Looking for BEACH tires or HANDCYCLE!

[28darline]

Hey guys! I was wondering if anyone was selling beach tires or a hand cycle. I live in Chicago. We have tons for lovely wheelchair accessible beaches. Problem is, it's extremely impossible to maneuver in the sand. Summer is almost over & was hoping I can get my hands on some.
As for the hand cycle, I am about 5' 3". I would love to find one since my boyfriend & I go to the lake a lot. At times, it's difficult to push on my regular chair. Using a handcyle would be a life saver & a great way to stay in shape ^_^
Hope someone can help me out! Thanks!!!

[Katja]

Try bike-on for a wide variety of handcycles.

I'm not sure what you mean by beach tires. If you mean the very large balloon tires that pretty much float over sand, you'll need a whole beach wheelchair, which generally needs to be pushed by someone else. Do any of your beaches (especially public beaches) have beach wheelchairs for patrons' use?

If you just mean wide tires, to replace your regular wheelchair tires, check out Sportaid. I find that even with knobbies on the rear wheels, the weak link in sand is the casters. Another possibility for sand is the FreeWheel.

[28darline]

Thank u! I'll definitely check out those links! I'm debating on just getting wider tires. However, you are right bout the front casters. As for the beach chairs at the beaches, I've never heard or seen them. I'll have to ask if that's an option here. Thanks again!!!

[Katja]

Some info about beaches with beach wheelchairs, includes a short mention of Chicago: http://www.travelinwheels.com/twblog.aspx?uid=19

[Patrick Madsen]

Varna has a beach handcycle with the baloon tires. If you plan on buying used, I suggest you go other than Bike-on. I can't believe the prices they want for a used XLT Pro.

Prices are good for a new handcycle. Don't buy a new Pro; that design is at least 13 years old.

[28darline]

Thanks Katja! I've seen those in pics. They seem extremely bulky. Thank you for your advice.
Patrick- Yea I agree! I feel like everything is so over priced! That's why I was looking into buying a used hand cycle for a good price if I can. I had a conversation w/ my boyfriend about how it's SOOOOOO expensive being a SCI or having any sort of disability.

[Patrick Madsen]

I agree Darline. I've sold Pros completley rebuilt with upgraded parts for as low as 250.00.

I know of a couple of golds and G's for sale for around 1200 up so they can be had. There was a Freedom Ryder here not too long a go for 600.

[brian]

Here are my beach/sand/dirt/woods/camping tires:



If you buy a pair of 26" wheels you can install standard mountain bike tires and have, literally, hundreds of options to choose from. My tires are Continental Town and Country that are 2.1" wide. There are even tires that are 4.5" wide. Width = surface area = easier to push through sand.

Just remember you'll want bigger front casters, too.

[SuprSi]

I hate the beach wheelchairs, they look ridiculous! I think the way to go would be the 26" wheels w/ wide tyres as Brian says, and a freewheel. I already have the freewheel which helps enormously, but still need to find a set of cheap wheels and tyres.. I was quoted £600 for basic wheels and knobbly tyres by the local supplier, not paying that!

Oh, when using your everyday chair on sand, does anyone have problems with sand getting into bearings or corrosion? I'm a little OCD about keeping my chair nice!