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“My wheelchair worked marvelously in London and Paris! Thank you so much!” – Jordan Ayers. This past year, on Brent Ayers family’s trip to London and Paris they were able to see and do more with the use of their RoughRider. Brent’s daughter, Jordan, typically rides a power chair. Knowing they would need a manual chair, the family looked for alternative chairs that would allow Jordon to traverse in the older regions of the cities; where the bumpy streets and the lack of rider friendly amenities make the use of traditional wheelchairs unreliable. After some light searching, the Ayers came across Whirlwind and the RoughRider. The chair’s long wheelbase and large caster wheel design was ideal for navigating the cobblestone streets found in the older sections of town. Whirlwind’s “Buy One, Give One” offer, which allows Whirlwind to provide a second chair in the developing world to an individual in need of mobility provided an additional incentive.
Soon after, the family received their new chair and was off to Europe. During their time in London and Paris, the RoughRider’s rugged design came in handy when riding the busy streets of Europe. Since returning home, Jordan continues to use her RoughRider when charging her power chair. She enjoys how the RoughRider moves with minimal effort in comparison to other manual chairs she has owned. We at Whirlwind are happy to see how the RoughRider benefited the Ayers’ trip to Europe. We wish them many more memorable trips, and hope to hear from them again!
To find the distance between your hips, first position yourself seated with pelvis upright on a firm surface. Then, measure the distance between the widest points of the hips and thighs without compressing any tissue. Finally, record your measurements. It is important not to have a chair that is wider than necessary as it will be harder to push and may prevent you from passing through narrow doorways.
Position yourself seated upright on a firm surface. Measure the length of your upper leg, the distance from behind the knee to the back of the pelvis (back of your lower leg). Subtract 1/2” to find the maximum seat depth, to allow for space between the back of the knee/upper leg and seat fabric. Record the final measurement.
Your preferred backrest height is determined by your personal comfort level and physical ability. Whirlwind recommends, generally, that the top of the back support should fall just beneath the bottom of the shoulder blade. For less active riders who require more torso support, the back support should be higher, falling just beneath the armpit. Position yourself seated upright on a firm surface. Hold your hands flat against the surface you are sitting on. Measure the distance from the seated surface to the desired, most comfortable point for support on your back. To this number add the height of your cushion when you are sitting on it. Record the measurement.
Backrest angles are determined by the torso control of the rider. Whirlwind recommends that those with less torso control, such as quadriplegics, sit with a backrest angled further backwards to avoid falling forward in a wheelchair. Those with more torso control, such as amputees, can sit with the backrest more upright. Proper backrest angle is best determined by an occupational therapist or healthcare professional. Although there is only one option – 8 degrees – in the drop-down list below, you can adjust the backrest angle by adjusting the backrest straps (i.e. looser at the bottom and tighter at the top for a more erect position).
Now please enter your measurements into the fields on the product page before ordering. For more information about measuring, please refer to the RoughRider Fitting Sheet. You are responsible for choosing the right chair for yourself. If you are uncomfortable with determining your wheelchair size, please consult a professional.