Mobility Solutions Centre and Holden Engineering

Putting the Wheel in Wheelchair

Article By John Marrable

Our Test Pilot

Date: 28/06/09

Holden Engineering - Putting the Wheel in WheelChair

 

 

I recently had the pleasure of trialing some of the new equipment that Shanon and the Team at Holdens are starting to bring into the country.

 

The first was the Lomo 360.  The Lomo 360 comprises of a tubular frame with and all terrain front wheel.

 

The frame is adjustable in length and width allowing it to be attached to the majority of wheelchairs (both fixed and folding). It is attached directly to the front of the wheelchair frame by clamps designed not to damage the frame.  Once clamped on the chair is tipped back slightly to engage the locking system.  This raises the front casters of the chair off the ground and makes your wheelchair into a three wheeled one.

 

I found that I was then able to push no problem over my gravel drive, down kerbs, and even a small flight of steps. 

 

I put my cross country back wheels on my chair and my wife Nickola  and I headed to  Hyde to trial the Lomo 360 on the Central Otago Rail Trail.

 

My wife on her bike and myself pushing my chair went from Hyde to Tiroiti and back.  A distance of 13kms.

 

We could not have chosen a better day.  Not a cloud in the sky and also one of the hottest.

 

The rail trail track is mostly gravel and can be very rough, however the Lomo 360 handled the rough terrain really good.

 

I also took the Lomo 360 down to St Clair beach to trial it.  The sand at the end of the ramp was really soft but with the help of some locals was able to get to the firmer sand.

 

Again the Lomo 360 was awesome.  I had my cross country wheels on and the going was good.  I then swapped my wheels for a pair of ‘Roleez’ back wheels.

These are fat wheels about 30cm wide so as the access ramp narrows down the bottom  had to put them on down on the sand.

 

The ‘Roleez’ are a balloon type wheel similar to a farmers ATV. The wheels did not have push rims which was not  problem until I hit the soft sand.  I then grabbed a local who pushed me with no problem at all.

 

The following week my wife and I headed back to Hyde and the Central Otago Rail Trail. This time I was trialling the ‘Stricker Electro Drive’.

 

The Electro Drive attaches to the front of the chair in the exact same way as the Lomo 360.  The difference being the Electro Drive is an electric powered front wheel.

 

We decided to head to the Hyde Train Crash monument, south of Hyde on the way to Rock and Pillar.  The weather was quite a contrast to the week before.  Blowing a gale and although not raining was quite cold.  I found as I was just sitting in the chair steering my hands got really cold.

 

It was blowing so hard that my wife had to get off her bike and push it.  I was joking that “this is the way to go”.  Me sitting in my wheelchair going along at around 10kms per hour.  Not having to do a thing.

 

On the way back my words came back to bite me.  The vibrations from the track worked the grub screw loose that held the accelerator lever in place.  The lever came off.  No accelerator and 6ks away from civilisation!  Luckily I had a small pair of pliers with me and was able to get a grip on the accelerator shaft.  Took me 2 hours to do the 6ks back to Hyde and the car.  Back home and I found the grub screw in the accelerator control box so go it all back together.

 

The only other hassle I had on the Rail Train was the cattle stops.  This was just due to the design of them. There was small step onto them.  The front wheel got up onto the cattle stop OK but could not get traction to pull the chair up.  I had to manually pull my chair up.  If the access to them was flat the front wheel would have pulled the chair over them no problem.

 

I was lucky that Shanon let me trial the equipment for a couple of weeks so the next fine day my wife and I headed back to St Clair this time with the Electro Drive and the Roleez.

 

We had the same problem with the soft sand at the end of the ramp but once through it the chair went really good.   I tried the Electro Drive with both the Roleez on and my off road wheels.  

 

I now that Shanon is looking into bringing into the country and ‘ElectroDrive Smart’

 

The is a combination of a hand cycle and the Electro Drive. The sensor switches on the motor at the beginning of pedaling and stops it immediately at the end of turning. A lever determines how much power the engine will add. Steep hills are therefore no problem again. But also in flat areas, extended excursions of more than 20km giving new feeling to life. People with limited power will especially find possibility for training at an easy locomotion and in an inimitable way. On the other hand, you can ride without motor power and leave the batteries at home.

 

Holdens have also got the following chairs:

 

Progeo Joker Wheelchair

 

This carbon fibre chair is made in Italy and is one of the lightest and manoeuvrable chairs around.  I had a go in it on an indoor tennis court and was not aware of any drag that my basketball chair gets on the same surface.  Awesome chair.

 

Proger Yoga Wheelchair

This chair combines the best of a folding chair with the best of a rigid chair.  Again I trialled it on the indoor tennis court and as per the joker was impressed with its handling.

 

Beach Wheelchair

 

This will be great for summer or the mid winter swim as the chair can go right into the water.  Has for fat tires so will be easy to get through the sand.

 

 

Thanks Shanon for letting me trial the gear.  Keep the good work up.

 

John Marrable