30 replies to this topic

[clk55pete]

Hi all,

I'm just of the verge of ordering a new wheelchair (Ti Lite ZR series 2). I've used a Quckie Ti Titanium for 10 years and want a similar chair but with a 90 degree front and one inch shorter frame - it's a pity Quickie have decided to cut the Ti from its range and I cant get the Helium configured as I would like.

Anyway I'd appreciate any views on why everyone appears to rate Spinergy wheels so highly? I've not had problems with quickie wheels but am minded to order Spinergys because almost everyone rates them so much. Why?

[Edinburgh Colin]

They are light, very low mantenence, don't creak and I like the fact that with less spokes you can get your hand through for access.
Nice color option too!
EC

[McTavish]

I second all Colin says, mine are red and I have had no problems with them.

[brockit79]

I 2nd EC and McT, my wheels are like flamingo pink and look pretty cool. I have a TiLite ZRA and love it. Spinergy's are light and easy to take on and off. I do not have much to compare them to though, my old wheelchair was a shed.

[Tetracyclone]

A friend bought other wheels for my second chair and they hurt my hands and do not push very well.

[clk55pete]

Okay - thanks all for your input. The choice of options is quite bewildering.. Have any of you used the flexrim system on the Spinergys? If so your views would be welcome.

Edited by clk55pete, 17 June 2012 - 09:20 PM.

[t4_5para]

I don't know anything about the "the flexrim system on the Spinergys" but, I had my chair provided through the Welsh Health Authority (an Argon). The chair I tried out had Spinergy's fitted to it and as said above, due to there being less spokes they are easier to remove/fit (plus being lighter). Also, as the hubs and spokes are thicker, they are stronger, with less bend in the wheel over the ordinary 26" ones I had to have, mine are however fitted with the Schwalbe 'Run Right' tyres, which are brilliant, they run truer (if there is such a word) and improve the resonse on turning etc but, I wouldn't like to have to pay for them (the HA does), ordinary 26" primo's (which I had on my old chair) are approx £26/pair, where as the Schwalbe are over £40/pair and do wear out much quicker due to the higher pressure they take and the very narrow surface contact area, approx 5mm.

If you've got a link to "the flexrim system on the Spinergys", stick it up, I had a quick look on SM's site but couldn't find anything, so I'd be interested to see exactly what they are.

[clk55pete]

Thanks t4_5para. Here is the link to flemirim http://www.spinergy....&products_id=99

[Edinburgh Colin]

The flexrim looks really pretty slick. In all ways it looks like an improvement except I suspect in braking! If you are a normal grip user rather than a tetra with hand function issues then you brake by squeezing the rims between the base your thumb and all along to the tip on the top of the push rim and your finger tips under neath. The temptation to run your thumb on this urethane surface between the push rim and the wheel rim will be hard to resist but your are going to get lovely burns and blisters on the pads of your thumbs if you fall for it!

Another similar wheel you should take a look at is the round betty.

http://www.roundbetty.com/

[airart1]

big improvement from the standard spoke, especially on an everyday wheel.....now a sport wheel maybe different, i don't know.....

[knightrider]

Spinergy's are great, very light and look nice too. My 1st set i had for 6 years and not once did i have to tighten a spoke or any problems, i've now got a new chair and that was the 1st option i picked for it lol. I now keep my old ones with my old chair as a spare just in case anything goes wrong with my new one. If you've never had them before deffo get some!

[lee5595]

I wouldn't like to have to pay for them (the HA does), ordinary 26" primo's (which I had on my old chair) are approx £26/pair, where as the Schwalbe are over £40/pair and do wear out much quicker due to the higher pressure they take and the very narrow surface contact area, approx 5mm.

I second the Schwalbes are excellent tyres, use marathon plus myself and although £25 a tyre will prob last you at least a year. Rightruns are around £13 a tyre with no punctureprotect on the 26"s

Another similar wheel you should take a look at is the round betty.

http://www.roundbetty.com/

Had Spinergys on last chair, Dino Round Betty's on current one....loving the 'Bettys'....they differ from the Spinergys in that they are slightly stiffer due to the spokes giving a firmer ride and less flex. It personal preference between the 2 depending on the 'feel' youre after, both excellent wheels!

[araitn]

I've been using Spinergy FlexRims for the last three years and absolutely love them. I can't imagine purchasing any other type of wheel/rim combo in the future. I don't like to push on the tire and the FlexRims allow a good push without doing so. Also, the rims do "flex" in if you need an extra inch or so to get through a tight spot.

Addressing Colin's concern of braking issues with these rims:

* I wear gloves full-time so any accidental contact with the rubber (flex portion) of the rims don't affect my hands
* There is still plenty of metal to use in braking, you just have to rotate your hands a little away from the rubber
* You do have to be careful if braking with the rubber because it creates a very quick stop and could send you for a pitch out

Here's a picture of my rims on my chair:

[Edinburgh Colin]

I've been using Spinergy FlexRims for the last three years and absolutely love them. I can't imagine purchasing any other type of wheel/rim combo in the future. I don't like to push on the tire and the FlexRims allow a good push without doing so. Also, the rims do "flex" in if you need an extra inch or so to get through a tight spot.

Addressing Colin's concern of braking issues with these rims:

* I wear gloves full-time so any accidental contact with the rubber (flex portion) of the rims don't affect my hands
* There is still plenty of metal to use in braking, you just have to rotate your hands a little away from the rubber
* You do have to be careful if braking with the rubber because it creates a very quick stop and could send you for a pitch out

Here's a picture of my rims on my chair:

Sod that, for get the wheels look at the location of the picture where your chair is, I want to go there!!!!

[Edinburgh Colin]

There are a pair for sale on e-bay now, Buy it Now deal. See link below.
http://www.ebay.co.u...9#ht_500wt_1413

[tsh3406]

I would not hesitate to buy another pair either, but there's one thing to be aware of if you love to camp or bbq. The spokes will melt and rocks can cut them.

[clk55pete]

Ha ha tsh3406 - that made me laugh. Whatever wheels I buy (and it looks like Spinergy SPOX 24 inch) there will be no risk of rocks cutting them!

EdinburghColin I'm interested in why some people choose 25 or 26 inch wheels over 24s - I imagine that you sit a little higher being the only difference - do tell.

Araitin - thanks for a good outline of your experience. Since posting I've found quite a number of people who had the rims split (but this might have been when flexirims were first introduced) - any comment?

Pete

Edited by clk55pete, 20 June 2012 - 10:50 AM.

[tsh3406]

The bigger rims have more travel per revolution, your arms would be flying tryin to keep up on 24" tires. That may not be the only one, put it's just simple physics. Look at the drivers on a steam engine. The high-speed trains have drivers a foot or more taller than the old freight trains.

Edited by tsh3406, 20 June 2012 - 12:10 PM.

[Edinburgh Colin]

I have a chair with 24" and one with 25" and I swear the 25" get me where I want to go easier. I am a T3 incomplete so don't have much trunk strength so my pushing stroke is probably 50% or less than a low injury could accomplish.
tsh3406 I agree it is simple Physics and there is some psychology in there too, I always feel like I'm in a wee chair with dinky little wheels when I'm in the chair with the 24" wheels, not so bad when I fit the other 24" set with the chunky knobbly tires though.
I would always now try and go for bigger wheels if I can.
EC

[greybeard]

Don't forget that if your chair is set up for 24s, putting larger wheels on will reduce the dump. You can compensate by raising your casters.

Edited by greybeard, 20 June 2012 - 12:52 PM.

[ClaraTaylor]

Another thing to think about with wheel sizes is whether you'll fit under office tables etc OR can easily adjust said tables to suit you!

[araitn]

Here's a picture of my rims on my chair:

Sod that, for get the wheels look at the location of the picture where your chair is, I want to go there!!!!

I would like to go back there myself Colin. It was taken in Isle of Palms, South Carolina. My wife and I, and 13 of our friends, rented a house there last summer for vacation. Everyone went their various ways one day and I decided to stay behind and have a rest day all to my self. Transferred to a lounge chair and took that photo, while having a cold beer or two, of course.

Araitin - thanks for a good outline of your experience. Since posting I've found quite a number of people who had the rims split (but this might have been when flexirims were first introduced) - any comment?

Pete

I've also read about some people having problems with the flex portion splitting from the wheel. I've personally not experienced this problem, but you've probably just jinxed me.

[t4_5para]

Thanks t4_5para. Here is the link to flemirim http://www.spinergy....&products_id=99

Thanks for the link, I like the look of them and IF I had the money I would buy a pair, even given the problems metioned above about the pushing/slowing/stopping, as I have problems grip in both hands, due to the operations I needed.

Spinergy's are great, very light and look nice too. My 1st set i had for 6 years and not once did i have to tighten a spoke or any problems, i've now got a new chair and that was the 1st option i picked for it lol. I now keep my old ones with my old chair as a spare just in case anything goes wrong with my new one. If you've never had them before deffo get some!

When I had my Argon on standard 26" wheels 2 years ago (I didn't use it for the 1st year though, as I couldn't get the setup right), the spokes seemed very loosely strung and I didn't think they would last. However after morethan a year of using the chair, their tension is exactly the same as when I had it. I guess it's due to new designs/technology because, when I had my GPS in 2001 (also on 26's) I was having a new set of wheels every year to 18 months.

Don't forget that if your chair is set up for 24s, putting larger wheels on will reduce the dump. You can compensate by raising your casters.

It's a good idea in theory but, the 'rise' you get from going from 24's to 26's is not 2 inches as the wheel size would seem to indicate. This is due to the fact 24's are made to be setup on "normal high profile' tyres, so the switch actually only means (if going for a Primo/Schwalbe) about an inch and a half. I know this as, for the last 20 years or so, since 26's have been available, I've had the problem of having a Quickie (which SM designed for 24's) and running it on 26's with castor extensions and ALL the geometry (thus making it harder to set the chair up) of the chair being thrown of course as there is NO corrilation between the increase to 26's and the castor extions available from SM.

I still have the problem today, it took over a year from the first chair to arrive to me accepting the one I have now (the third SM built, as they agreed they got the first 2 wrong), and even then the HA had to source front castors (just the castors and not the folks etc) from another company so the geometry would be right but, even though SM KNEW they we building a chair for someone of 6'4", wanting 2 inches of rear 'bucket' movement, I'm stuck with the bucket it came with, as it can't raise the rear anymore.

[Brianm]

I've used a Quckie Ti Titanium for 10 years and want a similar chair but with a 90 degree front and one inch shorter frame

A TiLite frame is naturally 1" shorter than a Quickie. TiLite starts the bend right after the upholstery, where Quickie starts their bend 1" after.

[clk55pete]

I've used a Quckie Ti Titanium for 10 years and want a similar chair but with a 90 degree front and one inch shorter frame

A TiLite frame is naturally 1" shorter than a Quickie. TiLite starts the bend right after the upholstery, where Quickie starts their bend 1" after.

Thanks Bianm - the chair is ordered now. I really don't like the way we have to buy thinks without being able to see what we are going to get. I specified the chair based on my current set up of the things I like and incorporating changes such as shorter frame .... so now its just a matter of waiting....

[Brianm]

Thanks Bianm - the chair is ordered now. I really don't like the way we have to buy thinks without being able to see what we are going to get. I specified the chair based on my current set up of the things I like and incorporating changes such as shorter frame .... so now its just a matter of waiting....

Just curious, so lets say your Quickie was 16" deep, did you go with a 15" TiLite? If so, I believe your TiLite will be 2" shorter.

[clk55pete]

Thanks Bianm - the chair is ordered now. I really don't like the way we have to buy thinks without being able to see what we are going to get. I specified the chair based on my current set up of the things I like and incorporating changes such as shorter frame .... so now its just a matter of waiting....

Just curious, so lets say your Quickie was 16" deep, did you go with a 15" TiLite? If so, I believe your TiLite will be 2" shorter.

Indeed I did. My current quickie is just nearly 10 years old and I am very happy with it. However when thinking about a new chair the only things I could improve on was to make the front end narrower and shorter. So I went with a V front end and 10.5 inch footplate width; 15 inch seat with two inch frame infront of the seat and a 90 degree front angle and very tight caster angle. This should bring my feet as far back as possible while still allowing me to use the front of the frame for transfer grabs. It will also make the frame about two inches shorter than my current one. The down side will be the chair will be less table - but if its too unstable I will move my centre of gravity back a little.

Edited by clk55pete, 01 July 2012 - 10:23 AM.

[Brianm]

So if I follow Pete, you ordered a 15" seat depth with +2" Custom Seat Depth, bringing it to 17"? If so, the +2 will be quite a bit; I added +1" on mine and I have plenty to use.

[clk55pete]

So if I follow Pete, you ordered a 15" seat depth with +2" Custom Seat Depth, bringing it to 17"? If so, the +2 will be quite a bit; I added +1" on mine and I have plenty to use.

Not quite Bianm. The firm I am using (GBL wheelchairs here in London) did the measuring and this was the objective: Objective - same width as current seat –complete kit with wheels and hand rims to be no wider that current chair but shorter front while still allowing hand hold at front of frame. Ian - the guy that measured me up - said that he could specify the length of frame in front of the seat and that's how we did it.

I'll just have to wait and see....

[Brianm]

To highlight my point on the difference in where TiLite starts their front bend vs. other brands, look these pages:

http://sci.rutgers.e....t=94093&page=2
http://sci.rutgers.e...ead.php?t=93283