Downhill wheelchairs

[Chris71]

Not strictly pedal powered on the whole (although you can get XC hand cycles apparently) but fascinating pieces of engineering and inspirational people:





Double wishbones all round, disc brakes, billet-machined uprights... Most of my cars have been less sophisticated than these things. I believe there's a full race series for them. Plus at the risk of sounding patronising I feel rather humbled by people who overcome adversity to do far more impressive things than I will ever achieve without those obstacles.

[Roman]

Fourcross. Very impressive:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dF5ZMQ39C6c&fea...

Ive seen a couple of 'rigs' at Whinlatter:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFjuaYulv_g

[SystemParanoia]

those chairs cost about £10k

[MrTom]

SystemParanoia said:

those chairs cost about £10k

A new downhill bike is around £5k, not stupidly expensive for what you get out of it.

[monthefish]

Chris71 said:

Plus at the risk of sounding patronising I feel rather humbled by people who overcome adversity to do far more impressive things than I will ever achieve without those obstacles.

I know what you mean - I remember the wheelchair basketball team that featured on that £1m giveaway program on ITV a year or two ago. I was inspired by their attitude which was along the lines of 'yes, I've been dealt a cruel blow, but I'm not going ot let it get to me, nor let it tuin my life'.

[SystemParanoia]

i love the fiddle brakes they have

[Hughesie]

want one...

[Chris71]

monthefish said:

Chris71 said:

Plus at the risk of sounding patronising I feel rather humbled by people who overcome adversity to do far more impressive things than I will ever achieve without those obstacles.

I know what you mean - I remember the wheelchair basketball team that featured on that £1m giveaway program on ITV a year or two ago. I was inspired by their attitude which was along the lines of 'yes, I've been dealt a cruel blow, but I'm not going ot let it get to me, nor let it tuin my life'.

Yep, I remember seeing some disabled skiers training at the MK Snowdone a couple of years ago. They were carving better than I was...

I guess to a certain extent it's linked. The people who tend to be into fast-paced dangerous sports are more likely to suffer spinal injuries and perhaps also more likely to continue pushing themselves to get out and do stuff once it's happened.

[thanetspeedshop]

Hughesie said:

want one...

Really?

[SystemParanoia]

you dont need to be disabled to ride one

[mybrainhurts]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_wLPg86nJU

[Chris71]

The company that builds many of them is R-One:

http://www.r-onefourcross.com/products.html