68 replies to this topic

[Erica Smith]

Not sure how familiar any of you are with the freewheel but I recently purchased one and am in love, wish I had gotten it sooner. I love camping and anything outdoors-trails, beach, etc. and it has helped tremendously. Plus, I can make my dog pull me when I get tired on "walks" now ;)

[kim wright]

Yep i just bought one and it is fantasic .
Going to the park with the grandkids is not such chore when pushing.
I would recommend one for people who have kids or like the outdoors they give you so much more freedom.
I have always got a fear of tipping out my chair if the casters hit a stone ect ,but with the free wheel you dont have that worry .
Think i paid about £370.00 pounds for it but worth every penny.

[hannibal]

I have never heard of it, but it sounds interesting.

[Erica Smith]

http://www.gofreewheel.com/ check it out!

[dreamerr]

I don't like that you can't switch it from chair to chair. What happens when you buy a new chair and now you have cut the freewheel as said in the instructions? I don't understand if it is a clamp design why there aren't holes to just move it to adjust it. Did any of you have to do the cutting as said in the instructions? I wouldn't be able to cut it and I would also be scared I didn't do it correctly. I tried to ask the man who makes it but he didn't have time for questions.

[Erica Smith]

I didn't have to cut mine as it was already the correct length. It is just one tiny little piece that is removable that you would have to cut so if you did have to i imagine you could just order one of these pieces and cut it to fit your new chair and still use the same freewheel. i imagine the piece would be pretty cheap.

[megatrig]

Just watch out for stress fractures on your frame as you are altering the point where force is exerted on and through the frame. Footplates can go. Negates a frame warranty probably.

Other than that .. WHAT A GREAT INVENTION!!! why why why didn't I think of it! A great price too!

[dreamerr]

I didn't have to cut mine as it was already the correct length. It is just one tiny little piece that is removable that you would have to cut so if you did have to i imagine you could just order one of these pieces and cut it to fit your new chair and still use the same freewheel. i imagine the piece would be pretty cheap.

Thanks for the piece info. Maybe I will get one after all with the extra piece that carries stuff. So them saying in the instructions that you need a hacksaw or whatever isn't really true. I would not be able to do that if it is so. What kind of chair and foot plate do you have?

Just watch out for stress fractures on your frame as you are altering the point where force is exerted on and through the frame. Footplates can go. Negates a frame warranty probably.

Other than that .. WHAT A GREAT INVENTION!!! why why why didn't I think of it! A great price too!

OMG really it would make cracks in the chair and void a warranty that I don't have. I didn't know chairs had a warranty. I just thought you get them and are stuck with them and then have to get a new one even if measured wrong.

[SequinScandal]

This is on my never ending list of things I need to buy.

[dreamerr]

You mean expensive never ending list that is not covered by insurance.

[hannibal]

Thanks for the info!

[ZEN12many]

I love my Freewheel. I have my dog pull me in my wheelchair. With the Freewheel, my dog and I can go very fast without me worrying about the casters catching on something. Plus we can go on long runs.

Erica, I am glad to find another person who has their dog pull them. There are so few of us. Would love to hear from you on Facebook Dogs that Pull.

[Kirker]

I've run across some other threads on various forums and EVERYBODY is RAVING about these Freewheel contraptions!! I had never seen or heard of one before. Some woman made a video and showed how she towed her wheelchair from her hand cycle with it on.

[Tetracyclone]

I am working on getting my chair set up with the freewheel. FYI, the adjustments on the thing are not easy for all chairs. The guy has me sawing 1/4 inches off a square of steel. It is not that easy. Must find the vise buried in the move-in boxes in the basement.
Must make quaddie hands and arms use hack saw. Excellent exercise.

The thing is designed for the average chair, for which set-up is easy. Mine is not average. Grrrr.

[dreamerr]

I am working on getting my chair set up with the freewheel. FYI, the adjustments on the thing are not easy for all chairs. The guy has me sawing 1/4 inches off a square of steel. It is not that easy. Must find the vise buried in the move-in boxes in the basement.
Must make quaddie hands and arms use hack saw. Excellent exercise.

The thing is designed for the average chair, for which set-up is easy. Mine is not average. Grrrr.

He also won't talk to you on the phone and want questions via email which is hard if you don't understand if you can hacksaw stuff. I think he has a huge design flaw. It clamps onto you foot plate to be tight and so he needs holes in the piece so you can move the clamp part. Ok mister maker give me my percentage. If I didn't have to hacksaw it I would have bought one long ago. Also after cutting it will it fit on your next chair? Will the piece now be to short which will force you to buy a new one.

[Tetracyclone]

I am working on getting my chair set up with the freewheel. FYI, the adjustments on the thing are not easy for all chairs. The guy has me sawing 1/4 inches off a square of steel. It is not that easy. Must find the vise buried in the move-in boxes in the basement.
Must make quaddie hands and arms use hack saw. Excellent exercise.

The thing is designed for the average chair, for which set-up is easy. Mine is not average. Grrrr.

He also won't talk to you on the phone and want questions via email which is hard if you don't understand if you can hacksaw stuff. I think he has a huge design flaw. It clamps onto you foot plate to be tight and so he needs holes in the piece so you can move the clamp part. Ok mister maker give me my percentage. If I didn't have to hacksaw it I would have bought one long ago. Also after cutting it will it fit on your next chair? Will the piece now be to short which will force you to buy a new one.

My experience was different. Pat has answered my e-mails very quickly on two occasions and when he did not understand my question he asked me to call him. I am nearly deaf but he was quite patient with communicating. If I want to transfer the freewheel to a different footplate I would only need one bolt replaced. There are a lot of different footplate designs out there and it gets complicated trying to accomodate them. It is unreasonable to think such a device would be one-size-fits-all. That said, the advertising speaks only of how easy it is not use, not how easy it is once you get it configured to your particular chair.

I think you are right that there should be a warning somewhere saying the thing requires adjustment on some chairs.

[greybeard]

I am working on getting my chair set up with the freewheel. FYI, the adjustments on the thing are not easy for all chairs. The guy has me sawing 1/4 inches off a square of steel. It is not that easy. Must find the vise buried in the move-in boxes in the basement.
Must make quaddie hands and arms use hack saw. Excellent exercise.

The thing is designed for the average chair, for which set-up is easy. Mine is not average. Grrrr.

He also won't talk to you on the phone and want questions via email which is hard if you don't understand if you can hacksaw stuff. I think he has a huge design flaw. It clamps onto you foot plate to be tight and so he needs holes in the piece so you can move the clamp part. Ok mister maker give me my percentage. If I didn't have to hacksaw it I would have bought one long ago. Also after cutting it will it fit on your next chair? Will the piece now be to short which will force you to buy a new one.

My experience was different. Pat has answered my e-mails very quickly on two occasions and when he did not understand my question he asked me to call him. I am nearly deaf but he was quite patient with communicating. If I want to transfer the freewheel to a different footplate I would only need one bolt replaced. There are a lot of different footplate designs out there and it gets complicated trying to accomodate them. It is unreasonable to think such a device would be one-size-fits-all. That said, the advertising speaks only of how easy it is not use, not how easy it is once you get it configured to your particular chair.

I think you are right that there should be a warning somewhere saying the thing requires adjustment on some chairs.

My experience of dealing with Pat was even better. He could not do enough to try and accommodate my particular requirements. Regarding your final point, Tetra, the downloadable setup guide does explain in detail the simple mods that are required. The benefits of the Freewheel far outweigh the small inconvenience of adjusting the bracket to fit your particular design of footrest.

Edited by greybeard, 06 June 2012 - 11:10 PM.

[Tetracyclone]

GB,
My footplate is not covered in the guide and the simple adjustments for the bracket do not apply, at least not for the set-up he recommended. Pat understands the challenge because he is trying to get mine the way he has his own set up. Alas, the tubing on mine was closer together. Its Murphy's Law.

[Patd]

Hi to all!

It's great to hear that users are enjoying their experiences with their FreeWheels. I like mine too!

To Dreamerr; not really sure about our coorespondence as I'm not sure who you are, but in any case I'd like to help with the information about the FreeWheel.

"I don't like that you can't switch it from chair to chair. What happens when you buy a new chair and now you have cut the freewheel as said in the instructions? I don't understand if it is a clamp design why there aren't holes to just move it to adjust it. Did any of you have to do the cutting as said in the instructions? I wouldn't be able to cut it and I would also be scared I didn't do it correctly. I tried to ask the man who makes it but he didn't have time for questions."

You can switch the FreeWheel from chair to chair. If the footrests are different than adjustments will have to be made. The only cutting that "maybe" neccessary is to a plastic straight shim in the event that your footrest is under 6" in depth. More are easily available from me or your nearest dealer.

You can always email me at pat @gofreewheel.com

My goal is to help everyone enjoy what the FreeWheel offers. Like I said, I like mine too!

Pat

[Colin Flounders]

Love my freewheel, camping and beaches are ten times easier as are snowy areas

[greybeard]

Hi to all!

It's great to hear that users are enjoying their experiences with their FreeWheels. I like mine too!

To Dreamerr; not really sure about our coorespondence as I'm not sure who you are, but in any case I'd like to help with the information about the FreeWheel.

"I don't like that you can't switch it from chair to chair. What happens when you buy a new chair and now you have cut the freewheel as said in the instructions? I don't understand if it is a clamp design why there aren't holes to just move it to adjust it. Did any of you have to do the cutting as said in the instructions? I wouldn't be able to cut it and I would also be scared I didn't do it correctly. I tried to ask the man who makes it but he didn't have time for questions."

You can switch the FreeWheel from chair to chair. If the footrests are different than adjustments will have to be made. The only cutting that "maybe" neccessary is to a plastic straight shim in the event that your footrest is under 6" in depth. More are easily available from me or your nearest dealer.

You can always email me at pat @gofreewheel.com

My goal is to help everyone enjoy what the FreeWheel offers. Like I said, I like mine too!

Pat

Hi Pat. Good to see you're still talking to us poor people. Glad your idea has developed into such a success.

[Patd]

Thanks GB.

It really never gets old hearing folks all over the world talking about how they can get around and do things with a FreeWheel that they couldn't without.


My attitude hasn't changed after a couple years in business; One customer at a time!

Pat

[dreamerr]

Hi to all!

It's great to hear that users are enjoying their experiences with their FreeWheels. I like mine too!

To Dreamerr; not really sure about our coorespondence as I'm not sure who you are, but in any case I'd like to help with the information about the FreeWheel.

"I don't like that you can't switch it from chair to chair. What happens when you buy a new chair and now you have cut the freewheel as said in the instructions? I don't understand if it is a clamp design why there aren't holes to just move it to adjust it. Did any of you have to do the cutting as said in the instructions? I wouldn't be able to cut it and I would also be scared I didn't do it correctly. I tried to ask the man who makes it but he didn't have time for questions."

You can switch the FreeWheel from chair to chair. If the footrests are different than adjustments will have to be made. The only cutting that "maybe" neccessary is to a plastic straight shim in the event that your footrest is under 6" in depth. More are easily available from me or your nearest dealer.

You can always email me at pat @gofreewheel.com

My goal is to help everyone enjoy what the FreeWheel offers. Like I said, I like mine too!

Pat

Thanks Pat now I understand and am no longer to waste money and will purchase one.

[lozsmith]

I saw a few people with Freewheels at The Stone Roses concert a couple of weeks ago and having read this thread I think I need one.

I see on the website that they're $499 but UK customers have to buy them direct from the UK distributor (Gerald Simmons). Considering the US price I don't fancy having to pay £450 to Gerald Simmons just because they have sole distribution rights. Has anyone in the UK obtained a Freewheel from elsewhere?

[greybeard]

I saw a few people with Freewheels at The Stone Roses concert a couple of weeks ago and having read this thread I think I need one.

I see on the website that they're $499 but UK customers have to buy them direct from the UK distributor (Gerald Simmons). Considering the US price I don't fancy having to pay £450 to Gerald Simmons just because they have sole distribution rights. Has anyone in the UK obtained a Freewheel from elsewhere?

I challenged Gerald Simmons on their price a while back and only got a bullshit response about "overheads/cost of importing /etc/etc" Don't know why I bothered, but the way UK retailers just stick a pound sign in front of the dollar price in the USA is one of my pet peeves. Straight forward rip-off. No other way to describe this practice.

Edited by greybeard, 12 July 2012 - 05:35 PM.

[knightrider]

A bit cheaper here but still pricey at £360, i was going to get one for a festival i went to last weekend but already spent a lot of money on other things. I will definitely think of getting on in the future, i tried one a few years ago and was brilliant for offroad, no need to be in a constant wheelie you just roll right over tough terrain.
http://www.spokz.co....s/freewheel.asp

Edited by knightrider, 12 July 2012 - 05:11 PM.

[greybeard]

I've been kicking myself for a while now (or I would be if I could), because I actually bought one of the early ones directly from Pat. It was a great piece of kit, and Pat went out of his way to help with adaptations I needed for my then chair. Like a fool, I then sold it because I thought a clip-on hand cycle would suit me better. I really wish I had not made that decision. For the foreseeable future I will not be able to afford to buy a replacement. But one day ..............

[rue2you]

I have the Freewheel. LOVE the Freewheel!! Just used it again today to walk my kids to the library. I rode my 2 year old on my lap the whole way and we hit cracks that were 3-5 inches high (my town is too broke to fix sidewalks) and never even slowed us down. If I had tried to do that without the Freewheel.....it would have thrown my little guy out on his face or I would have had a very hard time popping constant wheelies over all the cracks while having a boy on my lap.

I have never regretted the money that we invested in this. Yes, I say investment because it has been invested in more freedom for me and my children and that is worth way more than $500!

A couple videos I made of mine:
Me in the snow -
Outside over cracks -

[wheeliebear75]

Thanks GB.

It really never gets old hearing folks all over the world talking about how they can get around and do things with a FreeWheel that they couldn't without.


My attitude hasn't changed after a couple years in business; One customer at a time!

Pat

The FreeWheel looks AMAZING!!!
It's at the top of my list of things I want to get my paws on (I'm asking Santa)....my "off-road wheelchair" didn't do so well in loose sand out in the desert when we went camping/4xing. MY question is....that rack would be very helpful when camping & at other certain times....but I'm thinking 80% of the time it would be more helpful to me to have the basic model so I can go from regular w/c to FreeWheelW/C....does the rack come something that can easily come off or is it 2 completely seperate models?

Edited by wheeliebear75, 12 July 2012 - 10:20 PM.

[rAdGie]

watching those video clips there and when you attach the freewheel your shifting your centre of gravity back over so arnt you more likely to tip? plus you will be pushing harder over grass etc and might tip, i personally dont like it and its certainly not worth that amount of money, im just gona save for a http://www.mountaintrike.co.uk/