The Freewheel

[Gordy1]

Originally Posted by Covathalis

Just received my Freewheel today and it looks promising. The only thing I'm concerned about is the fact that I have to drill holes into my wheelchair footrest and dremel some of it off to make the freewheel fit.

I just did that job to my son's (new) ZRa2 last week...whilst I didn't enjoy cutting away bits of a new chair, the end result was worth it!

Now I'm looking at options for mtn bike tyres (as per your other post), but there don't seem to be many options for a 22-inch wheel/tyre!

Cheers,

[Gordy1]

Originally Posted by Rbrauer

What I would also like to do is be able to purchase several to be used for RiseAdventures. We could allow people to use them for free at our outdoor activities. What this would do is also promote the product and probably produce some sales inquiries.

Have you thought about a sponsorship effort? I ran a marathon last year (my first and last!) to raise money for Wheelchair Sports Pty Ltd (in Perth Australia), specifically for them to purchase a number of freewheels, for free use by Wheelchair Sports members. I raised enough for them to buy 6 of them, so it can be done! (And Pat might give you a discount!)

Only slight negative is the number of different footrests that exist over here...not all can take a freewheel, which is always disappointing when somebody is keen to try one but it won't fit...normally I can find a "work-around", but not when someone wants to try one out at short notice...

[darkeyed_daisy]

Originally Posted by DaleB

Have you tried the Challenged Athletes Foundation? They provide equipment grants, annually. You can find applications and contact info online. Sunwheeler's Sports, Inc., a local non-profit disabled athlete association, receives grants to buy sports chairs and handcycles nearly every year. They might be able to get you the money, as your cause sounds very much in line with theirs. Good luck getting some Freewheels, they are a huge benefit.

According to the website he posted, Rick is employed full time with Pepsi Business Solutions Group based in Plano, TX so don't think a grant would be an option for him.

Rick, I really don't mean to sound ugly but you come off sounding as though you want something for nothing. This is Pat's business and with any business there are other costs and not just costs associated with the making of the product.

Rick...I don't know either of you but Pat (being a small business man) more than likely doesn't have insurance, paid days off, and 401K that your nice job at Pepsi affords you so maybe the price of that freewheel helps him pay his bills.

It may just look like a wheel but if it were and if it were that easy...why not go on to wally world and make your own? Just sayin.....

[petertan]

Saying the Freewheel is expensive is akin to saying the same about Tilite wheelchairs. We can choose not to get one. I am sure Tilite would not sell to me the price I would like to offer for the ZRA. After all, the wheelchair is just a few titanium tubes welded together. Why, some of us are even willing to pay an arm and a leg for a performance set of wheels which are basically thin strips of alloys held together by equally thin wires.

Having said that, I feel the $499 is justified seeing how I can go over terrain that I never imagined I could traverse in my 26 years using a wheelchair. I just take this as part of the wheelchair. It is a necessary cost for freedom. Until someone else can come out with a better solution, I would willingly pay that price for the Freewheel. Thanks to Pat's ingenuity, we are now able to go where no wheelchair has ventured before.

[DaleB]

Originally Posted by Gordy1

I just did that job to my son's (new) ZRa2 last week...whilst I didn't enjoy cutting away bits of a new chair, the end result was worth it!

Now I'm looking at options for mtn bike tyres (as per your other post), but there don't seem to be many options for a 22-inch wheel/tyre!

Cheers,

Have you tried searching using the Erto size? It would be, for knobbies, 37-501 or 50-501, depending on how wide you want to go.

[Skogy]

Having said that, I feel the $499

$449 until 2/28 from Sportaid with free shipping. I will be ordering before then.

[amyk]

Originally Posted by DaleB

Have you tried searching using the Erto size? It would be, for knobbies, 37-501 or 50-501, depending on how wide you want to go.

You'd be lucky to find knobbies in 501, but maybe you could consider buying a 507 wheelset to swop in and out. They would only be a little taller... You can buy loads of different tyres for 507 - different threads, colours, patterns

[jschism]

some still complain about the price of the freewheel, but this thread has to look good for the product and Pat(he must be a skiing fool, haven't seen a post fro him lately). It's getting close to a year since I first heard of the freewheel and the ones who get it are pretty thrilled with it.

Originally Posted by Gordy1

Now I'm looking at options for mtn bike tyres (as per your other post), but there don't seem to be many options for a 22-inch wheel/tyre!

Cheers,

how about BMX tires, i know of a ag. professor that buys only tires from local bike shop for his wheelchair. just be careful not to mark up floors in the house

[sjean423]

Originally Posted by Gordy1

Now I'm looking at options for mtn bike tyres (as per your other post), but there don't seem to be many options for a 22-inch wheel/tyre!

Cheers,

I have found that the freewheel alone is enough for a lot of terrain. I have mountain bike tires that I swap out when I plan on being somewhere with difficult terrain, but the rest of the time the freewheel, and my regular old tires can take on a lot of stuff.

[sjean423]

Originally Posted by Gordy1

Now I'm looking at options for mtn bike tyres (as per your other post), but there don't seem to be many options for a 22-inch wheel/tyre!

Cheers,

I have found that the freewheel alone is enough for a lot of terrain. I have mountain bike tires that I swap out when I plan on being somewhere with difficult terrain, but the rest of the time the freewheel, and my regular old tires can take on a lot of stuff.

(And re the money, it was the best $500 I have spent post sci!)