...PUSH!

[Pony]

Damn, you know a lot about this stuff. I just use this chair to get around, not thinking much about the details of hardware, but lately I've decided to at least change those front forks and wheels, possibly the rears, too. I use some heavy wheels + an over-sized driving brace in the middle, which adds more weight. What kills me is my work, where I'm on low-pile carpet all day. And it takes a lot of torque from my shoulders to start from a still position, or turning in place, etc. this fucking chair is a TANK, but sturdy. I use the quad knobs on handrims, and they're beat to hell, but I love how comfortable I am with it.

BTW, I "don't" know all this stuff...I really don't know many people in chairs (no quads that push), and I haven't been to a wheelchair shop in years. No one gives a handbook out when you become quad, so it takes years to find the right tricks-of-the-trade to function.

[Ouch]

A group of people that tends to know a lot about chairs and their ins and outs are congenitals ('folks born to use a wheelchair'), and the jocks...it's a big part of their lives; it actually isn't unreasonable for a wheeler of many circumstances to not know that sorta' stuff...most of the time, they're just a consumer, not a professional with wheelchairs and accessories. That's why there are people who get paid to learn about wheelchair mechanics (PTs/OTs, etc.), and it's true, there is no handbook given to any one of us, so it does take a little bit of exploring. Once you can master the aspects of a chair though, many times you find that you can do a whole lot more than you thought you could.

[charlene]

Kryptic, you should post a pic of your pimped out wheels!

[kryptic]

Your wish is my command! Check the photo section under "Kryptic"

[kryptic]

Tony, sounds like you could definately use some weight reduction on your chair. If you can splurge for parts, you should most definately invest on a few key components like your idea of getting Frog Legs. Just do a little research and play around with different configs if you can. For me, I only know as much as I do through trial and error. It took me years before I found my "sweet spots" when it comes to chair specs.

Dude, it's too bad we don't live in the same state. I would hella help you out and tweak out your chair to help you find your "sweet spot" too!

And windrider, very well said bro! Definately take the time t explore all aspects of your chair. It is afterall, your legs! Find what works for you, and discard the rest.

[Pony]

Heyyyy Windride, point well taken!! You're right, I don't feel as connected to the chair, and one other thing, I can't change out parts myself (hands don't work). It's that way with the music stuff, too. I've playing music as a singer for years, but know little about tweaking the PA or finding the right sound. I just know when it sounds good, or bad.

Back to my chair, as a quad, every little change fucks with me. It took my years to find what works for me in many areas, including proper external catheter to holster to hold cell phone glued to chair, near my brake. I have to lick my fingers slightly in order to grab it out...little tricks for EVERYTHING!! I type with a Sharpie pen, and I'm a fast mutha if my wrist isn't spasming.

Anyway, I have a feeling I'd get along well with both you dudes - sound like my kinda people!! Maybe you chicos will move to Fla...lol I was on the beach last night...PERFECT weather, most beautiful sunsets at this time of year. I was watching my alma mater (USF Bulls) kicking some WV #5 ass on ESPN with AB buddies. It's great to have AB friends, but they understand very little about being in a chair. Still, I know I have won their respect over the years...not an easy thing at first, believe me.

[Ouch]

I will, ironically, be making my way down to the Sunshine State in the near future.

[E]

tonypony1 said:

It's great to have AB friends, but they understand very little about being in a chair. Still, I know I have won their respect over the years...not an easy thing at first, believe me.

Why wasn't it easy?

Not to be a dick... just never ran into that problem.

[Pony]

Not sure I can really explain it to someone that has never experienced it, but sometimes 'acceptance', and 'respect', is not easily won from AB people. A few of my close friends have told me that years ago when I started hanging out within their circle of friends it was 'weird' to them. They didn't feel comfortable, and so they resisted my going out for beers, or hanging with them at football games, which we used to go to more in those days. Now, some friends it never bothered at all, but one dude told me about a year ago that he really had a hard time with it, but he's a close friend now.

I've thought about this a lot, and I'm convinced my relationships would be much different, and closer, if I was on my feet because I'm excluded from many activities that my friends do, such as swimming in the Gulf every Friday night, or playing sports, which I did a LOT, before I got hurt. There's a bond that you build with people when you compete closely, or even help each other work on cars, or move furniture. Actually, I'm surprised that they are as close to me as they are, but we have such history together now that they push me, at times, to hang with them.

That's mostly the 'acceptance' part, but the 'respect' part was won over by them learning more over the years of the severity of injury vs the things I've accomplished, and how I live my life. Most of my buddies, I'm sure, have asked themselves if they could hold up as good a me if they were c5c6 quad. By their numerous experiences with me, they know it's a crazy challenge, even for the little shit, so there's a respect that's been built up. Let me add, my respect for each of them has been built, too, for different things they have accomplished, or talents they possess.

I'm older now, don't really work at winning 'respect' from people as much, but you'd be surprised, or maybe not, at how your example rubs off on people...sometimes people you barely know!!

[Claire]

@tony, I can totally see where you're coming from. With apologies to anyone offended by this, I get a unique perspective, that way. People are generally quite different with me when I'm in my chair, and most of the time it's not a positive thing (often it's *too* positive, which is a negative in my book). I actually feel better about myself when I'm in the chair, so I don't think it has anything to do with my attitude. I have come to believe it's really about their feelings regarding the chair and nothing about myself personally. Generally they get over it if I see them enough for them to get used to me.

@kryptic Have you seen those suspension fork casters from the Japanese wheelchair company Nissin? They are supposed to be better than Froglegs, but I haven't found them for sale anywhere in North America.

Hey windrider, can you read Japanese? Maybe you can find that product on their site: www.wheelchair.co.jp/

[kryptic]

I've seen those Nissin suspension forks on ebay once. The seller was trying to sell them for $600.00!!!

Surprisingly, not one person bid on it. I wonder why? LOL!

I bet they probably are pretty badass though, but who has that kind of money to shell out on just...CASTER FORKS!

I can only imagine how much the retail price is?!

[Ouch]

lol, I have to set up my Japanese display settings; all I was getting was scrambled characters.

I didn't see any videos or anything...would be nice to have a comparison between the two.

I don't remember off the top of my head; I think they were going for 1300 USD, I'll have to check.

Honestly, I agree with Kryptic's statement...a lot of money to be shelling out, and even if they are 'better', how much of a difference can there be - there comes a point where a slight change in structure doesn't really affect the physics of a chair/is even noticable.

[kryptic]

$1,300 Retail? HOOOOOOOLY SHIT!!! That is absolutely rediculous!!!