A racing wheelchair and an everyday chair have about as much in common as a cheetah and a housecat. These sleek beauties are designed to fly over track and pavement, winning road races, marathons and short distance events.
Modern racing wheelchair design has changed a lot since pioneer Bob Hall
became the first sanctioned wheelchair racer in the prestigious Boston
Marathon. Hall, together with Rob Vandermark, pushed the design frontier in the
80s, creating a racing vehicle that clocked average speeds of 19.75 miles per
hour in the Boston event at the height of their model’s popularity in the
mid-90s.
Current wheelchair racing distances include sprints of 100 m, 200 m and 400 m,
with middle distances of 800 m and 1,500 m, long distances of 5,000 m and
10,000 m and relays of 4 x 100 m and 4 x 400 m, all taking place on a track.
The classic road event is the grueling 26-mile marathon, and racing wheelchair
enthusiasts also compete in triathlons, which add swimming and biking to the
mix.
Currently, there are only a few styles of racing wheelchair on the market, and
a new one will set you back $2,500 to $3,500 before you consider options. But
you are going to own an amazing piece of technological innovation that will
give you wings, to say nothing of a buff physique and awesome cardiovascular
workout.
Today’s elite racing chair sports an aluminum frame for a stiff, responsive
ride and light weight with superior customization. In fact, just about
everything about a racing wheelchair is built especially with one buyer in mind:
you.
· Open V Cage. This style is great for racers with longer and/or thicker legs. It allows for an easier transfer than the V.
· V Cage. The stiffest, most aerodynamic racing cage, this one is chosen by most advanced riders. You need to have good flexibility for transfers and be able to assume a kneeling position.
· I Cage. Great for amputees, this is the easiest wheelchair frame style to transfer into, making it the clear choice for quads and beginners. It’s usually ordered with the addition of a fixed footrest.
Axle position is adjusted to between 5” and 8”, depending on the level of
spinal cord injury and ability. Top racing enthusiasts usually choose the upper
end of the range, but amputees need less, and taller people, more. The goal is
to be able to hop the front end when you want to, but not have it lose contact
with the ground when you’re grinding the wheelchair up a tough hill.
The camber, or tilt, of the rear tires is usually between 11 and 15 degrees,
with a general trend toward the higher number. People who sit high and need
more stability also prefer the 13- to 15-degree range.
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