21 replies to this topic

[megatrig]

Ok don't get me wrong I am all for pushing boundaries and inventing useful things ... but!!

I'll not make any comments .. well not many untill some others have been made!!

This site was pointed out on another thread .. read and weap springs to mind!!

http://www.shelliwheelchairs.com.au/

A quote from the web site!

"During this time I can remember suffering the pain, humiliation and frustrations of trying to propel myself around in a normal “Wheelchair ”.

All of you who have been, or are at present, in that situation know exactly what it ’s like."

NO I HAVE NEVER BEEN HUMILIATED BY BEING IN ONE!!

PAIN .. WELL A BIT IF I PULL A MUSCLE YES.

I'LL SHUT UP .. OVER TO YOU GUYS!

[Ches]

Hmm the Shelli is odd. It looks more like a shopping car and wheelchair mixed.. Not a bike. I would think those hand controls would give you that extra inch or two of width.. making it impossible to squeeze through those tight doorways. Other than that, it looks kinda fun. Im not sure if I would feel safe leaning forward to pedal all the time. I cant imagine it would be very comfortable either. One more thing, whats with the foot rest. That doesnt seem very logical. I mean some of us need our feet strapped in and held down.. Im thinking this guy is kinda Petarded (Family Guy reference).

Edited by Ches, 23 August 2007 - 01:59 PM.

[Bulky]

Imagine trying to transfer into it! As for the bloke's comment on his site:

"During this time I can remember suffering the pain, humiliation and frustrations of trying to propel myself around in a normal “Wheelchair ”.All of you who have been, or are at present, in that situation know exactly what it ’s like."

Mate, you haven't got a clue!

[wheels5894]

Oh dear! What a shame fro this product.Someone has worked very hard to produce this wheelchair yet they have not looked at anything beyond Australia.

See in the 'old countries' Europe we have a lot more wheelchair problems as the buildings are old and some very, very old. wheelchairs have to try and manage with difficult buildings and streets. By contrast, Australia and north America are fairly new countries with lots of space and new buildings so this wheelchair might fit such countries but I would hate to use it in Scotland.

Further, there are some more important problems.

• There is nothing to make it easy to climb into so transfers will be near to impossible for many.
  
• The chair is rigid and cannot break down. Tough on transport and it looks heavy.
  
• The single caster design looks like it would be a bit wobbly.
  
• the backrest seems to be a fixed one with thin canvas so not real support here.

All in all, I would not go near it with a barge pole.

Edited by wheels5894, 23 August 2007 - 01:47 PM.

[Angela250153]

Well, the best I can say about it is, that at least you won't get your hands dirty.

[Ian Baillie]

Hi !

Thank you for looking at my Wheelchair design and for your comments,
MEGATRIG - CHES - BULKY - WHEELS 5894 - ANGELA

I fully agree that compared to what you guys have gone through my pain etc was nothing.

What I did not mention on my webpage is that for 3 weeks after my 'Hit and Run ' pushbike accident I was in a
'Coma 'due to the injury caused by the back of my head hitting the roadway during the crash.

The pain and humiliation that I mentioned was because at the time of the accident I was a 30 year old very fit bikerider. Because of the pain factor in leg and head I was very weak and could not handle the Standard wheelchair.
I found it very humiliating to ask young nurses to give me a push.

Getting back to my Shelli Hand Pedal Wheelchair design
the overal width is 72 cm.The hand pedals also fold in.

All my chairs are custom built to suit the user.

The Shelli folds so that it will fit in the Car Boot , and it only weighs 16 kg .

My Shelli will not suit all disabled persons but it will help many who have some mobility to have a better easier life.

I hope the above clears up a few misgivings.

I look forward to any other comments you may have.

By the way I am 68 yoa and I am not looking to make money just to help those who have come out accidents worse off than I did.

Kind Regards Ian

[KimAndSophie]

Ian Baillie, on Aug 27 2007, 12:46 AM, said:

Hi !
The pain and humiliation that I mentioned was because at the time of the accident I was a 30 year old very fit bikerider. Because of the pain factor in leg and head I was very weak and could not handle the Standard wheelchair.
I found it very humiliating to ask young nurses to give me a push.

Getting back to my Shelli Hand Pedal Wheelchair design
the overal width is 72 cm.The hand pedals also fold in.

The Shelli folds so that it will fit in the Car Boot , and it only weighs 16 kg .

Hi, I just have a comment and a few questions. First of all, when you say

"During this time I can remember suffering the pain, humiliation and frustrations of trying to propel myself around in a normal “Wheelchair ”.All of you who have been, or are at present, in that situation know exactly what it ’s like."

on your website this is telling everyone who reads it that EVERYONE who uses a wheelchair is HUMILIATED, FRUSTRATED, and in PAIN. This couldn't be further from the truth! I really think you should re-state this and explain what you were trying to say better, so that people don't assume we are all miserable in our situations.

Now, for the questions.

1. If the hand pedals fold in, how do you push the chair? If you need them folded in to get through some doorways etc. how can you push the wheels with no pushrims, and when the wheels are so close to the frame and there is a big piece of metal tubing over teh wheel just over halfway toward the back of the wheels?

2. 16kg is just under 36lbs! That's not light at all! Isn't it hard for someone to lift it into the trunk of their car? If someone can't walk then they would have to either always have a person with them to put in in the trunk, or they would have to fold it and lift it in front of them while sitting in the car to put in in the back seat. If they can walk enough to even get to the back of their car, it's not that likely they would be able to lift something that weighs that much into the trunk. Just for a comparison my wheelchair weighs 18lbs (8kg), including the wheels, backrest, cushion etc.

3. How do you eat when you are at restaurants etc.? Would the high sides prevent you from moving under the table? If this didn't stop you, I'm pretty sure the front of the chair where the "footrest" is would stop you from getting close to the table seeing how most of them have one leg in the middle with the parts that come out from it?

[wheels5894]

That's all quite right I think. the matter is that it is harder to do all the things we do is the pedal chair/ Let's have a look at the obvious problesm

• We have probably mention already that getting in and out would be much harder that a normal chair, especially where the sidwes are so high.
  
  
• I don't know how others get on, but I use teh wheels to tip the chair climb up kerbs, steps and so on, getting dow same could not be done with the pedals.
  
  
• The way the seat is constructed seems to make for no possibility of changing the back rest angle or indeed making the seat suitable for many people as a sloping rear seat is often the best way to stability of the body
  
  
• The question of lifting the thing into a vahicle is a bit of a problem. My new Quickie Ti is about 17.5lbs. Less that half the weight of the pedal chair. I got it to reduce the wear on my arms and shoulders. I should not want to increase the wear now.
  
  
• I suppose that Australian house are bigger than Scottish ones as I can't, fr the life of me, imagine many in Scotland could get the pedal chair into their houses and those of us on this board certainly can't get in any other way.

All i all, I hope there is a market for this chair but it will not be amongst paraplegics and not amongst tetraplegics who could never get into it. It is a quite a bit more awkward that the lever operated chair Everest and Jennings (does anyone remember the 50lb models?) in the 60s. once again it was not that practical.

Edited by wheels5894, 27 August 2007 - 07:27 PM.

[russ1]

We did the shelli chair a good while ago - I'll not repost my comments but I've not changed my mind.

http://www.apparelyz...?showtopic=2043

[KimAndSophie]

russ1, on Aug 27 2007, 04:17 PM, said:

We did the shelli chair a good while ago - I'll not repost my comments but I've not changed my mind.

http://www.apparelyz...?showtopic=2043

Thanks Russ, I knew this sounded familiar.

[Alin Steglinski]

still totally inviable for people who have high spasticity, need specialized seating, have little to no trunk/neck control (thus needing full external support), and little to no arm control.

i think ill stick to finding the 25,000 i need for the TDX5 thank you very much mr.shelli

viability gets a 0 in my situation

and things with me are just poised to get worse, CP+progressive disease... hmm i got double whacked by god.

[megatrig]

Ahhhhhhhhh so someone already ummm comented on it huh!!

I hate to "nail" someone trying to push boundaries and come up with new ideas but ................

well enough points have been made me thinks.

Perhaps a return to the drawing board and a review of lightweight .. ness, and useabilty, etc, etc, etc might then produce something that will work!

Good luck with it and I do mean that sincerely!

All i all, I hope there is a market for this chair but it will not be amongst paraplegics and not amongst tetraplegics who could never get into it. It is a quite a bit more awkward that the lever operated chair Everest and Jennings (does anyone remember the 50lb models?) in the 60s. once again it was not that practical.

Oh My they still had those in the 80's!!

I left Oswestry as aC5/6 tetraplegic with one!!

Hard to believe really!!

[wheeliebear75]

A few words come to mind; huh, eew, weird, ugly. I see Australia gets episodes of monster garage. LOL I don't see anything wrong with the overall design of my chair. I get stared at enough as it is..... I think that thing would be even worse. It doesn't look like there's a way to fold it to for transport. The sides don't look removable........bruised hip waiting too happen. And I'm def with Ches.......shopping cart.

[Alin Steglinski]

wheeliebear75, on Aug 29 2007, 05:24 PM, said:

A few words come to mind; huh, eew, weird, ugly. I see Australia gets episodes of monster garage. LOL I don't see anything wrong with the overall design of my chair. I get stared at enough as it is..... I think that thing would be even worse. It doesn't look like there's a way to fold it to for transport. The sides don't look removable........bruised hip waiting too happen. And I'm def with Ches.......shopping cart.

*agrees* hey i like your signature *steal* j.k

[Ian Baillie]

Alin Steglinski, on Aug 30 2007, 08:26 AM, said:

wheeliebear75, on Aug 29 2007, 05:24 PM, said:

A few words come to mind; huh, eew, weird, ugly. I see Australia gets episodes of monster garage. LOL I don't see anything wrong with the overall design of my chair. I get stared at enough as it is..... I think that thing would be even worse. It doesn't look like there's a way to fold it to for transport. The sides don't look removable........bruised hip waiting too happen. And I'm def with Ches.......shopping cart.

*agrees* hey i like your signature *steal* j.k

Hi, again everyone,

Many thanks for your 'Constructive Criticisms ' of my Shelli Hand Pedal Wheelchair design, they are just what I was looking for.

Alin, my Shelli does fold.( see photo on www.shelliwheelchairs.com.au )
I am pleased you like my Signature, it keeps me going sometimes, I have it taped to the top edge of my computer in large print.

I am changing the wording on my website to read 'Some of you ' instead of 'All of you', as I agree not everyone had the mental attitude that I had at the time of my accident.Thanks for that.

As for ' side transfers ' I am working on the design of a portable 'Flat Top 'attachment that can be clipped to the front of the seat and can take the weight of someone needing to make a 'side transfer '.This will have fold away legs and it will fit on the luggage rack under the seat.

The weight factor can be overcome by paying a little bit extra and having
the Shelli constructed in Aluminium instead of Steel.

I know that my Shelli will not suit every disabled person but it will assist many.

Thanks again, ave a good day.
Regards Ian

[Alin Steglinski]

Ian Baillie, on Aug 29 2007, 07:10 PM, said:

Alin Steglinski, on Aug 30 2007, 08:26 AM, said:

wheeliebear75, on Aug 29 2007, 05:24 PM, said:

A few words come to mind; huh, eew, weird, ugly. I see Australia gets episodes of monster garage. LOL I don't see anything wrong with the overall design of my chair. I get stared at enough as it is..... I think that thing would be even worse. It doesn't look like there's a way to fold it to for transport. The sides don't look removable........bruised hip waiting too happen. And I'm def with Ches.......shopping cart.

*agrees* hey i like your signature *steal* j.k

Hi, again everyone,

Many thanks for your 'Constructive Criticisms ' of my Shelli Hand Pedal Wheelchair design, they are just what I was looking for.

Alin, my Shelli does fold.( see photo on www.shelliwheelchairs.com.au )
I am pleased you like my Signature, it keeps me going sometimes, I have it taped to the top edge of my computer in large print.

I am changing the wording on my website to read 'Some of you ' instead of 'All of you', as I agree not everyone had the mental attitude that I had at the time of my accident.Thanks for that.

As for ' side transfers ' I am working on the design of a portable 'Flat Top 'attachment that can be clipped to the front of the seat and can take the weight of someone needing to make a 'side transfer '.This will have fold away legs and it will fit on the luggage rack under the seat.

The weight factor can be overcome by paying a little bit extra and having
the Shelli constructed in Aluminium instead of Steel.

I know that my Shelli will not suit every disabled person but it will assist many.

Thanks again, ave a good day.
Regards Ian

AND it wont work for me still totally inviable for people who have high spasticity, need specialized seating, have little to no trunk/neck control (thus needing full external support), and little to no arm control.

i think ill stick to finding the 25,000 i need for the TDX5 thank you very much mr.shelli

viability gets a 0 in my situation

and things with me are just poised to get worse, CP+progressive disease... hmm i got double whacked by god. because of spasTicity specialiszed seating full external support need no arm control..

[Cheshire]

I noticed that in your "special thanks to the following for all their input" section you make no reference to here whatsoever. At the same time, just about every issue that has been mentioned here has been addressed in some way, shape, or form.

What's the deal? You realize that means you're taking credit for our ideas, right?
From one cyclist to another: this can be compared to drafting: Do your part or get off my wheel!


~from an avid distance/cross-country cyclist who was victim of a hit-and-run at high speed.

[Ian Baillie]

Cheshire, on Aug 30 2007, 10:38 AM, said:

I noticed that in your "special thanks to the following for all their input" section you make no reference to here whatsoever. At the same time, just about every issue that has been mentioned here has been addressed in some way, shape, or form.

What's the deal? You realize that means you're taking credit for our ideas, right?
From one cyclist to another: this can be compared to drafting: Do your part or get off my wheel!


~from an avid distance/cross-country cyclist who was victim of a hit-and-run at high speed.

Cheshire, Hi,

I do not understand what you mean , I was thanking everyone for their comments.
Yes I have learnt a lot.
Cheers Ian

[Apparelyzed]

Ian Baillie, on Aug 30 2007, 01:10 AM, said:

As for ' side transfers ' I am working on the design of a portable 'Flat Top 'attachment that can be clipped to the front of the seat and can take the weight of someone needing to make a 'side transfer '.

Why not just make the arms removeable?

This will mean there's less weight to carry, and less to go wrong.

Simon.

[russ1]

Apparelyzed, on Aug 30 2007, 12:48 PM, said:

Ian Baillie, on Aug 30 2007, 01:10 AM, said:

As for ' side transfers ' I am working on the design of a portable 'Flat Top 'attachment that can be clipped to the front of the seat and can take the weight of someone needing to make a 'side transfer '.

Why not just make the arms removeable?

This will mean there's less weight to carry, and less to go wrong.

Simon.

Because the arms contain all the gearing and chain drive from the pedals and house the pedals themselves. !!

[Apparelyzed]

Doh!

Simon

[Ian Baillie]

Russ1, Hi,

Thanks for explaining that for me, you did it well.

The attachment that I mentioned will be almost the same size as the seatsize and be strong enough to side transfer onto.

Cheshire, I think I have worked out your last post.
Yes, I asked you guys for your help so that I can build a more suitable Hand Pedal Wheelchair, to help more disabled people have greater mobility.

As one cyclist to another to win you sometimes have to feed off anothers ability
and then pick the right time to attack. I am 68 yoa and my family is my fortune.

Simon , this is a great site, I just love reading the comments that go back and forth around different subjects. As I have said before I was lucky I did not lose my mobility at the time of my accident but it gave me a firm desire to assist
others.

Regards Ian