Disability Product Reviews by Access Anything

Surehands Lifts Systems

noreply@blogger.com (Andy Kennedy) — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 20:17:00 +0000

Not just your typical assistive-lift system, the Surehands lifts excel above the competition through encouraging independence with a unique holster design that allows users to access the toilet, shower, and bed on their own without assistance.
Where other lifts systems use a sling to lift the person out of their wheelchair, the Surehands lifts also offers a holster setting, the Surehands Body Support, with padded and shaped metal arms that slide under the arms of the user, and a strap that goes under their legs, leaving their body open from the mid back to the knees, which a sling typically covers, hindering the user from doing any of their bathroom business on their own.

The track system typically runs from the bed into the bathroom, through a sliding door if necessary, raising and lowering with a remote control that hangs around the users' neck for ease of use. The track or multiple tracks are built to access as much of the room as possible.

We tested one of these lifts at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas; there are only four rooms out of over 2,000 with lifts in them, and they are requested often.
Vegas doesn't taut these lifts, nor does Wynn, which is surprising to us, but true; perhaps because they do not want the need to outweigh the supply, as the lifts are already highly requested even without their advertisement. However the high use of these lifts should encourage not only the Wynn line to brag about their access, but should also encourage other hotels to begin to offer the same universal design to bring in this growing market of travelers with disabilities, who spend over $13.6 billion annually on travel in the US alone (as of 2005).

We’d love to see Surehands lifts in your hotel. If interested in catering to this huge niche with this assistive device, or for more information, videos and images, visit the Surehands website at www.surehands.com.

EXOSKELETON BY BERKELEY BIONICS ENABLES PARAPLEGICS TO WALK

noreply@blogger.com (Andy Kennedy) — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 18:23:00 +0000

reprinted from Empowered

BERKELEY, CA – OCT. 7, 2010 — Berkeley Bionics™, developer and maker of bionic exoskeletons that augment human strength, endurance and mobility, today unveiled eLEGS, a wearable, artificially intelligent, bionic device that powers paraplegics up to get them standing and walking.

eLEGS was unveiled at a press conference today in San Francisco by Berkeley Bionics’ CEO, Eythor Bender, who explained that the company’s mission is to provide people with unprecedented mobility options. “Many of the 6 million Americans who live with some form of paralysis today were highly active and at the top of their game when they sustained their injury. As they research their options for increased mobility, they discover that wheelchairs are pretty much it. This has been the only alternative – their only hope – for nearly 500 years,” he said. “We want to enhance their independence and freedom of movement,” he added, “and with eLEGS, they can stand up and walk for the first time since their injury.”

“As a wheelchair user, I experience the multiple health and fitness benefits of mobility from the standing position. I can’t wait to share this alternative with other individuals,” shared eLEGS tester and a partial quadriplegic herself, Dr. Suzy Kim, an assistant clinical professor at the Dept. of Orthopaedic Surgery, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, UCI Medical Center, as well as director, Clinical Spinal Cord Injury Program & Scientific Liaison for Reeve-Irvine Research Center. “The application of eLEGS will revolutionize the field of neurologic rehabilitation from the hospital to the home setting.”

Initially, the device will be offered to rehabilitation centers for use under medical supervision, and can be adjusted to fit most people between 5’2 and 6’4” and weighing 220 lbs or less, in a matter of minutes. Users must be able to self-transfer from their wheelchair. Simple Velcro straps, backpack-style clips, and shoulder straps secure eLEGS to the user, over their clothing and shoes, and with a little practice, users can put eLEGS on and take it off in a minute or two.
eLEGS provides unprecedented knee flexion, which translates into the most natural human gait available in any exoskeleton today, making it better equipped to handle mixed terrains. It is also relatively quiet while in operation. Walking speeds depend on each patient’s aptitude and condition, but speeds in excess of 2MPH can be attained, and speeds can be varied. The device is battery-powered and employs a gesture-based human-machine interface which — utilizing sensors — observes the gestures the user makes to determine their intentions and then acts accordingly. A real-time computer draws on sensors and input devices to orchestrate every aspect of a single stride.

Clinical trials will commence early next year at select rehabilitation clinics in the United States. A limited release of eLEGS is scheduled during the second half of 2011 at several of the most respected rehabilitation facilities around the country. At that time, eligible patients will have the opportunity to enroll in a medically-supervised eLEGS gait training program, working with their physical therapist. Therapists will undergo training in order to become eLEGS-certified prior to assisting patients.

Berkeley Bionics developed the first practical exoskeleton and the first untethered exoskeleton in the world. Lockheed Martin Corporation entered into a licensed agreement with Berkeley Bionics in January, 2009 and is currently productizing the Human Universal Load Carrier (HULC™). HULC’s users can carry up to 200 lbs for hours and over all terrains.

About Berkeley Bionics

Berkeley Bionics (www.berkeleybionics.com) – based in Berkeley, CA and founded in 2005, develops and manufactures powered and artificially intelligent human exoskeletons for military, civilian and medical uses that augment strength, endurance, mobility and injury prevention.

Eureka's Freedom Tent

noreply@blogger.com (Andy Kennedy) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:10:00 +0000

Eureka's Freedom Tent

The only Wheelchair-Accessible Tent

2006 Da Vinci Award Winner

Rating:
***** 5 Stars

Full Review:
After setting up this tent over a dozen times my husband (T-12 paraplegic) and I have decreased the time to a matter of minutes to do so. With more than 25 days of camping in it over two years, this tent has proven to be a road warrior for people in wheelchairs. The advantages of this tent definitely outweigh the disadvantages, but let’s take a full look at Eureka’s Freedom Tent.

We continue to find this tent highly impressive. Worth first mention is its low price. At just $329 it’s a bargain; a normal tent of this size with these specialty features would easily cost $500. This is one of the best tents for the money on the market!

As for the features, the front vestibule’s size and versatility are what make this tent valuable for wheelchair users. We’ve used it for one wheelchair and a dog, but it’s wide enough for two wheelchairs, one additional person to sleep, all your excess gear, or to be used as a changing room.

The Freedom Tent also uses a unique rigid sliding front door design, which is something we’ve never seen on a tent before. This door makes entering the tent easier for all users, but especially for wheelchairs. The typical zip-doors collapse into a pile on one side and can make rolling over them difficult, so the sliding door is a much better design.

Another feature we found useful for all campers with disabilities, and especially their companions, are the two additional inside window-doors to this tent. If there is a wheelchair in the front vestibule and the companion needs to enter or exit the tent in the morning or during the night, these side doors provide easy access to do so. They also make for putting in the bedding easier, without having to go through the front door and make transferring from your wheelchair to a cot or raised airbed much easier, as most wheelchair-users find it easier to transfer to the side.

The final unique feature for campers with disabilities is the addition of large, loop-pull handles added to all zippers. These pull tabs are excellent for people with arthritis and other hand-mobility limitations. We think this would be a beneficial addition to all tents as it makes it much easier to pull open and closed in the dark or on the fly no matter what your ability.

Our main complaint is that the instructions were the hardest part of the setup. Once we figured out that the rounded poles should go in first, we felt we had mastered it! The claim of this tent is that anyone in a wheelchair can set it up alone due to the closed-end pole slots (avoiding the circling pole-to-hole laps around the tent you do for most setups), but we found that average arm and hand strength and hand mobility, as well as chair-to-ground reach are definitely needed to set up this tent if doing it alone. Although this claim is a noble attempt at independence for campers with disabilities, and is likely mastered with these abilities and practice, the set up of this tent is indeed much easier with help. In addition to set-up, pulling the poles back out of the sleeves for breaking it down requires help as well, as the elastic pole pieces pull apart and do not easily slide out of the sleeves. Having another person pushing on the closed-end side remedied this issue however, and again, once we practiced this technique, it wasn’t an issue.

In addition, the weight of the tent in its bag may be too heavy to carry for those with less than average arm strength. However, it does fit in on a lap well and so long as you’re not rolling long distances, this too is not an issue. Weight is at least worth mention for this group to know, the tent’s full package is 16 lbs.

Overall we found this tent to be very spacious, and we loved sleeping in it. There are many features that are standard on tents that this one also has, such as the huge sky-viewing roof, an easy-to-assemble rain fly, and rugged, durable materials. Even though the instructions are a little difficult to follow, upon additional use the set up and breakdown will come with ease; it’s always a little awkward figuring out a new tent for the first setup.

We highly recommend this tent to anyone with a disability, as well as those with arthritis or anyone in need of additional storage and added features (such as the side doors) in their tent design! Way to go Eureka and Blue Sky Designs!

Kevin Bramble Goodz Monoski ($5,000)

noreply@blogger.com (Andy Kennedy) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 22:34:00 +0000

I have been riding the same Freedom Factory Revolution Pro Comp for eleven seasons and close to a thousand days. With the possibility that I might buy a new rig, and hardly any opportunities to test drive different monoskis, I couldn’t pass up this chance to test drive a brand new rig from Kevin Bramble Goodz.

Overall Rating: ***** 5 Stars

Pros:
No moveable parts, nothing to break

Very durable

Shock Absorber

Cons:
Not Adjustable

Heavy

Cost

Review:

Thanks to a friend from Scotland who stores his monoski here in Steamboat, I had this opportunity to ski the Bramble and see how I liked it. While the bucket wasn’t a perfect fit, I was still able to get a good idea how it performed and in several kinds of conditions. I skied heavy powder, a few moguls, and a couple of groomers to get a feel for it.

What I liked most about the Bramble was the shock system. With an adjustable, canister fed shock and almost 8 inches of travel, it was like stepping out of a 1986 Honda hatchback and into a 2010 Mercedes. And it handled everything from bumps to powder to groomers with no problems. And the feel of the ski under me felt indestructible and solid.

What I liked least about the Bramble coincidentally, was also the weight. While it does feel solid beneath you, it also feels somewhat cumbersome. If I didn’t have abdominal muscle control, I think it would be a tough rig to get used to and perform well in.

Overall, I would recommend the Bramble to advanced level skiers only. Since Kevin’s team will build your monoski to the exact specifications that took you many years of skiing to perfect, and the Bramble is no doubt the burliest rig on the market, this is the last monoski you will need to buy. Now while it was an incredibly comfortable ride, the jury is still out for me until I test drive a couple more models.

COMPARISON: Canon Powershot and Rebel Xsi

noreply@blogger.com (Andy Kennedy) — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 17:53:00 +0000

If there's one thing we do before buying anything or going anywhere, it's RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH. This is one of the main reasons we started our company, our guidebook series, and why we blog. Why reinvent the wheel each time? Why not share our hard work with our readers?

When we got our Canon Powershot S2 over 3 years ago, we spent several weeks combing over the options within our budget for a top-of-the-line "point-and-shoot" digital camera. Our 4 year old Nikon Coolpix had finally taken its last shot, and we were in need of something with professional quality at an amateur price. We found it all in the Powershot; which since 2005 has seen some great upgrades in megapixels (from 5 to 8 now), stability, and quality. Although larger in body, this little genius has some wonderful settings, a useful swiveling LCD, a super zoom, and high quality results that made most of our magazine editors happy.

We reviewed this product on February 22 last year; the results from that review:
Pros:
Extending lens with 12x zoom
Settings galore: panoramic, indoor, unlimited speed shutter to name a few!
Battery life
Video quality
Swivel viewfinder
Good flash, popup

Cons:
Heavier weight - 14.3 oz - and larger body
Complex settings require instructional reading
Off button is sometimes mistaken for the shutter button

Our research was so detailed and valuable, that several friends took our advice last to purchase this wonderful little camera!

All that said however, the Powershot's image quality is not quite professional-grade, and as our company grew and our editorial needs expanded, we began the search for an upgrade.

We found everything and more in the Canon Rebel XSi. Remember, our needs might be different from yours, so let us spell out what narrowed our search:

1. We needed a professional camera without the professional weight:
In testing a few Nikons out (that brand just happened to be what friends own), we noticed that the weight of a professional camera isn't that big of a deal when shooting non-sporting or off-snow events, but the bulk of our shooting IS on snow or on the run, and having something lightweight, manageable, and small enough to zip into our coats while skiing was a MUST.

2. We needed a Canon so our 35mm lenses could be used:
Since long before Access Anything began, Andy shot film on either a Pentax or Canon body when "professional" images were needed. We had two excellent lenses, tons of filters, and several other attachments for the Rebel 35mm's body that we didn't want to go to waste. Despite what the market projects, it isn't about megapixels, it's ALL about lenses! You have a good zoom and wide angle lens in your bag and you don't NEED more than 8 or 10 mps.

3. We wanted to spend less than $1000:
Even though there are professional camera bodies that range from $700 to $4000, we compared all of them. The major differences between the 3 professional grades of camera bodies in the Canon family are megapixels, ISO ("film" speed), and weight. When asked, our photographer friends said "you just can't explain the differences" between the Mark series and the Rebel. Our logic was for $2000, if it's unexplainable, perhaps we can do without it? So far, we think we were right.

After one month with the XSi, we're still in shock at the quality of photo, the shutter speed, and the manageable size of the body even with the large 80-300 lens. What we're missing out on (2500 vs 1600 ISO, 10 extra megapixels, and 10-15 extra oz of weight) is excusable; the photo quality has so far been high enough for stock and magazine agencies- the largest file we've taken is over 5mb!

We hope if you're looking for a camera, you'll consider our research valuable. Good luck!

The GADA Belt

noreply@blogger.com (Andy Kennedy) — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 22:42:00 +0000

This new device replaces hard plastic side guards and single-strap sports belts!

PROS:

Replaces hard plastic side guards
Reduces skin damage & breakdown
Keeps clothes clean & dry
Improves seating position & posture
Improves handling & performance of your chair
Makes you feel safe & secure
Costs much less than traditional side guards
Makes your chair lighter
Fits all shapes and sizes
Is for men & women

“The GADA Belt was born from ten years of personal experimentation after many falls and after ruining pair after pair of pants. As active as I am, I really felt like I needed a seat belt for my chair,” says Craig Kennedy, President of Access Anything.

The GADA Belt, named after the company’s motto Go Anywhere, Do Anything™, is a soft, secure, waterproof side guard set/clothing protector for manual wheelchairs that is also used as a sports belt, and is great for maintaining proper seating posture. This multi-functional device was designed to replace the hard-plastic side guards that typically come with manual chairs (and can cost as much as $300) and gets rid of the need for separate, single-strap lap belts often used by wheelchair athletes in sports such as tennis, basketball, and rugby.

The GADA Belt’s soft canvas design reduces skin damage and breakdown, and actually improves the handling and performance of your chair while playing sports and recreating outdoors. This product is currently designed to fit all Quickie and Ti model manual wheelchairs. Design modifications for other models such as Invacare, Lasher Sport, Colours, Kushcall, and Flight Ultralight are underway and GADA belts will be available for these brands soon.

For active wheelchair users and business men and women that need to look professional, the GADA Belt also keeps clothing clean & dry, and is a great way to keep business jackets neatly tucked in. And for people with hip and/or pelvic alignment issues, the GADA Belt has been recommended by physical therapists to help correct and ensure good posture and alignment.

ParaGolfer

noreply@blogger.com (Andy Kennedy) — Mon, 12 May 2008 16:41:00 +0000

Golf is a sport that has been accessible to people with mobility impairments and other disabilities for many years now and the equipment has gradually improved along the way. I have golfed extensively with the SoloRider and other adapted carts, and until I came across the ParaGolfer from the German based company Parabasetec, I thought I was privy to the best equipment. The ParaGolfer, now sold on US soil exclusively by Legs Don't Work, the newest addition to the accessible golfing world, is far and above any other golf cart I have used!

Overall Rating: ***** 5 Stars

Pros:
Stands golfer fully upright
Ability to produce a full, normal, two handed golf stroke
Versatility – can be used for multiple sports
Great for lengthening hamstrings & quads
Joystick for driving

Cons:
Play time is lengthened with any adaptive cart
Potential extra charge for adaptive cart usage
Price

Review:
The most unique feature about the ParaGolfer is that it is not designed like any other golf cart ever created. Instead of having a front end and steering column like most vehicles, this cart is designed with the seat at the front of the vehicle and the rest of the cart behind you. It also features a joystick control, with several different speeds, that makes driving very easy. Not having to swing your seat to the side for every shot and being able to adjust your position with the joystick while lining up for your shot are huge advantages over other adaptive cart models and should increase pace of play.

What makes the ParaGolfer revolutionary in the world of adaptive golf is the fact that it will stand mobility impaired golfers fully upright allowing for a full golf swing. Until now, adaptive carts have only put golfers in a “somewhat upright” position where often times a one-handed swing was necessary to play. By standing the golfer all the way up, skill and distance of travel are also improved. There are also therapeutic advantages to this system, including better circulation and improved muscle strength and flexibility.

The only potential problems with the ParaGolfer are based around the game of golf itself and the course you may be playing at. There may or may not be an additional cost to use the cart, even though we really don’t have a choice of whether to walk or ride, and you won’t be able to play with other friends with mobility impairments unless the course has two carts.

In addition, the ParaGolfer is quite expensive compared to other adaptive carts currently on the market. But as with any new invention, prices will come down considerably as the demand for them grows.

Overall, I would recommend the ParaGolfer to anyone who has tried, or wants to try adaptive golf. I would especially recommend this product to adaptive golfers who are looking to take their game to the next level.

See our November 2007 blog on the SoloRider adaptive golf cart for comparison.

Ti-Lite ZRA Wheelchair

noreply@blogger.com (Andy Kennedy) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 22:54:00 +0000

I have been using a wheelchair now for more than 12 years and have been in many different brands and models. From “new and innovative” wheelchairs to chairs with shock absorbers to titanium-framed sports chairs, I have seen them all. Now that I am in my 2nd ZR-Series chair from Ti Lite, the ZRA, I have found the perfect fit for my active lifestyle.

Overall Rating: ***** 5 Stars

Pros:
Incredibly light 11.5lb. frame
Durable, thick tubing
Adjustability
Titanium’s natural shock absorbent nature
Ease of break-down & stowage

Cons:
Price
Plastic brake components

Review:
Now that I have found the “perfect” wheelchair for my lifestyle I need to brag about a few of the best features of the Ti Lite ZRA. My last Ti chair was heavier and more difficult to pack and travel with. The newest design, however, is even lighter at just over 11 pounds and with the fattening of the main frame and the removal of the secondary frame pieces, this chair is super easy to take apart and put back together, especially when getting in and out of my car. I also travel extensively for business and have found these features very helpful when stowing my chair on airplanes. For those that enjoy doing their own repair work, Ti Lite has made the adjustability and repairs as simple as possible.

In addition to traveling I am also very active in outdoor sports and recreation. The durable and now thicker titanium frame allows me to be a little rougher on my chair, such as bumping up and down curbs and stairs, and camping and hiking. And my back, which takes a beating from these types of activities, doesn’t get as sore thanks to the fact that titanium is naturally shock absorbent.

I really only found two downfalls with this new ZRA. First and foremost, as with most high performance chairs on the market today, the price is very high. If you have good insurance this is not a problem, but with all of the insurance short falls in the U.S. right now, these chairs are just not available to many people who want and need them. The other issue I had with this chair was the fact that the brake components that come standard with the chair are plastic scissor brakes. I was very surprised to find plastic components on a chair that costs several thousand dollars and was glad that I could replace them with the metal brakes that came standard on the previous model that I had been using.

Overall, I would recommend this wheelchair to anyone who is active in their everyday life. The pros definitely outweigh the cons here and as long as you have good insurance, this chair will make your active life a lot easier and will last a long time.

SIGG Water Bottle

noreply@blogger.com (Andy Kennedy) — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 21:04:00 +0000

When we found out this month that polycarbonate plastics were carcinogenic, and we could no longer use the faithful nalgenes we had built our outdoor hydration upon, we decided to look into the alternatives and found SIGG. With hundreds of colorful and even declarative designs, switch-out caps, and several sizes to choose from, my attachment to nalgene was entirely usurped.

Why not nalgene or polyC plastic? Apparently when it breaks down, which happens after six months, if you put it in the dishwasher, use it for hot liquids, or forget to wash it at all, the plastics turn to nasty chemicals our bodies can't handle, turn into cancer tissue, and create dis-ease. If California's pulled all the baby bottles made of this nasty stuff, you can bet I'm listening. NOTE: Polycarbonate plastics are labeled 3 and 7. 1, 2, and 5 are safe. But don't drink out of something you're going to throw away either, there's a US-sized island of plastic drifting in the Pacific we're trying to reduce!

There are other options than SIGG, such as Klean Kanteen (no fancy designs, less choices), CamelBack (great for wearing your waterbottle but not for carrying it), and the old fashioned Sacajawea bovine bladder sack, but after my usual extensive research for this product, I found SIGG to be as handy as its Swiss Army Knife brother.

Overall Rating: ***** (5 Stars)

Pros:
Earth Friendly
Metal keeps the water cool
Lightweight design
22 interchangeable lids
Speak your mind with one of 144 designs
Sizes give you options

Cons:
We had to find good uses for 8 nalgenes
Nalgene is losing money faster than you can say Oh Sh*$

Review:
Sure, having to replace perfectly "good" items is a drag, but when those good items are shortening my life span, that $20 bill flies out of my pocket like dandelion fluff.

SIGG has been around 100 years, has that self-respecting product model that its Swiss Watches and Swiss Army Knife brothers are made of, and there are plenty of pros to this item that keep us from feeling too bad about not "buyin' American."

Even in Steamboat, where we don't even have a Target, I found three stores that carried SIGG and over a dozen designs, sizes, and lids to choose from. I like the idea of not spilling water down the front of me like my fat-lip nalgene did. But I LOVE the idea of being better on the planet. It's not only drinking from polycarbonates that are bad, the production of them is worse. I also like the idea of interchangeable lids, one that squirts easily when I'm cycling (and yes, my brown 18oz bottle with trees on it fits in my cycle's bottleholder), and one that has a convenient hole in it for a carabiner to hook onto. I'm also impressed with the weight of this bottle, I would have expected it to be heavier than my nalgene, but it's not.

Craig's red bottle with Chinese motif dragons and tigers on it fits nicely into his wheelchair bag and is easy to find when he reaches in there. He fills his up 5-6 times a day or more, though, so it's got to be easy to reach.

You can also put anything in them. Not just water; juices, energy drinks and alcohol aren't leaked into the sides as they are with plastic. And buying SIGG, you're giving back. They're a 1% for the Planet company committed to donating this portion of their sales to environmental causes.

If you're like us, everything else you buy is tough, you need a SIGG, "The World's Toughest Water Bottle."

Canon PowerShot S2IS

noreply@blogger.com (Andy Kennedy) — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 21:26:00 +0000

An improvement on its S1IS predecessor, the S2 increased to a 12x zoom 5.0 mega pixel powerhouse that is unparalleled by other cameras of its size.

We purchased this camera in 2006 and although we are in the constant market for new equipment and have had a digital SLR on our list for years, we are still so content with this camera that it's the only one we use.

It has done so well since it's release in 2005, in fact, that it's price range is $50-75 higher than it was when we bought it in 2006.

Rating: ***** (5 stars)

Pros:
Extending lens with 12x zoom
Additional equipment available (waterproof casing, lens protector)
Battery life
Video recorder is better than our $750 Sony Video Camera
Settings, settings, settings
Movable viewfinder
Pop up flash

Cons:
Heavy weight - 14.3 oz
For some people the settings could be overwhelming
Off button is sometimes mistaken for the shutter button

Review:
Still after 18 months I can't say enough about this amazing piece of machinery. I took my time researching for this purchase, and am very glad I did. The features on this camera are endless, but I'll run through my favorites to save the lengthy read this could easily become.

The Auto Mode takes a fool-proof darn good picture, but if you know anything about cameras and various modes, this model provides them all. Indoor, Mountain, Portrait, Macro, Sports, and Panoramic modes, especially the latter, are better than any other camera I've owned. The Macro has to be about 2' away, but the pictures come out like an SLR. As the occasional sports-photographer, a major selling point of this camera was the unlimited speed-shutter setting that takes as many pictures as it can while I hold down the shutter.

You could get by with these modes and come off like a professional, but the S2 offers more. Color changing, four manual modes, and multiple scene modes including fireworks make for a list so long that if you haven't read the instructions, this camera wasn't worth your money. Change the length of the auto-timer. Change the noise of the shutter or the appearance of your menus. Change the LCD brightness or the auto-focus to save batteries. You can even change the color of the car you just snapped, make your subjects tanner, and make that sunset brighter without any help from photoshop! They pulled out all stops on this one.

The programs it comes with are easy to use, the download of images is quick, and the neck strap is comfortable, all worth mention as well.

The video mode was the most pleasantly surprising for us. We had bought a Sony Video Camera the Christmas before, and this Canon takes better video, hands down. Having two video cameras is great during our ski camp, so no regrets, but I make most of our professional post-camp videos with this little helper. Hint: Get a 2 or 5mb high res SD card for this if you're going to take a lot of videos.

Next, the viewfinder. Seriously a component worthy of its own article, this viewfinder bends, twists, flips, and reverses itself to make self-photos, timer-photos, spy-photos, and protect the viewfinder when you're not using it. Magnificent. Nothing worse than a scratched viewfinder.

The few downfalls to this genius are hardly worth mention, but the camera IS heavy, and why wouldn't it be when it has the entirety of Mary Poppins bag of tricks in it? If you're not an instructions-reader, honestly, don't bother with this camera; but it's worth it's weight in gold if you are. And last, the "off" button is where some camera's shutter is, so when we hand this camera to a passerby to snap one rare one of US, it's often turned off and we have to pose again. I never make the mistake personally, but it's ruined the split second missed-shots of our first Hawaii sunset, so I felt it worth mention.

Freedom Factory – Revolution Pro Comp Monoski

noreply@blogger.com (Andy Kennedy) — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 23:59:00 +0000

After a couple years of learning how to ski again after I broke my back, I graduated from the now-extinct Shadow Monoski to the much more advanced Freedom Factory Revolution Pro Comp. Thanks to this monoski, I am now an expert skier again and having more fun than I ever did standing up!

Overall Rating: ***** 5 Stars

Pros:

Very durable
Adjustable for different ability levels
Affordable replacement parts

Cons:

Shock is not strong enough for advanced skiers
Monster Binding

Review:
I bought my monoski used (barely) and from the first day I could see a huge difference in my abilities as a skier over the Shadow that I had learned on. The first 700 days (about 8 years) that I skied on the Revolution Pro Comp this rig was incredibly durable taking nearly every beating that I handed it. I skied bumps, powder, steeps, and trees, as well as taking it off its fair share of jumps and drop offs and the only regular maintenance I had to perform was to have the original shock rebuilt or recharged every other year or so.

What I really liked about the Revolution was that as my level of ability increased I was able to make minor adjustments to lengthen the struts to leaned me forward more. From my experience, the more you are leaning forward, the stronger you ski – faster, tighter turns, and more control. After more than 700 days of skiing, and as parts started to wear out and/or break, I found that replacement parts for the Pro Comp were actually pretty reasonably priced through the family-owned factory (Works Performance).

What I liked least about the Pro Comp is the durability of the stock shock that comes with the rig. The first few years, as I was learning and not really testing its limits, the shock performed very well. But as I got better and started pushing the limits of the shock by skiing bumps and hitting jumps, I found I had to take the shock in often for rebuilding and/or recharging. Now in its 9th season, even after having the factory (WP) rebuild it and replace some parts, I get hardly any performance, play, or length out of the shock and it’s just basically time for a new one. Unfortunately, they aren’t as cheap as the rest of the parts I’ve had to replace.

I also had a chance to try out Freedom Factory’s Monster Binding that is built specifically for the Revolution Pro Comp and was not satisfied with this accessory at all. Even after mounting the binding to the exact specifications recommended and then again after several adjustments by professional ski technicians, I could not get the binding to hold my rig in while skiing.

Overall, I would recommend the Pro Comp to beginner, intermediate, or advanced level skiers. Once you are an expert however, I think its time to look elsewhere for better durability (stronger struts, bigger bolts and rods, etc) if you are skiing frequently and really pounding out your bumps and turns.

Spinergy Spokes

noreply@blogger.com (Andy Kennedy) — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 23:45:00 +0000

After my very first wheelchair literally fell apart on me more than ten years ago, I swore my next chair was going to be a lot more durable. And part of that process included having sturdy wheels with spokes that didn’t bend and break all the time. That’s when I found out about Spinergy Spokes. While reviewing new wheelchairs at a local hospital, the Spinergy rep brought his wheels in and swore they were the toughest wheels on the market. And to prove it, he put one of the wheels on the ground and proceeded to jump up and down on the spokes. To my amazement, nothing broke or bent under his 200 pound weight. I was sold.

Overall Rating: ***** 5 Stars

Pros:
Very durable and strong
No replacing bent spokes
Keeps your rims true
Very light weight
Great for wheelchair athletes
No spoke creaking

Cons:
Need a special tool to replace spokes when (if ever) necessary
Pricey

Review:
The first thing to know about these spokes is that they are incredibly strong. One or two spokes every couple of years might need to be replaced, but that’s nothing compared to standard metal spokes. Because they are flexible, they absorb shock and are ideal for wheelchair athletes whose chairs take a beating.

There is also no need to worry about bending a spoke when you catch one on a corner or on a piece of furniture. And even if one does break, the rest of your Spinergy spokes will keep your wheels straight and true (as I’ve personally tested). These spokes are also very light. Each spoke is made up of 30,000 fiber strands which create a flexible and very quiet spoke. I noticed right away how quiet my wheels became and that I never had to listen to that steel-spoke-creaking again! And because they are not steel, I never have to worry about getting them wet and rusting.

There are very few problems associated with Spinergy spokes. The cost is the most prohibitive, usually selling for several times the cost of traditional wheel sets. The price if often balked at by insurance companies, but more and more companies are starting to realize the long-term cost-effectiveness of spending the extra money.

You also have to have a special tool to change and/or fix spokes when (if) they need it. Make sure that you keep yours in a safe place as this is not a tool that most people have in their toolboxes at home. However many bike shops now carry Spinergy spokes and will be able to help you make adjustments. I’ve had numerous cycling-addicts come up to me and comment on my Spinergy wheels! Spinergy's website includes both a cycle and wheelchair section, have recently added handcycle information, and are currently looking for sponsorship athletes!

Overall, I would recommend these wheel sets and spoke systems to anyone in a wheelchair who is remotely active and/or involved with sports and outdoor activities, or who wants to pay the extra cost for the assurance and peace and quiet of this wonderful invention.

SoloRider Golf Cart

noreply@blogger.com (Andy Kennedy) — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 18:48:00 +0000

In 2005 we were lucky enough to begin using a SoloRider regularly, after the City of Steamboat purchased one for the Haymaker Golf Course, a Scottish Links course in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Needless to say, it’s great to be back on the links!

Overall Rating: ***** 5 Stars

Pros:
Front mounted rack for your clubs
Soft swivel captain’s chair for easy transfers and play
Hand controls
Reasonable price

Cons:
Play time is lengthened with any adaptive cart
Chest strap can be uncomfortable after time
Potential extra charge for adaptive cart usage

Review:
I have actually tried out several different brands of accessible golf carts over the years and of the ones that I have tried so far, the SoloRider has proven to be the most dependable. The front mounted rack for your clubs is very convenient and the swivel captain’s chair makes transfers very manageable. With the addition of hand controls and easy to use waist and chest straps, this cart is really quite amazing. Its lightweight design and special weight distribution and soft tires allow you to go anywhere on the course, including the greens and sand traps. The price is also surprisingly reasonable when purchased through a golf course at just a couple thousand more than standard carts.

The initial problems I ran into included whether or not there was an extra cost to rent the cart, even though we really don’t have a choice of whether to walk or ride and whether or not the cart was charged and ready to go when I arrived. Again, not problems with the cart, but the course getting used to having one that someone used on a regular basis.

Another issue you will run into is that you cannot golf with a friend who is disabled that would use the same cart unless the course has two carts. Golfing is also heavy exercise despite what you might think about riding around in this cart. I usually only have the stamina for 9 holes. And if you are hitting balls on the driving range, make sure to take a break every ten or so swings. As I mentioned, the chest strap is great for holding you up, but it really digs into your chest if you hang on it too long. Last, play time is definitely lengthened by the time it takes to set up with this cart, although this decreases with practice and is inevitable with any adaptive cart.

Overall, I would recommend this cart to anyone or any course who is interested in buying one. Golf courses can get financial aid from the USGA with a well-written grant application. The pros definitely outweigh the cons here. As I always say, anytime you can get out of your wheelchair and leave it behind gives you an incredible sense of freedom and independence. Now got our there and hit some balls!

LOOKING FOR A SOLORIDER NEAR YOU?
Check out their database of equipment on courses at:
http://www.mobilitygolf.com/

TREO 100wx Cell Phone

noreply@blogger.com (Andy Kennedy) — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 18:29:00 +0000

Rating: **** (4 Stars)

Pros:
It's like my mini computer
Voice command is extensive
Emails while we're on the road
I can play my music on it
SD Card is swappable to other toys

Cons:
Sometimes it takes two tries to dial out
Call swap doesn't hang up other line
Headphone jack isn't universal
Text, email, photo plan is overpriced

I love my Treo 700wx, it's like my own mini computer. It's got Windows, which you all can dog if you want to, but I am personally satisfied with Windows and for the Treo, it's loads better than Palm OS, which is like Windows' dimwitted little brother.

Sure I have some problems with my Treo, but they're minimal to the benefits that this little handheld provides. I love my Treo.

First of all, the voice command is extensive. I can call up my contacts, play music, access my calender and practically microwave dinner with this tool. "Call Craig Kennedy Mobile," I say while on the ski lift if I've lost my sweetie somewhere in that last powder stash. And I don't have to squeeze my Razor into my helmet, and freeze my hand off while doing so. I have the standard provided headphone set wired into my helmet, and all I have to do is press the button next to my cheek and talk. With my mitten on, mind you. All this while playing my music, pausing it to call, and then having it automatically start again. Brilliant.

I really needn't go on after that, but I will. Getting emails on the road with this tool is great, it's like a Blackberry, but better. Because as I've said, it also plays my music. I've got a 1gb SD card in the slot, and have dragged my music over from iTunes. "Play artist Dave Matthews," I tell my Treo, and she plays. Fabulous.

But if I run out of room on my Canon Powershot while on safari in Tanzania, I can swap out my SD cards. In fact, I try not to buy equipment that doesn't use SD cards.

Gosh, what else? I've downloaded Sudoku for it, and play solitaire on it daily. I purchased a Bluetooth keyboard for it and type my travel writing, emails, or spreadsheets while on the road, eliminating the need for a laptop if on a short trip, using Windows Word and Excel Mobile.

The internet is also a prize, seeing as addicted to it as I am. If I need to quickly look something up, it's literally at my finger tips. All these programs can be run at the same time, without slowing the system down too much either, a complaint I heard about prior to buying my Treo, and have had no problems with upon owning it. Every now and then it helps to stop running the programs, which is a bit of a downside, having to scroll through several screens to find the window to do so.

There are a few other downsides to the Treo as well. The one that bugs me royally is that sometimes when I dial, it just sits there, and then hangs up. Upon the second dial it works, but I always wonder if someone has heard me on the other end, bitching at the phone's ineptitude.

The outdated call swap feature is also a bummer. You can pick up one call no problem, swap back to the other call as well, but it won't hang up one of the calls at a time. You hit "end" and it ends them both. Stupid.

The headphone jack pissed me off at the get-go as well, as if I wanted to plug the phone into my car stereos to listen to music and use it as an iPod, I had to buy an additional jack adjuster, which diminshed the quality of the music considerably. If I have my iPod plugged into my car, I can't usually hear my phone ring because the music's so loud, so having the phone do both things for me was a plus. But the jack adjuster was a mere $5, and once I realized how to improve the quality of the MP3's I have on there, it plays fine.

Last, the plan. They get you with this one, at least on Verizon, which I have to use up here in the mountains. $25 per month for only 10gb of emails and photos, or $49 per month for unlimited. And the $10 unlimited texts is separate. That's high priced to me, but unless we're on the road, I don't use more than 10gb, so I only change it to unlimited when we're traveling for a longer period.

Other than those few cons, this phone rocks for my lifestyle, no question.

Life is Good

noreply@blogger.com (Andy Kennedy) — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 21:58:00 +0000

Rating: ***** (5 Stars)
We'd give 10 stars if we could

Pros:
Quality cotton wear that lasts a long long time
Soft materials such as the pajama and Good Tech lines
Positive messages that make people smile

Cons:
There just isn't enough money out there to buy it all

Review:
This clothing company started out as a brother-team in a van on a music and festival tour of New England and has grown into a country-wide link of stores that sell millions in sales and give back generously in return. But this isn't about the fabulous company that the Jacobs' brothers produced, it's about their tried and tested product they've outfitted us with.

All biases aside, after wearing LIG clothing for over three years, and mind you we beat our equipment and clothing up as hard as we can, I haven't seen a rip, a hole, or a disintegrated item yet. From hats to yoga pants, sweatshirts to t-shirts, even dog leashes and duffel bags we take on every trip (and you know we travel monthly), we have tried almost every item in this warehouse and can't complain about a one. And that's a lot to say about luggage; the handlers usually take care of that. But while I've gone through two suitcases and am on a third, Craig's still using his double-lined duffel bag complete with it's own dirty-clothes compartment.

The variety that's offered from LIG outweighs a whole department store. I've come quite accustomed to the fuzzy sock line of thick plush foot wear that makes me smile just getting it out of the drawer. Craig's even more fond of the golf line, including his soft Good Tech golf shirt and windbreaker. He's even been known to give his speeches in the Good Tech line they look so nice.

In addition to the standard of quality Life is Good has, the message portrayed is just as noble. Take for example the "HALF FULL" shirt. Thick blue cotton with a white outlined picture of a half full beer pint on the front.

Or take any of their other messages to heart:

"Van Go" depicts a VW bus with a guy (we happen to know this stick figure's name is Jake) and his dog hanging out of it with all sorts of fun things like bikes and surfboards and outdoor fun in there somewhere. Insert new meaning to art.
"Traffic Jam" depicts a convertible with Jake and his dog and music blaring out from it. Insert new meaning to road rage.
"Think Outside the Box" has an outlined picture of a television.
The "Life is Good" option offers a variety of pictures from Jake at the BBQ to Jake running with a surfboard.

On much of their clothing is a secondary label on the side somewhere that says, "Do what you like, Like what you do." This motto seems to be trickling from the company's top to bottom.

I think I've made my point. Spread good vibes, right? What better to send a message of positivity in quality clothing that feels good?

Frog Legs

noreply@blogger.com (Andy Kennedy) — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 21:41:00 +0000

Craig Kennedy

Rating: ***** 5/5 stars

Pros:
Comfortable ride
Don’t have to worry about cracks, bumps, and small threshold changes
Great on rough terrain
Takes 75% of the vibration out of a wheelchair frame
Fits any wheelchair

Cons:
Soft bushings are not good in the snow

Review:
After three sets of Frog Legs on three different wheelchairs, I am convinced that this is one of the best inventions yet for wheelchairs users. If you are an active wheelchair user, these wheels are especially handy as they roll over bumps, roots, cracks, and all kinds of other obstacles when you are out rolling around.

The best thing about Frog Legs is how easily they roll over just about any terrain. These specialized castors were originally created to help absorb shock and vibrations carried through the frame of a wheelchair, which can result is neck and back pain. Being a very active outdoor enthusiast, I am often off-road with my chair. I also like to move fast when I am out rolling around and often had problems with uneven surfaces, such as breaks in the sidewalk. The Frog Legs pretty much eliminated these problems for me and let me move around much easier.

Another plus about Frog Legs is how easy they make it to push a chair. Not only is it easier for an independent wheelchair user to push over uneven surfaces, it makes it much easier for aides or caregivers to push someone in a wheelchair. Instead of having to stop to lift the front of the chair over an obstacle, the Frog Legs allow you to push right over it.

The other great thing about these castors is how easy they are to get for your wheelchair. They are available through most rehabilitation hospitals when you are ordering your chair. They are a little bit more expensive than the standard castors, but should be covered by most insurance policies.

On the down side, I could only find one problem with Frog Legs. I live in the mountains in Colorado where we get a lot of snow. When I got my first set, I noticed that the bushings in the Frog Legs were a little too soft and that the wheels would sink into the snow when I was pushing around. This was the only problem I could find with this product and later learned that a stiffer bushing can be installed to remedy this problem.

Overall, I am big fan of Frog Legs Castors and would recommend them to anyone using a wheelchair. If you can get a letter of medical necessity from your physical therapist, you should have no problem getting a set for yourself!

Peet’s Coffee, Fresher IS Better

noreply@blogger.com (Andy Kennedy) — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 19:27:00 +0000

Rating:
***** 5 Stars

Pros:

Fresher standards = the best cup of coffee

Instructional tastings daily/weekly

Free samples

Educated employees

Cons:

Higher price, but worth it!

Hard to find a store in the Mid-West, but available online

Review:
We were introduced to Peet’s when the first store arrived in Colorado in 2005 in Cherry Creek Village (Denver). Addicted to Starbucks’ Carmel Macchiatos at the time, and not knowing much about coffee, we were sucked in by the delicious flavors and the professionalism of Peet’s Coffee & Tea.

The first thing the baristas taught us was that the founder of Peet’s used to be part of the Starbucks team and decided to found his own company based on higher standards of freshness. That’s one thing that’s stuck with us for sure, the freshness of the beans. Coffee is supposed to taste sweet, not bitter, and when the beans are old, the coffee tastes bitter. When they’re still oily and ripe, and some of that oil floats on the top of your cup if you don’t stir it, you know you’re going to get a great fresh, sweet taste.

Next we were taught how to make a cup of coffee. It doesn’t involve an automatic coffee maker and a paper cup, we were told. Peet’s often has taste tests and samples out for educational and tasting purposes. In one of these demonstrations, we were shown that when you run hot water through a paper filter, all you taste is paper. That paper taste can indeed ruin a good cup of coffee. The keys to success: buy a French press, heat up a pot of filtered water, and grind only the beans you’ll use that day. If you drink more than one cup of coffee, make sure to buy a larger sized French press and store what you are not drinking right away in a thermos. I know it sounds like more work, but you’ll appreciate the freshness like we do. It only takes us about 8-10 minutes total each morning to make the most superior cup of coffee we’ve ever tasted.

The downfall of Peet’s cautiousness in freshness is the cost. Because they refuse to keep coffee in the store that’s outdated (their freshness policy only allows them to keep beans in the store for 10 days!) you’re certainly paying for quality. Peet’s isn’t wasteful however and what can’t be sold is donated to local non-profit organizations and other good causes. We’ve found that even coffee that’s a month or two old can still be kept fresh in zip-lock bags, if they are put in them right away.

If you’re near a Peet’s Coffee & Tea (their stores are spreading!) and you feel your company or event is a good cause, apply for their donations in the store directly. But even if you’re paying full price for Peet’s their beans go further than the rest because of the freshness and strength, and therefore worth a little extra in price.

If you’re addicted to the quick fix drive-through Starbucks like we were, re-train yourself. It’s worth it!

Other hints:

Never put your coffee in the freezer, it’s a dry environment and your beans will lose their freshness almost immediately. It might keep your soups from last fall, but not your coffee. Zip-locks in the closet are the best bet.

Always let your boiling water sit for 30 seconds before pouring it into your press or it will burn the beans and additional reduce the fresh taste.

Never microwave a cup of coffee. If you know you’re going to drink more than one cup, put it in a thermos. Microwaving cooks out the fresh taste as well.

Peet’s coffee is 2x as strong in caffeine because of this freshness. Make ½ decaf and ½ regular to avoid the shakes! Or choose a flavored blend like Mocha instead of the typically over-caffeinated French, Sumatra, or Major Dickinson’s blends.

Thanks to the baristas at Peet’s Cherry Creek for the best education in coffee a couple could get!

Invacare XLT Pro Review

noreply@blogger.com (Andy Kennedy) — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 21:00:00 +0000

by Matt Strugar-Fritsch
Rating: 4/5 stars

I received my Invacare XLT Pro in July of 2004 with stock shimano XT cranks and standard quick release wheels. As parts wore out and I began to focus more on racing and riding long distances, I began to replace and upgrade parts accordingly. Today the only original parts on the bike are the frame, seat and right shifter/brake lever. Overall this bike has performed remarkably well, however there are certain limitations inherent in its design which can limit the performance, adjustability and comfort of the machine.

For a paraplegic, the front mounted horizontal shifter/break lever setup on the cycle is easy to adapt to and effortless to execute. It is easy to flick out a finger on the down stroke to shift both the front and rear derailleur in nearly any riding condition, allowing the user to adapt to terrain “on the fly” instead of relying on intuition to choose the right gear ratio for what lies ahead.

One disadvantage to the stock crank set was the inability to pedal and turn the cycle concurrently due to the cranks clipping my legs. This, in addition to the lack of leverage per revolution that is achieved with V style cranks (which now come stock on this machine) led me to upgrade to V cranks after one year of riding.

After upgrading to the V cranks (length 220mm, width 22 inches) I immediately noticed the increase in leverage which helped dramatically when climbing hills and slightly increased my average riding speed. I also noticed that the V cranks positioned my hands just outside my shoulders with my elbows slightly elevated. This setup utilizes the muscles of the shoulders and back much more than previously. In the long run, more functional muscle groups is an advantage, but in the short run it caused considerable pain and muscle fatigue as my body acclimated to the new riding position.

This handcycle comes stock with a road crown compensator which I feel is one of the bikes greatest assets. An on the fly adjustment of this lever allows you to fine tune the angle of the front wheel to compensate for the downward slope that most roads and sidewalks unfortunately feature.

The biggest downfall of this machine I feel is the lack of adjustability of its seat position. After 3 years of adjustments, it seems that there are only a few functional seat angles that can be achieved on this machine, rendering it nearly impossible to dial in the reclined angle that is desired by most high level paraplegics on the racing circuit. Invacare realized this flaw and recently launched a new bike, the Top End Force, which caters to this demographic much more suitably.

Overall I am more than satisfied with the quality, durability, design and performance of this machine. It is an excellent machine for everyone from the newly injured to the seasoned veterans and I couldn’t agree more with what they say in the bikes promotional material, and that is: “If you want a great way to exercise, cross-train or just have fun, the Invacare Top End Excelerator XLTPRO is what you're looking for!"

Mountain Handcycles, a Comparative

noreply@blogger.com (Andy Kennedy) — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 18:53:00 +0000

Grove DH-X1 and the One-Off Titanium Flyer

Summary:
Grove DH-X1 and the One-Off Titanium Flyer

One-Off Flyer: Superior for All-Terrain
4 stars
Easier forward momentum
3-wheel system
20+ gears
Additional chest steering mechanism
All-terrain worthyNarrow body

Grove: Superior for Downhill Only
3 stars
4-wheel system
4-wheel suspension, 4 disc brakes
Comfortable ride downhill only
Widebody

Since the 1980s, handcycling has grown into a world-renowned competitive sport in which paraplegics, quadriplegics, and amputees can test their skills. But most handcycles are road cycles (no one seems to like calling them trikes, although that’s what they are), and it wasn’t until the mid-1990s that we started seeing mountain bikes adapted for this crowd.

In 1996, several downhill mountain bikes were brought to Steamboat for some mountain fun. These were some of the first models from Grove Innovations, with four mountain tires, four-wheel disc brakes, full suspension, and no “handcycle” power, just downhill fun. Since then we’ve had the chance to try them with the adaptive program in Crested Butte, and although the shocks and weight of the machines have changed slightly since 1996, the cost hasn’t seemed to.
The Grove DH-X1 is an expensive toy, hand-built at a custom shop in Pennsylvania by Bill Grove in the late 1980s, they revolutionized the concept of adaptive downhill in the summer time. But because of the lack of supply-and-demand, and the cost of making these unique bikes ($5,000 or more for one), few DH-X1s are in the hands of needy users.

But if you can get your hands on a used one or attend a workshop with one of the adaptive programs that owns one (see links below), do, because we had nothing but hair-raising fun on this downhill machine.

It’s a very comfortable ride with four Fox shocks and a soft padded seat. Your arms are at a comfortable distance and angle to the handlebars, and if all you’re seeking is some downhill thrill, this is definitely the type of mountain bike for you.

The only other downfall to this model besides cost is that it’s a downhill bike only, and others have been modeled after it, such as the Cobra A.C.E. in 2000, so you’ll need to drive it to the top of a mountain, or take a chairlift in order to use it.

Even though Bill Grove isn’t making these bikes anymore, look for a few grassroots companies popping up in the near future who want to bring this design, and the price of it, back to the average consumer.

As for its competition, we weren’t the only ones who thought the lack of versatility for the downhill bikes was a minor downfall worth rectifying. The One-Off Titanium Flyer has been climbing a long road since its early conception phase in 1996, and is the first handcycle to finally bridge the gap between mountain biking and handcycling. Designed and manufactured in Massachusetts by Mike Augspurger, this bike is totally different.

Its three-wheel system is reverse of most handcycles, with two wheels in the front and one in the rear. You’re also positioned nearly prone on the bike, and resting on a chest pad that is used to steer when you are pedaling. You can also steer with the handlebars when not pedaling. This pad is a little uncomfortable at first, especially if you’re a woman, but you do get used to it. Your knees are bent below and slightly behind you, giving your chest the frontward power it needs to crank up hills. The design of this bike is revolutionary, and has proven itself against the odds and doubts of many professionals in the mountain cycling field. Its highest recognition comes from a recently-released movie about three paraplegics who brought their One-Offs onto Utah’s White Rim Trail and biked the entire 110 miles in reverse, the more challenging loop, without any able-bodied assistance.

Its twenty-plus gear shift system has a wide range of “granny” gears for easier pedaling, and the rear wheel provides traction at a narrower maneuverability for single-track trails, something that is more of a challenge for the four-wheel downhill bikes. But that’s not to say it’s easy going. The weight of the machine is around fifty pounds, with twenty-inch wheels. Powering these toys up rocky, muddy mountains isn’t something you do unless you’ve got the arms to do it. But for those who don’t have a choice, the One-Off is an amazing machine; which earn Augspurger the MIT Inventor Award in 2001.

The cost of this cycle is still the same, however, around $5000, because it is still custom-made, and only 100-150 have been made in the past ten years, probably double or triple what Grove Innovations released. But you will likely begin to see One-Offs purchased for adaptive programs in the near future, as mountain biking for those with disabilities continues to grow.

To sum up, the DH-X1 is definitely more comfortable than the One-Off for starters, but the freedom that the One-Off provides is unbeatable. The One-Off is versatile, smaller, and even breaks down easily into two parts for travel.

LINKS:

Recent mountain bike clinic in Keystone: http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20070624/SPORTS/70624007

One Off Titanium: http://www.titaniumarts.com/

Grove Innovations: www.purplelizard.com/GIintro.htm

Eureka's Freedom Tent

noreply@blogger.com (Andy Kennedy) — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 19:50:00 +0000

Eureka's Freedom Tent

The only Wheelchair-Accessible Tent