Introducing my latest investment, a lovely new (as yet unnamed) everyday made-to-measure (very small) wheelchair in a brilliant glossy purple complete with bolt-on Freewheel at the front. Seemed like a more sensible choice than a racer.
This machine is lighter than Mac the all-terrain Trekinetic, has a set of sleek Marathon puncture-resistant tyres to match and is equipped with ergonomic super-grippy Gekko handrims. Less rolling resistance for sure, but still hates climbing! Using arms to propel ensures you detect even the smallest of gradients and wheels only ever want to roll downhill! Cambers introduce their own challenge and left arm being much weaker than right confounds this problem.
I've been out for several practice rolls and have become adept at fitting and removing the Freewheel. The Freewheel is essential for anything more challenging than a smooth level surface, the front castors objecting to bumps and spinning round to downhill akin to taking a supermarket trolley for a walk!
This morning I officially completed my very first wheelchair parkrun with no assistance. My Strava time of 52 minutes is deceptive, some moments must have been too slow to even register as moving! In fact it took over an hour to negotiate twists, turns, camber, rough ground (temporary detour due to contractor's works) and a few sneaky short climbs. All under a beautiful blue sky on one of the busiest and hottest parkrun weekends of the year so far.
Had hoped to finish in under the hour and I really wanted to do 50 minutes, my old pre MS 10k PB. Another time, with bit more handling practice and perhaps a smoother course, maybe I'll get there.
In total this week I've rolled nearly 7 miles. Better than nothing and got to be worth a cake!
#ThinkHand, #loveparkrun
