View Full Version : Spinergy wheels
Wow. These are really light and also look a lot cooler than traditional spoked wheels. I used to like mag wheels for the look. But they add a lot of weight. Check these out. I've never gotten excited about wheels before but these are awesome.
http://www.spinergy.com/wheelchair.htm
~See you at the SCIWire-used-to-be-paralyzed Reunion http://www.stopstart.fsnet.co.uk/smilie/wavey.gif ~
JJmagna
08-04-2004, 04:36 PM
Those are the same wheels that I have on my chair and its makes the chair a lot easier to push. Plus they come in different colors if you want them. They are kinda on the exspensive side though.
JJ
Jeff...
I have these on my chair (tilite zra)and they were a great investment. It's ridiculous how lightweight they are and the spokes are carbon fiber...hard to destruct or bend. All around a great investment.
"Why am I a Democrat?...Because nobody ever wanted a piece of elephant." ~Seen on a button at a recent Kerry/Edwards Rally
Yep, they are good wheels. I like them because there are less spokes than regular wheels, making the wheel easier to grab onto when taking the chair apart, etc. Less jamming your fingers into the spokes.
jimnms
08-04-2004, 11:07 PM
I have Spinergy wheels also. My therapist reccommended them because they are lightweight. I think they look better than plain old metal spoke wheels too.
_____
Learn from the mistakes of others, you won't live long enough to make all of them yourself.
Chris Chappell
08-05-2004, 12:02 PM
Yep, I've got 'em too.
Great wheels. http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/cool.gif
Here is my new chair I purchasd about 2 month's ago. The wheels are made by a company called Glance Wheels. They are 2 piece polished billet aluminum. As are the side guards.
I have the spingery wheels on another chair. I like these for the style and they aren't much heavier than the spingery wheel. Much more expensive though. The chair is made by Colours and weighs about 25 lbs.
Sorry the pic. is so big. I'm not sure on how to down size it. So if someone could for me. Thanks Ed
[This message was edited by Jeff Weeks on 08-05-04 at 03:47 PM.]
MikeC
08-05-2004, 03:46 PM
I'm going to get the spinergy wheels on my new chair. There probably isn't any difference on tire pressure, but thought I'd ask what pressure others have and how often they pump them up. Mike
T12 Incomplete - Walking with Walker, Oct 2003
90 pounds in mine.
the only thing i dont like about the spinergy wheels is that i cant have solid inserts, i hate air...always have to add more , plus about a month ago i got 3 flats in one week....what a pita
Ed, cool wheels! Never thought that they made wheels like that for a chair. Now all you need is a "type R" sticker..... just kidding http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif
Mike, I have those 100 psi Primo tires, I fill them to 110 lbs, in a week or two they leak down to around 70 lbs where I fill them again. I wish someone made a quality inner tube instead of the made in China variety that seems so prevalent.
ResonantEcho
08-05-2004, 09:22 PM
Jeff,
I have 24" Spinergy Wheels on my new Top End Titanium. Very, very light. Well worth the price.
-ResonantEcho
Visit me at Kev's Korner (http://www.kevs-korner.net) and sign my Guest Book (http://www.kevs-korner.net/tinc?key=B6w96sbQ&no=-1&entrykey=-1&adminkey=-1&reverse=0).
I dig the flamed back upholstery whtpushsu. I wish Quickie would make colored upholstery, I want blue...guess I could try putting colours upholstery on my Quickie.
I have a TRA, it's one of wc's the therapists suggested for my first chair. I plan on upgrading to a custom Ti chair in the future. I am looking into getting spinergy wheels. Any suggestion on size and model I should get?
JOE
NoDecafPlz
08-06-2004, 05:22 PM
Flat free inserts won't go in spinergy wheels???
Joe
Justin S
08-07-2004, 02:39 PM
Spinergy wheels can have solid inserts. I have been using spinergy wheels with solid inserts for about eight months now and haven't had any flats or tire pressure problems. Zero maintenance...
I may not have been clear on my post. I am going to buy spinergy wheels any suggestions on the size and type I should get? I am not to informed on all of the different types sizes and styles of spinergy wheels. Any help will be apreciated
JOE
jimnms
08-07-2004, 06:50 PM
Originally posted by JoJo:
I may not have been clear on my post. I am going to buy spinergy wheels any suggestions on the size and type I should get? I am not to informed on all of the different types sizes and styles of spinergy wheels. Any help will be apreciated
JOE
Go to Spinergy's website (http://spinergy.com/wheelchair.htm) and see what they have. Spinergy also makes wire spoked wheels, but I believe everyone here is talking about Spox type with the colored fiber spokes.
There really are only two types of Spox, the "everyday" and the "sport." I have the "everyday" type. The difference is in the number of spokes. I think the sport is a little heavier and slightly wider, that's why I chose the "everyday" wheel.
The Spox Everyday is available is 20", 22", 24", 25" and 26". The Spox Sport is only available in 24", 25", and 26". Get whatever size you have on your chair now.
_____
Learn from the mistakes of others, you won't live long enough to make all of them yourself.
Thankyou jimnms for your input thats basically everything I needed to know.
JOE
joshstevens7
08-28-2004, 05:02 PM
what size does everyone have for their chair, and do you all have the everyday or the sport?
I want some, and have a huge itch to get them now so i need all input. thanks all
Josh S.
joshstevens7
08-28-2004, 05:04 PM
also where is the best and cheapest place to get a set?
would you recommend a set of xcore over these or vice versa? the x core wheels are cooler, but i dont want to worry about maintenance on wheels so whats better?
Josh S.
LooseCannon
08-28-2004, 08:15 PM
Josh,
I've been running 25" Spinergy's on my everyday chair, an A6, for the past 4yrs and they are awesome!! They're lightweight, look cool and in 4 yrs the only maintenance I've done is replace the bearings and solid tires.
I also have an A4 equipped with Xcore and they suck. In a 3 yr time I cracked two wheels. They also wobble and creak.
IMO, Spinergy hands down...
wild as a river...
joshstevens7
08-28-2004, 09:42 PM
ive got 24 inch wheels right now, should i go to 25 inch spinery's or stay with 24?
Josh S.
joshstevens7
08-28-2004, 09:42 PM
what color does everyone have?
Josh S.
canuck
08-28-2004, 10:54 PM
I've got blue 25" Spinergies on my ZRA
jimnms
08-29-2004, 12:21 AM
I think mine are 25", I have th Everyday type with yellow spokes.
_____
Learn from the mistakes of others, you won't live long enough to make all of them yourself.
ResonantEcho
08-29-2004, 02:04 AM
I need advice here people! http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif
I have 24" Spinergy wheels on my Top End Terminator Titanium. I have had the chair for over a month now. Last Saturday I was getting ready for a wedding and one of the tires popped. Actually, I heard a loud rush of wind. At first I thought it may have come from me but upon further investigation I realized that wasn't the case. http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif
I ordered a new tube for the wheel and put it on. After airing it up I put the wheel back on my chair only to find that during the period of the first blow out and the repair the OTHER tire had popped. Unfortunately, I had ordered only one tube and am waiting for the others to get here. I am in my old chair in the meantime. But the story does not stop there. I was just now about to crawl into bed and NOW the tire I just put the new tube on has popped. That's 3 popped tires within a week. All these so called blow outs happened while sitting idle. Any suggestions?
I know I'm not over inflating the tires. I have a tire pressure gauge on my pump. Furthermore, I also check it with a digital tire pressure gauge after airing up to be double sure.
They are 100 psi tires.
Also, it was a PAIN in the arse getting the tires off. Did you experience this the first time you changed your tubes?
-ResonantEcho - T6/T7 Complete
Visit me at Kev's Korner (http://www.kevs-korner.net) and sign my Guest Book (http://www.kevs-korner.net/tinc?key=B6w96sbQ&no=-1&entrykey=-1&adminkey=-1&reverse=0).
[This message was edited by ResonantEcho on 08-29-04 at 04:27 AM.]
I have black 26 inchers. No idea if they are everyday or sport though. If you are going to swap different sizes of wheels on the same chair you may run into caster angle issues. What difference this will make is beyond me, but common wisdom says you want the caster barrel angle to be 90 degrees from the floor. Is your chair 'adjustable'? One more thing, I believe if you get the 25 inch wheels, you open the door to much more tire possiblities as this is a standard bicycle size wheel (wheelchair and bicycle sizes are different apparently)
Originally posted by ResonantEcho:
I need advice here people! http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif
Do you have a cat? That is bizarre, I would say bad tubes, but if you replaced one and that popped also, I dunno. Maybe you have a burr or something sticking out of the wheels or tires causing this?
LooseCannon
08-29-2004, 06:24 PM
Stevens,
A larger dynamiter wheel will take less effort to keep your chair in motion. Think about how much work it would take to push your chair with 5" wheels http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/eek.gif. So in this respect 26" is better. As mentioned before though a 25" is more popular so you will find a larger array of tires, including solids.
IMO get the 25".
Mine are black...
wild as a river...
LooseCannon
08-29-2004, 06:43 PM
ResonantEcho,
Sounds like you have something protruding through the tire and puncturing the tubes. Run your fingers inside the tire and thoroughly check for something prickly. Also make sure you don't pinch the tube during installation.
Look into getting solids and throw those pneumatic tires out the window.
wild as a river...
LooseCannon
08-29-2004, 06:45 PM
oops... clicked on the wrong button
wild as a river...
I use bike wheels that have a wheelchair sized hub on it, so i can buy cheapie $10 bike tires.
joshstevens7
08-29-2004, 11:28 PM
well if u use big wheels, then how do you get your handrims on there?
Josh S.
LooseCannon
08-30-2004, 10:20 AM
Originally posted by Stevens:
well if u use big wheels, then how do you get your handrims on there?
Josh S.
The handrims are designed for the size of wheel. For example, a handrim for 24" wheel will only fit a 24" wheel.
If I didn't answer your question, try to be more specific.
wild as a river...
jimnms
08-30-2004, 11:26 AM
Originally posted by LooseCannon:
Look into getting solids and throw those pneumatic tires out the window.
I've only had one flat and that was because my sister dropped a small nail in the carpet. Keep the pnumatic tires. I had solid core wheels on my first loaner chair, and it was a big difference when I got the pnumatic tires. The solid tires seem to absorb your rolling energy.
_____
Learn from the mistakes of others, you won't live long enough to make all of them yourself.
joshstevens7
08-30-2004, 02:48 PM
Originally posted by jd87:
I use bike wheels that have a wheelchair sized hub on it, so i can buy cheapie $10 bike tires.
so how would u put handrims on regular bike wheels with the hub attached? there has to be a way to attach the handrim to the wheel right?
Josh S.
joshstevens7
08-30-2004, 02:50 PM
yeah i have a set with solid tires on them and they are alot heavier. i hate them. im getting primo tires with the big tread for my outdoor activities.
Josh S.
LooseCannon
08-30-2004, 02:54 PM
Originally posted by jimnms:
I've only had one flat and that was because my sister dropped a small nail in the carpet. Keep the pnumatic tires. I had solid core wheels on my first loaner chair, and it was a big difference when I got the pnumatic tires. The solid tires seem to absorb your rolling energy.
I agree that a solid tire isn't as rigid as a pneumatic tire that's aired to100psi. A solid tire is more equivalent to riding around with 85 - 90psi in your pneumatic. Considering you won't have to put air inn the tires every 2 weeks and will never have to worry about pushing around on the rim because of a flat I think loosing some firmness is a favorable trade off. I ran pneumatics for 4 years and experienced plenty of flats. I also hated carrying a pump, an extra tube and proper tire changing tools with me on trips.
wild as a river...
steveg
08-30-2004, 04:53 PM
Jeff - I love mine SPOX. Have had them over 2 years and the spokes are as tight as they day I bought them, still like the look and I love how light they are.
RE
Make certain you have the inside rim protectors. I can't recall the name but its a strip of rubber that goes over the rim and covers the spokes (all bike stores will carry them). Also, I'd take only one of Loose Cannon's piece of advice...run your hand over the inside of the rim to make certain you don't have any protrusions, grooves, etc. that are causing the flats. Stay with the pneumatics - the ride on the solids slow you down.
Did you have a hard time getting the tube on the tire like you had to stretch it too much. If so, maybe its a size off and causing extra stress on the tubes. My recommendation would be to just switch brands. I had $150 per tire sew ups on my chair. I loved them and didn't get a flat until after 1-1/2 years and then I rolled over a big piece of glass going to the gym at 5 a.m. I got 2 replacements (at different times) and each popped after less than a week. At $150 a piece that was all it took for me to switch. The new ones were so difficult to get on that I had to go to a bike store and watch this guy who looked like a bull struggle to get them on for over 5 minutes. The distributor reimbursed me for one and said they were the correct size but it was too much of a hassle.
Originally posted by Stevens:
Originally posted by jd87:
I use bike wheels that have a wheelchair sized hub on it, so i can buy cheapie $10 bike tires.
so how would u put handrims on regular bike wheels with the hub attached? there has to be a way to attach the handrim to the wheel right?
Josh S.
you drill holes in the wheel and bolt them on. you do HAVE to use a tube. I got the most heavy duty tube the bike shop had. can't remember the cost, but it wasn't much. that was January. since then, zero flats. and i frequent my dads body shop, so you can imagine what i run over. today, i ordered grey tires because there are black marks everywhere in our kitchen, and my hands are always black.
Originally posted by ResonantEcho:
I need advice here people! http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif
All these so called blow outs happened while sitting idle. Any suggestions?
Ive had that same thing happen, that strip covering the spokes seems to have solved the problem
ResonantEcho
09-04-2004, 04:04 PM
Thanks for all the advice.
It turns out the rim tape was EXACTLY the problem. On both wheels right above one of the rim mounts there were holes in the rim tape (rubber). Spinergy acknowledged the problem and said they have had problems with newer wheels using the rubber rim tape. They recommended I purchase some rim tape made by Velox. I have done so and plan to put it on tomorrow. I will let everyone know how things go. Here is the e-mail I received from Spinergy just in case anyone is interested:
Hello Mr. Bass :
Thank you for emailing Spinergy with your questions!
I am sorry to hear that you have experiencing several flats. The first things to check for would be any thorns or sharp objects in the tire itself, or inside the rim. Tubes will continuously puncture if there is a sharp object anywhere close to the tube. If the inside of your tires and rims are clean, I would recommend checking what rim tape is on the rim. Spinergy was using two types of rim tape (until recently) that were not providing sufficient protection. If you take your tire off, and look at the rim strip inside and it's either a black plastic or a black/grayish rubber that could be the problem. Check for any "bubbles" in the tape that represent the tube being "pushed" into the push rim mount hole, or a spoke hole. There is a chance that even at 90-110 psi that the tube will eventually bulge into one of these holes and eventually puncture. Or, sometimes the rim tape can be pushed aside, thus exposing a spoke hole.
If this seems to be the cause, I recommend going to a bike shop and purchasing new rim tape called "Velox" - it is very inexpensive and easily applied. I suggest buying the Velox tape that is tacky on the back. Make sure to cut the rim tape to length so that ends meet when installed on the rim. I think this is possibly even a better option than me sending you the rim tape that we now use. Velox is really good rim tape and used heavily in the cycling industry.
Spinergy has remedied this problem by using a more durable rim tape on wheels being shipped today.
For tire levers, I recommend purchasing metal tire levers (vs. plastic) that are sturdy enough to withstand more leverage. They are not always on display at a bike shop, but if you ask around a shop should be able to sell you (may have to order) good ones from "Park Tools". Always be gentle when using tire levers to reinstall a tire/tube. It is easy to puncture the tube with the tire lever. It can be tedious, but being gentle and patient can save your tube.
I hope this has been helpful. Good luck, and I hope you're enjoying your Spinergy wheels!
Regards,
Ryan Webb
-ResonantEcho - T6/T7 Complete
Visit me at Kev's Korner (http://www.kevs-korner.net) and sign my Guest Book (http://www.kevs-korner.net/tinc?key=B6w96sbQ&no=-1&entrykey=-1&adminkey=-1&reverse=0).
ResonantEcho
09-06-2004, 09:19 PM
Update:
So far, so good. I was sent the wrong size Velox Rim Tape. It wasn't the correct width (smaller). However, it was wide enough to cover all the spoke and rim mount holes. I have been on the chair for most of the day. However, we'll see what comes of it. It normally took a little over a day before they would pop.
I only put 80 psi in them just to be safe. If all goes well tomorrow I will put the full 100 psi in them.
Until further notice......
-ResonantEcho - T6/T7 Complete
Visit me at Kev's Korner (http://www.kevs-korner.net) and sign my Guest Book (http://www.kevs-korner.net/tinc?key=B6w96sbQ&no=-1&entrykey=-1&adminkey=-1&reverse=0).
tbdeaux
09-10-2004, 11:04 PM
I have the everyday Spinergy wheels with yellow spokes. I've had the Kik Mako solid tires for over 2 years and they offer very little rolling resistance. There are different types of Kik Mako tires. Kik makes a Mako tire specifically for the Spinergy wheels. The model # is 559HS. Make sure you tell them they are for Spinergy wheels. These tires fit 24 and 25" wheels. They are very diffcult to install without the tool made for this tires. The tool sells for $24. You can order the tires straight from Kiktires.
ResonantEcho,
I had the same thing happen to one of my Spinergy tires. Yesterday, my husband filled up my tires because the pressure was low. Five minutes later, one went flat. I didn't have any spare tubes, and couldn't get the tire off the rim (no tool), so today I took the wheel to work. A friend was going to a cycle shop at lunchtime, and he took my wheel with him. He came back with the tire all fixed. Seems he replaced the tube with a bicycle tube, and it immediately blew when he inflated it. Then, he took the tire completely off and found a hole in the tape over one of the spokes. He put Velox tape on, a second new tube, and now it's perfect. I'm going tomorrow to get some spare tubes ($5) and tire levers. The tire is a bear to get off the rim!
I've had my new chair about two months. Too bad I didn't read your post earlier!
Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.
~ Arthur Ashe
Can anyone tell me the exact measurement bearing to bearing on their spinergy spox everyday hubs? Need to know if I get a pair if I'll need longer or shorter axles than the ones I'm using.
Also I'm curious what it is (as a few have stated) about the rims that make the tires harder to get off?? I'm a C-7 quad and usually change my tires/tubes myself, not sure I wanna get rims that make this already difficult task for me any harder or impossible for me to do.
NoDecafPlz
09-29-2004, 05:28 PM
Does anyone know if the kik solid tires
would pose a problem with an I-Glide?
I do not want to even bother with tubes.
The only maintanence I want = 0.
Joe
fuentejps
09-30-2004, 09:05 AM
Originally posted by NoDecafPlz:
Does anyone know if the kik solid tires
would pose a problem with an I-Glide?
I do not want to even bother with tubes.
The only maintanence I want = 0.
Joe
JOE, BRAKES DONT HOLD WELL ON KIK TIRES, IN MY EXPERIENCE ANYWAY