Apr 9 2008Brilliant!: A Wheelchair Pedal Attachment
Who uses wheelchairs? People who are too weak to walk, people with legs that don't work, and me if the grocery store has any complementary motorized ones (my legs tire easily). The common denominator here is walking, or more specifically, a lack of walking ability. So why not just pedal instead? That's the idea behind the Pedalofit (NOT the name I would have chosen). Actually, it's a wheelchair attachment used as a rehabilitation tool for people to help gain the muscle and coordination back in their legs. And as you can see -- holy shit is that Dick Cheney in the picture?
The Dude: This is Cheney...on the left there? So he's a crip-uh...handicap...guy?
Brandt: Mr. Cheney is disabled, yes.
Pedal Powered Wheelchair Seems So Wrong [ohgizmo]
Reader Comments
1. Rai - April 9, 2008 5:54 PM
Wait a second . . . wheelchairs are for those who can't walk. This is due to inability in the legs. So . . . why would turning the wheelchair into a large tricycle - a leg-powered vehicle - help? I assume it's for people who are temporarily in a wheelchair after surgery or something? Also, it looks rather unwieldy, taking up the space of two wheelchairs and eliminating the wheelchair's on-a-dime turning radius. I guess you could use it like someone who has properly working legs uses a bicycle - for exercise and recreation. Odd.
2. PAgent - April 9, 2008 6:40 PM
That's got to be more expensive than just getting a recumbent delta trike, which would probably work better in the long run.
Here's a great example: http://www.easyracers.com/ez_3.htm
3. Zac - April 9, 2008 8:15 PM
And my mom told me I had to get rid of my big wheel when I out grew it. Now they make bigger ones!
4. Nash - April 9, 2008 8:21 PM
Looks a little more like former Australian Prime Minister John Howard to me. Not that I expect any one else on here to know that fellow too well.
5. Ann - April 9, 2008 8:47 PM
@1: Just because someone uses a wheelchair doesn't mean that they have no control over their legs at all. A friend of mine, for example, has cerebral palsy, and his legs are too weak to support him, but he can still move them. He also has a balance problem that makes it so he couldn't stand up without assistance even if his legs were strong, so he'd be in a wheelchair anyway. He'd certainly be able to use this, and it would help his legs get stronger.
6. Jeff - April 9, 2008 9:43 PM
Dude: This is Cheney...on the left there? So he's a crip-uh...handicap...guy?
Brandt: Mr. Cheney is disabled, yes.
Wouldn't the more politically correct (no pun intended) be physically challenged?.... or is it mentally challenged?...hmmm....
7. Martin - April 10, 2008 2:08 AM
Why dont just use a bike or something? You wouldnt get any use for a wealchear if you can turn the pedals! Or maby its for old people who just want to look cool, NOT!
8. gutterballs - April 10, 2008 2:24 AM
"the big lebowski"
"soo, he's pretty cool racially huh?
the rest of you guys are lame
9. ugh - April 10, 2008 3:01 AM
Umm... I think the point may be to attach that pedal thing on an electric wheel chair and strap your feet in. That way, the pedals move your legs which may help eventually rebuild nerves... so after a while of having your legs moved in that pedaling motion, it may bring back feeling...
10. Sanjuro - April 10, 2008 8:13 AM
The Dude abides..
Brilliant reference ... strange device.
11. Atrides - April 10, 2008 9:56 AM
It's sad when our senior citizens enter their dotage.
12. Fargus - April 10, 2008 3:45 PM
The Dude: Walter, I'm not talking about the guys who built the f***ing railroads.
Walter: What the f*** are you talking about?
13. Crip4Life - April 10, 2008 4:49 PM
Uhm, this is far from new... I've used one of these back when i was prolly 10 years old... only difference is mine i petal'd with my hands... not my feet...
Same idea, attach'd to front of chair tho... was a pain in the ass to hook up, and needless to say i wiped out numerous times on it destroy'n it too all hell... was good fun jumpin it off ramps while i could...
i miss that wheelchair / bike wanna be attachment...
14. Crip4Life - April 10, 2008 4:50 PM
ohh, and just for comparison, i am 25 now.... so yah... old news to me!
15. Katsin - April 10, 2008 6:24 PM
"No, Walter, you're not wrong.. You're just an ASSHOLE!"
16. wowowowowyeah - April 10, 2008 11:51 PM
His resemblance to Johnny struck me as well. Which made me want to strike him.
Such a lame comment, please disregard me
17. randommuz - April 11, 2008 12:17 AM
I immediatley thought it was little Johnny Howard too
18. jefflang007 - April 11, 2008 8:46 AM
me thinks johnny howard has aged since retirement
19. Jane - July 5, 2008 2:57 PM
I use a wheelchair because of balance problems (my legs are fine) and I'd love one of these.
20. Jackie - March 6, 2009 8:15 AM
I'm a little late to this article, having found it on a random Google search of wheelchair pictures for some artwork.
Like Jane above, I have trouble balancing and cannot walk too far because of severe pain in my hips. I have already adapted my wheelchair so I can use it as a mobility walker and be pushed when I'm too sore/tired to carry on walking. But equally, I cannot sit still for too long, for example in an electric scooter, as my joints sieze; so inactivity is almost as painful as too much activity.
I have fantasized for ages about one of these pedal attachments and have made several attempts at designing one.
I'd really love one!
21. cinndave - April 8, 2009 11:12 PM
I've seen a guy in the city with a hand cranked wheelchair that he used around town for aerobic exercise. Kind of like a bike you work with your hands. It had a gear shifter like a mountain bike and could ratio so low he could crank it like crazy to get up the steepest hills real slowly. That sounds like a bigger commercial hit than this pedal tricycle.