lean forwards as you push up. Going down like i just said above, I mainly wheelie off curbs unless i'm not too comfortable with the style of the drop etc, then i'll roll off backwards to be safe. I don't do Youtube videos, because Devos will be perving me up on them, but if i can get someone to record one for me as i do them then yes i'll post a link from my Photobucket account.

If you need a man to star In you video Im your man , I don't mind devos or perves!

[paul1404]

A trophy guy, on 14 December 2011 - 09:15 PM, said:

This is the first I've ever heard of anyone ever going backwards over a curb or step. In my opinion, this sounds incredibly dangerous and unwise. I certainly never have done such a manuveur, even in my first few weeks and months of being in a chair. I would think working on mastering wheelies and front-facing curb-hopping would serve you much better, both now and in the future, than to risk doing something so unstable and awkward as backward curb hopping.

Just shows you never to old to learn

[wheelie182]

I wouldn't go down a curb backwards even with my head between my knees; that sounds incredibly awkward. When you get comfortable doing wheelies, going down curbs in the tipped position gives you the most control I think.

Quote

The hardest part for me was when I was in London on the subway(The Tube). It was hard because the train was higher then the platform, some were as much as a foot difference. Those I had to get out of the chair, get myself on the train and then pull the chair up

This really happened? In front of a train station full of people that could quite have easily lifted you up? .. Or did you refuse help? Im picturing you getting down onto the dirty floors of London trains, ewwwwwww

[brockit79]

i too was taught, in a fashion, to do it backwards. If your wheelchair's centre of gravity is further back i.e tippy then it makes sense to lean forward, therefore it is safer, in terms of falling out, to go off backwards.

My 2 penneth worth
Brockit

[mike13]

No I did not get down on the ground, I was on a trip to Crew with my brother and he had to do the lifting part. But yes the train to platform was really that much of a difference. luckily my W/C is 29 1/2 wide and just fit into the escalators.
And ,,as far as going down a curb forward or backwards. Just try it and you will see it is much easier and safer to go down the curb facing foreward on a wheelie.

[KayDub]

The way I get home from work everyday involves me wheeling backwards off a step. I just lean forward a bit. I think it's way safer and more comfortable than going forward, I'd be petrified of flipping off the grated step smack on my face on the stone walkway below. I don't trust my caster wheels nearly as much as my back wheels. I had my friends take me up the stairs to the only open spots at our after work bar last night no problem too. Never thought it was a problem myself.

[greybeard]

Obviously there is no RIGHT way, and no WRONG way. It's OK either way, depending purely on personal preference - provided you feel safe doing it. Does that sum it up? Or is this tit for tat going on forever?

[knightrider]

Well said GB

[tsh3406]

I may get hollered at for encouraging this, but one of the first things I was told to do was to intentionally tank it. That way, you'll see it doesn't really hurt when you do crash, you'll figure out how to get back up in your chair and you'll have more nerve when trying the trickier things....

TH

Oh, and I've eaten concrete once or twiced takin' curbs head on, but never when I do it backwards. I maintain a zero percent success rate when attempting it sideways....

Edited by tsh3406, 19 December 2011 - 11:23 PM.

[A trophy guy]

tsh3406, on 19 December 2011 - 11:18 PM, said:

I may get hollered at for encouraging this, but one of the first things I was told to do was to intentionally tank it. That way, you'll see it doesn't really hurt when you do crash, you'll figure out how to get back up in your chair and you'll have more nerve when trying the trickier things....

TH

Oh, and I've eaten concrete once or twiced takin' curbs head on, but never when I do it backwards. I maintain a zero percent success rate when attempting it sideways....

Ohhhh, if only I could "double rep" this!

[Ches]

tsh3406, on 19 December 2011 - 11:18 PM, said:

I maintain a zero percent success rate when attempting it sideways....

Hahahaha

[Doodle]

Ches, on 20 December 2011 - 06:58 AM, said:

tsh3406, on 19 December 2011 - 11:18 PM, said:

I maintain a zero percent success rate when attempting it sideways....

Hahahaha

LOL!!

[LeeS]

always thought about using the escalators instead of the lifts, went to do it one day in asda and the security guard ran over when he seen me going towards and told me to use the lift or risk being barred! w#@!er! as for kerbs i prefer forward, I very rarely slow down for them either so I'm fecked if theres a pot hole haha! if need be pop a wheelie then at the edge just let your wheels slowly roll through your hands until you touch down on the next level! stairs sound interesting too!

[wheelie182]

I can understand why the guard would do that and would be happy to oblige. If you were to get hurt, you'd be screwed because you took an unnecessary risk. But yeah, no need to be a dick about it.

[D. Smith]

I'm surprised mall security has never said anything to me... After all, it is a HUGE insurance liability, hence the little stickers that say no shopping carts, strollers or wheelchairs on them.

[LeeS]

thats very truee!

the fact theres warning signs for wheelchairs not use them kind of says it all i guess!