tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77898715603237300572024-03-05T18:13:46.774-08:00The Trekinetic In ActionAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11721504987459620057noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789871560323730057.post-65768642456610223102014-03-25T21:02:00.002-07:002014-03-25T21:19:34.930-07:00Happy Anniversary!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho8sbdorAoAIseTHt7EcC6ZIRq-X3aHNKq7EDXYoqlr2LA5MXHmCeGq2pr1xUhlUugoA6EbJY-IfnF-wZOEE69Mc8ROiMZjOlSWVeWLl_4gf2jpP3tlJ0dKiKighTCWQRFXlQrxRU8qUBn/s1600/552626_3984389360888_1311444483_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho8sbdorAoAIseTHt7EcC6ZIRq-X3aHNKq7EDXYoqlr2LA5MXHmCeGq2pr1xUhlUugoA6EbJY-IfnF-wZOEE69Mc8ROiMZjOlSWVeWLl_4gf2jpP3tlJ0dKiKighTCWQRFXlQrxRU8qUBn/s1600/552626_3984389360888_1311444483_n.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRx0wy0Bcpk_QMlZEr2BBR6Stnk4tIzh5kE-lon2YLP-mwp38pEdZdgEJyMUWD60zrQWkVmUQYuuv-BX00rlemEzA59A8UBc9l5_usuaACTNIi7ZK6QLbwtGi9L08X0edmgdDDTTrGWHRt/s1600/22254_1297260744352_1363607_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRx0wy0Bcpk_QMlZEr2BBR6Stnk4tIzh5kE-lon2YLP-mwp38pEdZdgEJyMUWD60zrQWkVmUQYuuv-BX00rlemEzA59A8UBc9l5_usuaACTNIi7ZK6QLbwtGi9L08X0edmgdDDTTrGWHRt/s1600/22254_1297260744352_1363607_n.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnXuZPyK9ArEOsWgXSW4ANQ5GLYya0K39M8JDooXilfC2rkXdCZYVnQPsQO1pCaPmMvpEdpx1n0szDcTNlua4R_JB28ZD0iIdsneFAC3lcqT5fl0e1MIweZsvF-HHQ7a1Tj62AiJRu8_EG/s1600/208863_1014359471997_6735_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnXuZPyK9ArEOsWgXSW4ANQ5GLYya0K39M8JDooXilfC2rkXdCZYVnQPsQO1pCaPmMvpEdpx1n0szDcTNlua4R_JB28ZD0iIdsneFAC3lcqT5fl0e1MIweZsvF-HHQ7a1Tj62AiJRu8_EG/s1600/208863_1014359471997_6735_n.jpg" /></a>While some people celebrate wedding anniversaries or birth anniversaries, I seem to celebrate a different kind (in addition to the norm). March 26, 1986. It was 28 years ago, but yet I can remember the day like it was yesterday.<br />
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It was a Wednesday, just like today, and I was home from school for the week for Easter week. I got on my 10 speed and set off for a long ride up the San Gabriel River bike trail starting at my apartment in Seal Beach, Ca.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsRYOa868PEGNzgN-_zdWjW4twXBGlusMFe6167sbpNAGX3ps1_e99sBie70g8xxAPYIhcdqoicNbHmbbfEd3de6epcv8s5xF53LPNMGhyUwo1WwpdoHiqus9CeNi8JKZe2dUA0hYAsS0o/s1600/35737_1439795467631_974854_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsRYOa868PEGNzgN-_zdWjW4twXBGlusMFe6167sbpNAGX3ps1_e99sBie70g8xxAPYIhcdqoicNbHmbbfEd3de6epcv8s5xF53LPNMGhyUwo1WwpdoHiqus9CeNi8JKZe2dUA0hYAsS0o/s1600/35737_1439795467631_974854_n.jpg" height="320" width="181" /></a>Towards the end of my 20 mile ride, I (like other young kids at the time) felt it necessary to get my bike registered in case it got stolen. I stopped at the police station and they said they didn't handle that, but try town hall or the fire department. Town hall didn't either and so I trekked across the street to the fire house. They registered bikes, but only on Saturdays.<br />
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This was too bad because my bike was destroyed not 2 minutes after I left. I, carelessly, pulled out from between two parked cars and rode my bike headlong into an oncoming Volkswagen Rabbit/Golf.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOW4B9QIj-O3Hn_fKw2tHeDld6Gg-1lUAR8RQohxd2cGIN5Tdo9VEcnrdJ2DbaUu0Shm0xjMLidynuWwwN7TlVFCZNnJ4gdbMzg8zwhXNN8E9pMhJTq96z5xtx165Bckf8DWC_bssJ3aQ/s1600/james-trekinetic2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOW4B9QIj-O3Hn_fKw2tHeDld6Gg-1lUAR8RQohxd2cGIN5Tdo9VEcnrdJ2DbaUu0Shm0xjMLidynuWwwN7TlVFCZNnJ4gdbMzg8zwhXNN8E9pMhJTq96z5xtx165Bckf8DWC_bssJ3aQ/s1600/james-trekinetic2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a>On this day, 28 years ago, I broke my neck and became an incomplete quadriplegic. Since then, I have become a completely different (better in my mind) person and have had many experiences that I will remember forever (some bad, most wonderful).<br />
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Needless to say, I got back on a bike and have had fun both on and off the bicycle seat. As I have aged, I find myself using 3 wheels instead of 2, but not all the time. I am ok with that as I have really enjoyed the past 28 years. And now that I have the Trekinetic K2, it has reopened all the roads I found closing up.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11721504987459620057noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789871560323730057.post-83085969910260792102014-01-25T15:09:00.000-08:002014-01-25T15:09:57.226-08:00More snow and the mall...So another snow day and a trip to the mall...<br />
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There was more snow on the ground than expected. Yes, we just had a foot on Tuesday, but that was cleared away. It was currently snowing and there was about an inch plus of snow and dirty, salty, sandy snow. Needless to say, I had no trouble getting through the parking lot or up the snow covered wheelchair ramp.<br />
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My main gripe, however, was almost all the stores I wanted to go into. Major fail. I mean, I know my wheelchair is wide, but c'mon. It's not that hard to organize your store better.<br />
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My first obstacle was Zumiez. There was a wire basket down low on a rack that was in my way preventing me from going further into the store. On the other side, there was a table that was too close to a column keeping me from going that way. I turned around and went out.<br />
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Next, I went into American Eagle Outfitters. Again, it was a display table that was too far into the aisle.<br />
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PacSun, I just went in and then turned right back around again.<br />
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Now, I was with one of my children so I didn't make a stink. I wonder what would've happened if I had opened my mouth...<br />
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Maybe next time I'll "stand up" for my rights.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11721504987459620057noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789871560323730057.post-83658369492243145742013-12-28T11:06:00.002-08:002013-12-28T11:06:32.570-08:00Lazy-ass New Yorkers...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixs3Syw_3m2PKj8RccQUlynOIsqZv2F1hpn_F-QCoJHdInSYhEB2KqPM8dz30mjrmiFeLjVZdfvyoLst_A_GFa85KWqztDRpBcIOETE87oPmSEaudgL8ZfFtLYLo_Vh8PtYCoJfiA_repq/s1600/20131226_114938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixs3Syw_3m2PKj8RccQUlynOIsqZv2F1hpn_F-QCoJHdInSYhEB2KqPM8dz30mjrmiFeLjVZdfvyoLst_A_GFa85KWqztDRpBcIOETE87oPmSEaudgL8ZfFtLYLo_Vh8PtYCoJfiA_repq/s1600/20131226_114938.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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Made it to the city that never sleeps on Thursday. My family and I went to the American Museum of Natural History. Here we can see I'm loving being up around the planets... It was a grand time and got so many looks. I'm thinking it was the <a href="http://www.trekinetic.com/" target="_blank">chair</a>. ;)<br />
One observation though, is the sad, lazy-ass people...so many lazy people just filing into the elevators, not even thinking, hey, this dude NEEDS this thing. But, you know, it's New York...whaddya expect?!!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11721504987459620057noreply@blogger.com0American Museum of Natural History, Central Park W, New York, NY 1002440.7813241 -73.97398820000000840.7753126 -73.984073200000012 40.7873356 -73.9639032tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789871560323730057.post-81043321894132655662013-12-21T13:32:00.000-08:002013-12-21T13:33:26.101-08:00Snow time!I made it into the snow! This chair is a beast! I had fun
tooling around in the snow. It's been a while that I've been able to get
out in it and I really enjoyed rolling around instead of being stuck.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOShyphenhyphenLfxSgWkoeRz6AJBwASBg7v8auqIAkE03Ta4AKf3PswOkuJMMJSG6NtUpyyHyzKNoTp5WeDQLYrbEsfR0yR9ni5rd-R-iYakJ1mYux94ZqP3kymU5kRCiTIwSyVAXT4uzWQ-hUPGLj/s1600/20131221_140148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOShyphenhyphenLfxSgWkoeRz6AJBwASBg7v8auqIAkE03Ta4AKf3PswOkuJMMJSG6NtUpyyHyzKNoTp5WeDQLYrbEsfR0yR9ni5rd-R-iYakJ1mYux94ZqP3kymU5kRCiTIwSyVAXT4uzWQ-hUPGLj/s1600/20131221_140148.jpg" height="301" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvLb9DV8j7kF70WJ254EFJMLCAe141vb929kiEkTO-ColFi2kok_zFdIA-1qyrVIdtNWDlsXxoqoe09JuiWkne7e6aQ7SbbKDPxd44DCIRuKI-DYRUWow1LaawOL-5qyGQ0iZpppL8yVSu/s1600/20131221_135906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvLb9DV8j7kF70WJ254EFJMLCAe141vb929kiEkTO-ColFi2kok_zFdIA-1qyrVIdtNWDlsXxoqoe09JuiWkne7e6aQ7SbbKDPxd44DCIRuKI-DYRUWow1LaawOL-5qyGQ0iZpppL8yVSu/s1600/20131221_135906.jpg" height="320" width="289" /></a></div>
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I also got a short vid of me going down the small hill in my backyard.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11721504987459620057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789871560323730057.post-53303516735481965042013-12-08T09:12:00.002-08:002013-12-08T09:15:47.786-08:00Valley Forge Beer Fest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifnJ0F-2K2Fi_mdLtapFGpHujHtVDOzIV16L2kBESnadaQgp6OnezB-EtnidNBg0uUdw8qNw2aObMRBzxD-NGV4M7YR-K0iQCFLXxi74DcbCip8Q-Pyn_2DTpHjbqJPChqj4iYKh8U0XrP/s1600/1454652_10202918615430668_1088460795_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifnJ0F-2K2Fi_mdLtapFGpHujHtVDOzIV16L2kBESnadaQgp6OnezB-EtnidNBg0uUdw8qNw2aObMRBzxD-NGV4M7YR-K0iQCFLXxi74DcbCip8Q-Pyn_2DTpHjbqJPChqj4iYKh8U0XrP/s1600/1454652_10202918615430668_1088460795_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
So last night at the Valley Forge Beer Festival, I had a lot of people come up to me asking all about my kick-ass cool chair. This photo does not show these people, it shows me and my posse having fun. Pretzel necklace completes the picture.<br />
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The <a href="http://trekinetic.com/" target="_blank">Trekinetic K2</a> is turning heads all over the place. I even gave my name and number to a gent who works with and raises money for veterans in and around Philly. He said he is going to contact me this week about info about the chair. Either that, or he was going to put my number all over bathroom stalls.<br />
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Oh, and check me out over on the <a href="http://twitter.com/mytrekinetic" target="_blank">Twitter</a> @mytrekinetic !Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11721504987459620057noreply@blogger.com0Oaks, PA, USA40.123592976158236 -75.45598983764648440.120557476158233 -75.461032337646486 40.126628476158238 -75.450947337646483tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789871560323730057.post-39819941385095878242013-12-04T10:48:00.000-08:002013-12-04T10:48:24.341-08:00F1 Inspired Wheelchairs.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCuGZK4_1FjjfLJ11xRzBpNW2NAdOf92zzuvn7EkHC8E8Yp49IXJ2fTx3XBNclXf1aI73dVbTiEr8-LlvoOZgLFd7FeGLBbc2NqsISBmBJCkR8zyYvDeuv-depLrdfuRJkMz637IxWu6yT/s1600/RTEmagicC_2009_Annotated_K-2.JPG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCuGZK4_1FjjfLJ11xRzBpNW2NAdOf92zzuvn7EkHC8E8Yp49IXJ2fTx3XBNclXf1aI73dVbTiEr8-LlvoOZgLFd7FeGLBbc2NqsISBmBJCkR8zyYvDeuv-depLrdfuRJkMz637IxWu6yT/s1600/RTEmagicC_2009_Annotated_K-2.JPG.jpg" height="248" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/content/interviews/interview/1118/" target="_blank">F1 Inspired Wheelchairs</a><br />
Formula-1 is the highest class of motor sport in the world. It’s a fast
paced world where cars can race at up to 220 mph in certain conditions
but for these cars to reach these speeds and drive smoothly and safely
they need to be at the forefront of science and technology. But did you
know that the science behind Formula-1 is actually spilling out into
other fields and even everyday life? <a href="http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/content/interviews/interview/1118/" target="_blank">Click thru to read the rest of the article.</a><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11721504987459620057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789871560323730057.post-54667787941739425282013-12-03T10:20:00.000-08:002013-12-03T10:26:07.434-08:00Not just another disabled person in a wheelchairBelow is Max's story. It sounds very much like what I would say and what I would want/do. I am a very unique individual (or try to be). I didn't want my wheelchair to be this boring, "normal" looking wheelchair. I really liked the <a href="http://trekinetic.com/" target="_blank">Trekinetic K-2</a>. The chair is so different. It is innovative in how it's more efficient when pushing yourself and how it is easier to get to more places.<br />
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<a href="http://trekinetic.com/Real-life-Owners.php" target="_blank">Anyway, here's what Max had to say:</a><br />
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<i>I like the design and how this reflects on the user
(i.e. not medical and someone who cares about the way things look), and
its ability to go places which are difficult to tackle in a traditional
manual wheelchair.</i><br />
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<i>It's made a lot of difference to my life. It has enabled me to go
places I wouldn't have easily been able to go otherwise - beaches, mud
paths, gravel drives, etc. It has also enabled me to travel much more
easily - e.g. recently we went to Lisbon, full of cobbles and hills.</i><br />
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<i>Equally importantly, it allows my personality to be expressed more
accurately (i.e. I transcend being 'just another disabled person in a
wheelchair').</i><br />
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I, too, have transcended being "just another disabled person in a wheelchair". This chair is just miles above other chairs I've used/seen. And I'll tell you, once you see it in person, sit in it and give it a spin, I think you'll understand.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11721504987459620057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789871560323730057.post-65706269070303864582013-11-29T13:58:00.004-08:002013-11-29T14:07:03.528-08:00Stare me down!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhosm7tmNiG64hGpTVlT4VLmjgSjaz2veXH2S4XJlKg9lzx6nQNQIhmg-Bb5EDJAshQwhmZsUiArXoKB2xZnMp79ekTYl0JRuJyx-zMYZeoynTOpzJ3UKxpDmpAw7WPpKP8T3mLyfaJE_eW/s1600/lemonade-stand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhosm7tmNiG64hGpTVlT4VLmjgSjaz2veXH2S4XJlKg9lzx6nQNQIhmg-Bb5EDJAshQwhmZsUiArXoKB2xZnMp79ekTYl0JRuJyx-zMYZeoynTOpzJ3UKxpDmpAw7WPpKP8T3mLyfaJE_eW/s1600/lemonade-stand.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></a></div>
I just love the stares I get from people. I mean, I don't really, but I think that now they're staring more because of the chair and I like that.<br />
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Today (on Black Friday of course), we went to the famous <a href="http://www.ricesmarket.com/" target="_blank">Rice's Market</a> to do some crazed shopping. It is an outdoor flea market with some paved roads with big cracks and other areas with big stones. Apart from the droves of people choking the lanes, rolling over the uneven, and sometimes rocky terrain, was cake. It makes going out in the world so much easier. This chair (<a href="http://www.trekinetic.com/K2.php" target="_blank">the Trekinetic K2</a>) is like getting new legs.<br />
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I also love any downhill grades. This chair rolls so freely. It's fun to just let the chair go. Because of the great tracking the chair has, all I have to do is tweak the drum brake handles to slow my decent or guide the chair left or right.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11721504987459620057noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789871560323730057.post-20301541584766743542013-11-28T09:08:00.000-08:002013-11-28T09:08:15.059-08:00Thanks!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPkNMQuSpbjNlziWlhfdzpbhyoEoUN0MTJgsKbmJIawIIqYtVbno_X7-bjsPjp4iTKpPpru0NUu5xKUJTGhISZRNWquGJUeqcM-5sCZOh-8mk5IlJkVlEdXKBajA2V69gihefQWBQkztOM/s1600/thanksgiving13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPkNMQuSpbjNlziWlhfdzpbhyoEoUN0MTJgsKbmJIawIIqYtVbno_X7-bjsPjp4iTKpPpru0NUu5xKUJTGhISZRNWquGJUeqcM-5sCZOh-8mk5IlJkVlEdXKBajA2V69gihefQWBQkztOM/s1600/thanksgiving13.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
I could be resentful for riding my bicycle into a car in 1986, but if you think about it, I wouldn't be where I am today. I wouldn't have a beautiful family, a nice house and many wonderful friends. Granted, life has been tough the past few years and my abilities have declined a little, but life is tough for everyone in different levels every day. You never know what someone is going through...be thankful for what you have, no matter what!<br />
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I am thankful for my journey thus far. It has been an amazing ride and I plan on riding on for a good long time. I am thankful for my loving and caring wife. I love her so much and have loved her so these 19 years! I am thankful for my two wonderful boys who amaze me, make me smile continuously, and make me so proud. I am thankful for my wonderful parents who raised me right throughout the years and gave me such a wonderful existence. I am thankful for my extended family and that I get to see them frequently. I am thankful for Facebook and the internet being there for me to connect/reconnect with family and friends near and far. I am thankful for the beautiful, friendly, peaceful area I live in. While I grew up in Long Island and love it with all my heart, it has become over-crowded and too much to bear on a daily basis. I am thankful for the ability to make many friends and other people smile on a daily basis with my status updates and funny photos. I am thankful for all the different things that I experience on a daily basis, whether it be food, watches, beer, t-shirts, music, people, etc.<br />
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I am thankful to have found an amazing wheelchair (the <a href="http://trekinetic.com/K2.php" target="_blank">Trekinetic K-2</a>) that allows me to experience all that I used to experience when I was more mobile. It really is a joy to have and use. <br />
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Thank you all for being in my life, reading this, and have a thankful day!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11721504987459620057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789871560323730057.post-62194168596994147532013-11-27T17:29:00.002-08:002013-11-27T17:29:56.202-08:00Trekinetic: Reinventing the wheelchair <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNDzAlgbsnYRwhy7eV2ceto4py806cTuK76zcL2KgVhxRweQQfK3GZk_cuVobB2QHTyCcqwdGNCw8jGsQSC5YFn5TBvgK6I0YY-T-tU7w2m4INQQIPgaodla1NAaWTpJ4r2-KkavcRyGAF/s1600/wheelcha.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNDzAlgbsnYRwhy7eV2ceto4py806cTuK76zcL2KgVhxRweQQfK3GZk_cuVobB2QHTyCcqwdGNCw8jGsQSC5YFn5TBvgK6I0YY-T-tU7w2m4INQQIPgaodla1NAaWTpJ4r2-KkavcRyGAF/s1600/wheelcha.jpeg" height="218" width="320" /></a></div>
Here is a really good article about the birth of the Trekinetic K-2 wheelchair (and the GT-3 shown here and in the article) and how it became what it is today. The GT-3 is basically the K2, but geared for primarily city use. Because of the big wheels in the front, however, it still gives you the ability to go over just about anything. Also, the independent drum/disc brakes give you such amazing control steering/braking.<br />
<br />
Even though this article was written in 2008, it still rings very true. <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/features/trekinetic-reinventing-the-wheelchair-858190.html" target="_blank">You can find it here.</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11721504987459620057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789871560323730057.post-19096115793854946292013-11-25T11:33:00.000-08:002013-11-25T11:33:00.894-08:00Huffington Post and I are on the same cycle.Someone recently shared this article with me. It's along the same lines as <a href="http://mytrekinetic.blogspot.com/2013/11/murderball.html" target="_blank">yesterday's post about murderball</a>.<br />
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rachelle-friedman/10-things-you-shouldnt-say_b_4334039.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular" target="_blank">Here's the article from Huffington Post yesterday</a>!<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11721504987459620057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789871560323730057.post-88550335486738952962013-11-24T19:41:00.001-08:002013-11-25T06:33:44.451-08:00Murderball<div dir="ltr">
Maybe it's my uncanny resemblance to Mark Zupan, with my long goatee and all. Maybe it's my bad-ass, unique wheelchair. Maybe it was just the EMS sales associate trying to put his only knowledge of the active handicapped individual to good use. He said, "do you play Murderball?"</div>
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I said, "no, I use this amazing chair to go for hikes in the woods. Why else would I be shopping at Eastern Mountain Sports?" Needless to say, I went there to purchase a new Murderball outfit. I like the lightweight clothing and their amazing wicking ability. :P</div>
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<br /></div>
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Seriously, though...just because someone is disabled and in some wild looking chair, don't assume what the person does with the chair. It's not like all sports car drivers cars ever see a race track, or all SUV drivers drive off-road.</div>
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I could play Murderball. I am a quadriplegic/tetraplegic, so yeah I could. And I think, however, that if Murderball came out when I was in my late teens...I'd be all over that court. Sadly, quad rugby didn't get its start until a little later. Ah well...maybe I'll get a late start.</div>
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Can't you tell the resemblance? It's uncanny!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKHc2Jt8raSUE_hw4_-CaUixZVSzPH6JZndgQ5krKgfKvwzn6akuhhaQpNA8KNXFOCxOZEv18RdZOzQVtxr6Nmos8qeD7fJ2DpsNIWx3MA6FiOs6FeuUM03D-3MzOsdddWrDMeynpAhVcN/s1600/Screenshot_2013-11-24-22-44-18-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKHc2Jt8raSUE_hw4_-CaUixZVSzPH6JZndgQ5krKgfKvwzn6akuhhaQpNA8KNXFOCxOZEv18RdZOzQVtxr6Nmos8qeD7fJ2DpsNIWx3MA6FiOs6FeuUM03D-3MzOsdddWrDMeynpAhVcN/s640/Screenshot_2013-11-24-22-44-18-1.png" height="320" width="227" /> </a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlFdlSPEXs1gP_AsZGR0i-QZhS0uhUf49y2ogJjjLgxd4KopvR9pPGUObrN-0EkqH5F7P09Ly14QKhLr4FPWQxvUjB0pUbSzeJSst5be58UmDE8FjIdvJ3feB1awhCI_uxWL431CEWP59c/s1600/24248_1358239828791_5904034_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlFdlSPEXs1gP_AsZGR0i-QZhS0uhUf49y2ogJjjLgxd4KopvR9pPGUObrN-0EkqH5F7P09Ly14QKhLr4FPWQxvUjB0pUbSzeJSst5be58UmDE8FjIdvJ3feB1awhCI_uxWL431CEWP59c/s1600/24248_1358239828791_5904034_n.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11721504987459620057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789871560323730057.post-78997002261953103262013-11-23T10:32:00.000-08:002013-11-23T10:32:00.053-08:00Why front wheel drive is better<div class="ACC-Content ui-accordion-content ui-helper-reset ui-widget-content ui-corner-bottom ui-accordion-content-active" id="ui-accordion-accordion-panel-2" role="tabpanel" style="display: block;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhCfoNFzPOEKfgoy-shKpAzJRpPe3qR289liBRI03Jyd6_ZYtfHTmA9r8mbBtrCXqCpVgLAvPqn0OC6mJQYWrCwuZVuHKrhdlk9zdVMah-4wILMKnXwACpcr4rOT0SqHlFOj0ndbVSLFNL/s1600/20130811_140234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhCfoNFzPOEKfgoy-shKpAzJRpPe3qR289liBRI03Jyd6_ZYtfHTmA9r8mbBtrCXqCpVgLAvPqn0OC6mJQYWrCwuZVuHKrhdlk9zdVMah-4wILMKnXwACpcr4rOT0SqHlFOj0ndbVSLFNL/s1600/20130811_140234.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
"When you propel a traditional rear
propelled wheelchair, you are effectively pushing only against your body
weight. If you push hard enough, you might lift yourself out of the
chair. That limits how effectively you can push. <a href="http://trekinetic.com/Design-Benefits.php" target="_blank">Trekinetic</a> realized that
doesn't quite happen with front wheel propulsion, because the reaction
to pushing is resisted and supported by the backrest.<br />
<br />
The only reason it wasn't done before, is that nobody could make a
front wheel propelled 3 wheel chair run straight. <a href="http://trekinetic.com/" target="_blank">Trekinetic</a> finally solved this
with their innovative rear wheel bias system. Then they found their big
wheels at the front idea, had a totally unexpected ability. Namely that
the chair could traverse uneven and rough (off-road) surfaces with
unheard of ease. Even the power GTE model benefits from this
configuration."<br />
<br />
While these are the words of <a href="http://trekinetic.com/" target="_blank">Trekinetic</a>, I agree with what they are saying. It really is amazing having the wheels up front. It makes such a difference with the mechanics of pushing the chair. As I've said before, using the K2 is wonderful and the wheels up front made pushing seem easier, almost effortless in certain instances. Then hopping in my old chair, pushing seemed so foreign and wrong.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11721504987459620057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789871560323730057.post-18409333954744089272013-11-22T18:04:00.001-08:002013-11-22T18:04:20.442-08:00Contact me to try this amazing chair!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7XWYeC98etlVLRwamR3itoHToLsEr0uVdq5xfpTIwjl77eGNGsjZtpqfIctffoNOc3TF0AuAxcSjCT8Xur8vYLsCEJd479CDj0qdV0-4OjGWoyyk4wFM7VLviAzQySywWh341zooi3ezd/s1600/trekinetic+spindles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7XWYeC98etlVLRwamR3itoHToLsEr0uVdq5xfpTIwjl77eGNGsjZtpqfIctffoNOc3TF0AuAxcSjCT8Xur8vYLsCEJd479CDj0qdV0-4OjGWoyyk4wFM7VLviAzQySywWh341zooi3ezd/s1600/trekinetic+spindles.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
Here is a pic of the massive rear fork. The chair is so well made...I think these things are indestructible. You can see the fork in the photo below on the three chairs.<br />
<br />
I seriously want to take this puppy off road again. Even though I use it all over, it seems to beg for the rough...much like a sports car begging to have the throttle opened up wide.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjupMte0vvNGDPZ0c2hf5B1E7vzOekeEXiFtuql6-qTpHTEhfjVE6RZKApXpz_E5S-BJiNX5uPqGcVezhNB0Csoxfe-8Zd27LH1mdlaI7CBHDVBjDp-j9pLcpLmSSMnrSDaTAT4ELWgew/s1600/Free1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjupMte0vvNGDPZ0c2hf5B1E7vzOekeEXiFtuql6-qTpHTEhfjVE6RZKApXpz_E5S-BJiNX5uPqGcVezhNB0Csoxfe-8Zd27LH1mdlaI7CBHDVBjDp-j9pLcpLmSSMnrSDaTAT4ELWgew/s1600/Free1.jpg" height="190" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
...and while you can try these puppies out at the Science Museum of London, there are no places to try them out in the States...UNTIL NOW!<br />
Contact me (<a href="mailto:themacgigolo@gmail.com">themacgigolo@gmail.com</a>) if you are in the NY-Philadelphia region (or wish to travel here) to try my awesome Trekinetic K2. You won't be disappointed!<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11721504987459620057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789871560323730057.post-46259287823895087352013-11-21T11:58:00.001-08:002013-11-21T11:58:40.125-08:00The James Dinn Elevator<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCurAN-na6kShfMj7EFvQRRXmd8pPGLEuk6UeGpHvoUgHMqKn4K-JyPPinzVoPP4QMohtlADIcLx1H7sWiDCrK57C7CLOqE6w4lW8Z6Rz7Vi8Csqt1HnYsW_SOW7xvftOiTxsZrfezKE4j/s1600/elevator-buttons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCurAN-na6kShfMj7EFvQRRXmd8pPGLEuk6UeGpHvoUgHMqKn4K-JyPPinzVoPP4QMohtlADIcLx1H7sWiDCrK57C7CLOqE6w4lW8Z6Rz7Vi8Csqt1HnYsW_SOW7xvftOiTxsZrfezKE4j/s1600/elevator-buttons.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>Being a wheelchair user in school in southern California was great. Because of all of the tectonic movement, schools were separated into multiple buildings and spread out. All the lockers were outdoors (under overhangs) and this was true for both my middle school and high school. They had more of a college feel to them and with the lack of rain it was a wonderful setup.<br /><br />Well, all good things must come to an end. My father's time in California drew to a close. We had everything packed up, including a car, and had it all shipped back to NY. <br /><br />Back on Long Island, my high school was NOT handicapped accessible. All of my classes were moved to the first floor. Well, all except biology classes and art. Biology was in the basement. However, there was a driveway that went around behind the school to the lower level. I was DRIVEN down to those classes. Art was on the second floor. I did not have art in school. The library was also on the second floor. I never "set foot" in there. Luckily, I took private art classes at The Whedon Art Center and the Port Washington Public Library was accessible.<br /><br />Also, since I was the first wheelchair user (or one of the first), they allocated money to install and elevator. This excited me. I would have my own elevator! No one else would have the need to use it and it was because of me it was being installed…therefore it was mine. It's the little things.<br /><br />I was there for three years and by the time I graduated, my elevator was not installed. Construction had started, but no dice. I wasn't even contacted for the inaugural ride and I do not see a plaque in it that says "The James Dinn Elevator". Sad.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11721504987459620057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789871560323730057.post-58174843446114057192013-11-20T18:28:00.000-08:002013-11-20T18:38:59.294-08:00Strange things...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8AJ1dK3GnEr6waX0LYbVhrdPU9b4il0ZRY92ET-Cji1WPqfw9bgA7lP4vSHE0Tf6lQfTrZlYJbgwgm2Tply-WSm6uoJ9d1FfPSS_9dlV4TqdCjQzUPaegI5nIE-pH5GyVVskaNL0vj4T9/s1600/strand-bike-path2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8AJ1dK3GnEr6waX0LYbVhrdPU9b4il0ZRY92ET-Cji1WPqfw9bgA7lP4vSHE0Tf6lQfTrZlYJbgwgm2Tply-WSm6uoJ9d1FfPSS_9dlV4TqdCjQzUPaegI5nIE-pH5GyVVskaNL0vj4T9/s1600/strand-bike-path2.jpg" height="224" width="320" /></a></div>
My father used to work for Grumman/Northrop Grumman. In the mid-eighties he was part of a top secret team to come up with a stealth fighter. He, and a bunch of others, went to California to work with another company and compete against two other companies.<br />
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He went to California in April, 1985, when I was in 7th grade. I spent that summer (in between 7th and 8th grades) out there with him and had a blast. It was that summer that I started bike riding long distances with his boss on bike paths similar to the one pictured here.<br />
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When that summer was over, I came back east to continue school. Without my father around, and being in a different school (long story to be continued later, maybe), I didn't fare so well in the new surroundings.<br />
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In January, 1986, I was pulled out of that school and I moved out to California to live there. I enrolled in middle school out there and did fabulously. In three months time I was on the honor roll. Shortly after that, I had my accident. There was a certain amount of luck being injured just south of Los Angelee because I was near one of the best rehab hospitals in the country, Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center. <br />
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Strange things happen...maybe for a reason.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11721504987459620057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789871560323730057.post-85683701977816557902013-11-19T17:21:00.002-08:002013-11-19T17:21:33.668-08:00Don't judge a book...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCP9N-GTeIfbmaKR4MaPZa0boxJTRL-YHX0HJucrcGFBRlk_WxaIqG9m8Tuei7PY0Mujn50-Upq4SaXmBtYp0RGX4ZXzu0ek_8iNd2xlw5xf09dyiRlpmrPz5BrRz6RxjWgRSDZ4X7sTts/s1600/trekinetic-k2-wheelchair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCP9N-GTeIfbmaKR4MaPZa0boxJTRL-YHX0HJucrcGFBRlk_WxaIqG9m8Tuei7PY0Mujn50-Upq4SaXmBtYp0RGX4ZXzu0ek_8iNd2xlw5xf09dyiRlpmrPz5BrRz6RxjWgRSDZ4X7sTts/s1600/trekinetic-k2-wheelchair.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhsp24EFhRIZPlNCcx5-NZEHNQMwTg-5PjS0ya-gkgQ5xn89Bd6jMg4l6FLIq8MgPiqws9VAaUJ5cuOwFEnGf4QY6uwHHxjSj94xmRhoPFVhgY09MRg1T97MhUK3eUOxGJFAG0GpaZDBL/s1600/T26_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhsp24EFhRIZPlNCcx5-NZEHNQMwTg-5PjS0ya-gkgQ5xn89Bd6jMg4l6FLIq8MgPiqws9VAaUJ5cuOwFEnGf4QY6uwHHxjSj94xmRhoPFVhgY09MRg1T97MhUK3eUOxGJFAG0GpaZDBL/s1600/T26_0.jpg" height="182" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH2fw0ZmyVovRZ6pqoh9NczTdlfzzQcmWktJWJ6zw-z40AH3vBxr3xvQSLE8rX7fCqv-xJI6q2tDV8yi7YqXMLC2Inn37Pn0ddWATxK1LAQcFbhMvLLKXFt6ST7WSKhORpwiax1Q7_knA8/s1600/81651.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH2fw0ZmyVovRZ6pqoh9NczTdlfzzQcmWktJWJ6zw-z40AH3vBxr3xvQSLE8rX7fCqv-xJI6q2tDV8yi7YqXMLC2Inn37Pn0ddWATxK1LAQcFbhMvLLKXFt6ST7WSKhORpwiax1Q7_knA8/s1600/81651.png" height="144" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoX6s85CqkHL8uAPhSFQl0qPS08B34LbyqMfvbz4hCbG3bjMlHA-_fuLpJx_eFhWGwDDed1xdWBCxtPmBpGbLahLNRfCXb5Njyyj1uxjhoKslUdcNT0oQDAu36CYOXWi5lpBgaCY_kmi5t/s1600/Trek-Madone-2_1-in-red-black.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoX6s85CqkHL8uAPhSFQl0qPS08B34LbyqMfvbz4hCbG3bjMlHA-_fuLpJx_eFhWGwDDed1xdWBCxtPmBpGbLahLNRfCXb5Njyyj1uxjhoKslUdcNT0oQDAu36CYOXWi5lpBgaCY_kmi5t/s1600/Trek-Madone-2_1-in-red-black.jpg" height="138" width="200" /></a><br />
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While one might assume that because the <a href="http://trekinetic.com/K2.php" target="_blank">Trekinetic K2</a> (top right) has these bad-ass wheels and really kick-ass profile that it is strictly for off road/down-hill racing, that's not entirely true. This chair is totally rad and built for getting everywhere, but it is also built for everyday use.</div>
<br />
This is totally a "don't judge a book by it's cover" scenario. I've definitely come across people that have said, wow...is that a newfangled recumbent mountain bike? Or, hey, I have similar wheels on my mountain bike. <br />
<br />
Now, interestingly enough, I did get this chair primarily for its outdoor versatility, but I also did get it to replace my twenty-year-old, beat up Quickie (similar model to the yellow chair, top left). I can see that there are similarities to the specific bicycles shown here. There is a specific road bike and a specific mountain bike. <br />
<br />
There is a difference, though, in that with wheelchairs, you use them all the time. You sit in them day in, day out; whereas with bicycles you only use them for certain time frames. I mean, yes, there are certain chairs that you might only use for certain situations. For instance, rugby/basketball chairs are too modified to use everywhere or racing chairs are only used for road races.<br />
<br />
I must say, hopping in the K2 makes the day much more enjoyable and nothing stands in my way.<br />
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(Trek bicycles are only used as representations of all road/mountain bikes and I do not mean to show any allegiance to the brand).Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11721504987459620057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789871560323730057.post-56871723047200059982013-11-18T12:34:00.002-08:002013-11-18T12:35:20.812-08:00I was such a little punk.I was such a little punk.<br />
<br />
I HAD to get up onto the bike path if it was the last thing I did. I loved that bike path more than anything (apparently).<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA22Ow-7lU7jQy9EJlpinBvBWFnZ4yfcM3vHxdgv2WwgY5uqp6sujiHIiDOHmT9YGWdRCjv0o4Eqo_Z2ys21Js8HlJoWOg-guoDZmSKEA_QSzM6HwNcJKC2NRpYvF26vRuXfPOrBLXTJUY/s1600/Bridge_to_Nowhere_IMG_7125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA22Ow-7lU7jQy9EJlpinBvBWFnZ4yfcM3vHxdgv2WwgY5uqp6sujiHIiDOHmT9YGWdRCjv0o4Eqo_Z2ys21Js8HlJoWOg-guoDZmSKEA_QSzM6HwNcJKC2NRpYvF26vRuXfPOrBLXTJUY/s1600/Bridge_to_Nowhere_IMG_7125.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a>It was a path that went from Seal Beach (where I lived at the time) all the way up to the San Gabriel mountains...a 61 mile trip, one way. At the north end of this river is the famous "Bridge to Nowhere" where people hike to and bungee off. This path/trail was part of my journey that fateful day in March, 1986. To get to this bike path, you could enter from our apartment complex parking lot. There was a step down, a sandy trough then a steep hill up to the elevated path.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgozNqN6PyhPnkJqpmzkPuqvhdXI8wHs0B7xLDhl_F3tQjtJlBdZZRYiO9VysVoaDn4Kb2oc5AWU9dGHV1YSwuPOFb_b35o0gT7xceBOfL18Jx-J_GUnlOPbVFnjEcYXto3FoNdSAelsivc/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-11-18+at+3.06.46+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgozNqN6PyhPnkJqpmzkPuqvhdXI8wHs0B7xLDhl_F3tQjtJlBdZZRYiO9VysVoaDn4Kb2oc5AWU9dGHV1YSwuPOFb_b35o0gT7xceBOfL18Jx-J_GUnlOPbVFnjEcYXto3FoNdSAelsivc/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-11-18+at+3.06.46+PM.png" height="320" width="319" /></a><br />
However, this escapade brings us to maybe around June/July of the same year. I asked my father if he could get me up there. I wanted to check it out and I guess relive something of my pre-broken neck times just months before this day. What's a father to do? Deny his son this little harmless trip? No. What does he do? He pushes his son down the step and the front wheels of the chair drop down and get stuck in the sand. His son, with a giant cell phone tower bolted to his head, topples out of the wheelchair and bashes his metal framed head into the ground. I guess getting up onto the bike path was not meant to be.<br />
<br />
Fast forward 27+ years: the proper chair to do such a stunt would obviously be the <a href="http://trekinetic.com/" target="_blank">Trekinetic K2</a>. It would have easily transitioned down the drop and then be easily pushed up the hill to the top of the bike path.<br />
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(<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/crack-the-sky/with/5771116100/" target="_blank">photo on right © Gary Chapman</a>)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11721504987459620057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789871560323730057.post-7166610146281470092013-11-16T20:36:00.001-08:002013-11-16T20:58:23.521-08:00N.Y. Mets<p dir=ltr>So, here I was, a New Yorker in Dodger country (strange, also, that they were once a N.Y. team) during that epic year for the Mets...1986. I felt so removed from N.Y. and didn't really fit in.</p>
<p dir=ltr>Being just outside of L.A., they didn't show (or want to watch) the Mets on t.v. during the playoffs. So I'd wheel myself around in my wheelchair with a boombox on my lap, listening to the games. Then, some of the games I'd catch if I got a weekend pass. I know I saw one or two of the world series games on t.v. at a party.</p>
<p dir=ltr>It seemed fitting that my father sent me a video today referencing those Mets. It was of Connie, the owner of Finn MacCool's in Port Washington, recapping his experiences with those Mets of 1986. Port was the home to quite a few of the Mets because of the easy ride in on the train. Darryl Strawberry, just lived down the block from my house. </p>
<p dir=ltr>This is one of the reasons I love Finn's so much. </p>
<p dir=ltr><a href="http://www.fios1news.com/longisland/node/47694#.Uob0rxB5mSM">Here is that video.</a> Enjoy!</p>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11721504987459620057noreply@blogger.com0Port Washington, Port Washington40.825657 -73.69819tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789871560323730057.post-70172644910284263752013-11-15T19:04:00.000-08:002013-11-15T19:04:58.180-08:00Friends...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh111I45YNMHg8rT1aJoKdJGD88HBBqFBpYJ8XCSx8mLcKatnrpEeuhNy9f1tytwqXywfZqZyM6q2YaZ3Dwxl0Idhcb2D5aZ7RE_HGt0q6M7em_feRt_r-3geUaB38ngtJg3qt_3Oltwn01/s1600/1044104_10200758725064967_50042596_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh111I45YNMHg8rT1aJoKdJGD88HBBqFBpYJ8XCSx8mLcKatnrpEeuhNy9f1tytwqXywfZqZyM6q2YaZ3Dwxl0Idhcb2D5aZ7RE_HGt0q6M7em_feRt_r-3geUaB38ngtJg3qt_3Oltwn01/s1600/1044104_10200758725064967_50042596_n.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>I have the best friends in the world. There, I said it. Sure, I have over "1,000" friends on Facebook, but seriously, they are awesome.<br />
<br />
Some of these friends go to the next level, however. This is the story of one particular friend...<br />
<br />
When deciding upon the Trekinetic, I realized I'd have to pay $800 for shipping. Mike, of <a href="http://www.trekinetic.com/index.php" target="_blank">Trekinetic</a> fame, (seen standing with my chair) suggested flying over to pick up the chair or if I knew someone who would be in the London area around the end of June/beginning of July, I could have them retrieve the chair.<br />
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I haven't flown in like forever, and if I did fly there, what would I do with my old chair (which I'd have to travel with...). Not to mention the expenses of travel, room and board. I decided to not fly to London and retrieve my chair.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ZYpLxc1qUZQt1TBqzt5Cj8FgBTiiJUjrjjW0MUPR0TODHSSjyctIulFo6rxugTIP9znAty2lKgPu3uwIgqyqO9Uv-BiY7mui66vm8aG0S7HaPzaAzftIirae9PKDx2k-KsCCeIuoIGQL/s1600/1049000_10200749181946395_760936283_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ZYpLxc1qUZQt1TBqzt5Cj8FgBTiiJUjrjjW0MUPR0TODHSSjyctIulFo6rxugTIP9znAty2lKgPu3uwIgqyqO9Uv-BiY7mui66vm8aG0S7HaPzaAzftIirae9PKDx2k-KsCCeIuoIGQL/s1600/1049000_10200749181946395_760936283_o.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a>The other opportunity was to call in a major favor. My friend, Sarah, was going to Ireland and England during that time because her daughter was competing in the world championship Irish step dancing competition. I asked, no, pleaded on my knees to see if she would go out of her way and stop by the company and gather my new wheelchair and brelly (umbrella for people on this side of the pond). She originally said no, her itinerary was already booked solid. I bribed her with some decent IPAs and she eventually said yes. Actually she almost had to plead with me because i didn't want to put her out...she is the best.<br />
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<div>
While in London, she hired a car and went to the shop/factory. She met the one and only, Mike Spindle, creator of the wonder-beast! She then forced her daughter to wheel herself through the airport so that the chair would be put in the airplane's hold for free instead of me paying a shipping fee. Although, because the chair is so AWESOME, Hannah had a blast! E<span dir="ltr">veryone kept asking Sarah and Hannah about the chair and thought it was so cool, from security to other passengers, to the customs people, even!</span><br />
<div dir="ltr">
And they wheeled it empty most of the time (through the airport) and people wondered where the person for it was!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11721504987459620057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789871560323730057.post-78117626546941128242013-11-13T11:58:00.003-08:002013-11-13T12:18:58.698-08:00Ooh baby, it's magic!Now, as an able-bodied individual, you might think...what's all the hubbub...so it just has knobby tires and they're in front instead of the back. Big whoop!<br />
<br />
I'll tell ya, it is a big whoop. This summer at <a href="https://www.surpriselake.org/" target="_blank">Surprise Lake Camp</a>, I found everything to be so much easier. It really set my mind at ease. Dirt roads are the main paths everywhere and this year my older son was on the other side of the lake. Previously, I would walk places with a cane or a big stick. But really would time my walking so I wouldn't really need to move that much. I would also try to bum rides from the few people who drove around in the golf carts. Needless to say, I would rarely get to the other side of the lake if I didn't have this chair.<br />
<br />
It is almost magical. I kid...there's no magic involved, but it is a really cool chair. Having those big knobby tires up front really keep this thing moving. Down hills, across fields and rooty/rocky terrain and through the woods to grandmother's house we go... Also, with the wheels being further in front, there is a lot longer that your hands can be pushing. This helps a lot when pushing up hill. I was amazed at the difference it made.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHzdfSHMqX5Y1qBxfl1hlgngHHiLL9dbpqsspcBEkda18Rksf3u8A9ny8XOjJsO5kRh8TwzITmXmYh4XJ9W0E_ISL-dNkxMpbKw0UlfZyC9dybw0unu7o_nFkecg0xJGMuGrQy5I0rC_t/s1600/aussie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHzdfSHMqX5Y1qBxfl1hlgngHHiLL9dbpqsspcBEkda18Rksf3u8A9ny8XOjJsO5kRh8TwzITmXmYh4XJ9W0E_ISL-dNkxMpbKw0UlfZyC9dybw0unu7o_nFkecg0xJGMuGrQy5I0rC_t/s1600/aussie.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
There is also an issue that you run into when using normal/standard wheelchairs of tipping over while going up hill. You have to lean forward and you're always fighting to keep from tipping. Not having to worry about tipping is huge. While you do adjust the angle of the seat to be more upright, it doesn't change your purchase on the wheels and it actually makes going up hill easier.<br />
<br />
This here's a photo of Heidi in Western Australia. I can't tell if she's taunting the water or has just wheeled herself across this stream...<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11721504987459620057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789871560323730057.post-48691339365812724522013-11-12T15:21:00.001-08:002013-11-12T15:24:35.069-08:00Tennis, anyone?<div dir="ltr">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicrW0uQHxoVoIhJ9DYfuwsH8-o2OYGsK628vBwYbJInBLVwMfkN7mjllxQtIX4PbSwmiEF3tBNriV6mqJay_5fB4IJAqy1rVjB2YhtSAH0AFhakb0aM2xXne2dtTgip_DMeYW5ti37hRiO/s1600/527816_3733065717954_1909559167_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicrW0uQHxoVoIhJ9DYfuwsH8-o2OYGsK628vBwYbJInBLVwMfkN7mjllxQtIX4PbSwmiEF3tBNriV6mqJay_5fB4IJAqy1rVjB2YhtSAH0AFhakb0aM2xXne2dtTgip_DMeYW5ti37hRiO/s1600/527816_3733065717954_1909559167_n.jpg" /></a>In my teenage years, I found a love for tennis. I found a tennis pro in Oceanside, N.Y. who taught others in wheelchairs and went for lessons. I also used my time in gym class to focus on tennis skills.<br />
</div>
<div dir="ltr">
It was neat to not have to do any of the normal stuff in gym (well, in a chair, one couldn't really do all the normal stuff). I actually looked forward to gym.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Tennis in a wheelchair is great. It is one of the few sports you can play against able-bodied people. As a quad (quadriplegic), I am allowed two bounces to return the ball, other than that, all the other rules are the same.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
With all of these lessons and practice, I became quite good (imagine that!). What was I to do with all this skill? Well, it turns out that there were quite a few tennis tourneys around locally and nationally. I entered and traveled to different places around the US for tournaments. I played in Flushing, NY, at the US Open site which was really cool. I even met Ed Koch there one year. I also played in a tournament near New Haven, CT, which is where I was first given the nick-name "Walking-Talking Quad". Another multi-day tournament brought me out to the west coast to Costa Mesa, CA.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Pictured here, I am in my first chair (prior to the yellow rigid chair I still have now and just recently replaced with the <a href="http://trekinetic.com/K2.php" target="_blank">K2</a>). It was a sporty fold up style chair. I had a metal bar added to the push handles in back to give it some rigidity. It did not however come with enough batteries to power these pants which appear to be brighter than the tennis ball!<br />
<br />
Song to accompany today's blog post: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MB2f6-U72Zk">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MB2f6-U72Zk</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11721504987459620057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789871560323730057.post-77627686510418525942013-11-11T10:26:00.001-08:002013-11-11T10:26:50.366-08:00Let it snow, let it snow!I'll tell you this...I am a snow bunny. I love snow. I love how it makes everything look the same. You can have a crappy looking yard with stuff strewn everywhere, but with a blanket of snow it'll look just like your neighbor's well-manicured, insanely-green-all-winter lawn.<br />
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There have definitely been some instances where I feel like I haven't been able to participate because of the snow on the ground. I can't wait to get in my chair and go places and do things this winter! Just having the peace of mind and just being able to do will make everything all the much better!<br />
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Over the years using the old style wheelchair, I have definitely just become used to the face that there are just certain things I couldn't do. Whether this be going out in the snow, going for hikes, watching soccer/lacrosse games on the field, I would just pass and hear about the games second hand.<br />
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Now, with the <a href="http://trekinetic.com/" target="_blank">Trekinetic K2</a>, I don't have to be left out or stay behind. I have a chair that is like a mountain bike. But I also have a chair that can be used all the time, kind of like a pair of multi-use sneakers. Yes, I can use them on the trail, but hey, I can also use them in the office or at a mall.<br />
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BRING ON THE SNOW!<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkQoVDzMnNw" target="_blank">Check out this lady trying out her new Trekinetic in the snow!</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11721504987459620057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789871560323730057.post-33729403157358640842013-11-10T09:47:00.000-08:002013-11-10T09:47:23.930-08:00How it got started...An overview of <a href="http://www.trekinetic.com/index.php" target="_blank">Trekinetic</a>...<br />
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<div class="ACC-Content ui-accordion-content ui-helper-reset ui-widget-content ui-corner-bottom ui-accordion-content-active" id="ui-accordion-accordion-panel-0" role="tabpanel" style="display: block;">
Trekinetic All Terrain Limited was originally a
state of the art engineering company (under a different name) that
specialized in the manufacture of components for the Motor Racing and
Formula 1 industries. Some of the worlds most iconic road and track
vehicles, were originally built on components manufactured in their
factory.<br />
<br />
Back in 2000, they decided that there must be a way to get this cutting
edge technology before a wider audience. But which was the product that
could best benefit from such advanced technology?<br />
By chance, they stumbled upon the everyday wheelchair. Alarmingly, it
was still based upon an antiquated metal tube chassis design. This
technique had been abandoned by most automobile manufacturers in the
1950's, when they switched to unitary construction. Yet wheelchair
manufacturers were still employing it. Why hadn’t they moved on?<br />
<br />
Six years, 14 running prototypes and thousands of modifications later,
the now definitive Trekinetic 3 wheel, manually propelled K-2 was
unleashed upon the world in 2006. It was not entirely ready and not
everybody was convinced. However, many wanted to know more and within 2
weeks the fledgling Trekinetic website had rocketed from zero to over
13,000 hits. Plus they had their first few orders.<br />
<br />
Nowadays, you would be surprised to know, how many people rely on the
K-2 for daily transport. From the remotest corners of the globe, to the
most exclusive city streets, all their customers share the same open
minded approach to life. And with their Trekinetic they are going to get
as much out of it as possible.<br />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11721504987459620057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789871560323730057.post-78975929403257701992013-11-09T13:42:00.000-08:002013-11-09T13:42:02.267-08:00Brake time.Well, not a day goes by that I regret getting the Trekinetic K2.<br />
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I set out today to hang out in a field and do some fishing at a small lake. I went early and scoped out the land. If I had come here with my old chair, it would've been a hassle to wheelie all the way across the field and to the lakeside.<br />
<br />
I had no trouble what-so-ever. I was able to manage the uneven terrain without a lick of trouble. It is such a nice feeling to know that the terrain I encounter in this behemoth will NOT stand in my way!<br />
<br />
One of the parts of the chair that I think is awesome is the way the brakes work and got to use them quite a bit today. Zipping down the hill is so much fun. Having the brake handles right on the inside of the wheels make them easy to grab, but they're just enough out of the way you don't get your hands caught on the handles when pushing. This makes flying down a hill better because you can ease on the brakes and slow your decent. Then, when I got to the lakeside, I engaged the brakes so I could fish and not have to worry about readjusting the wheels or worrying about rolling into the water.<br />
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These are not your normal disc brakes that you see on mountain bikes or some other wheelchairs. The way they're set up is that if you pull on the lever, the brake pads expand and press on the inside of the wheel hub. They're internal so they're kind of protected from the elements. Also, when you push the levers all the way forward they engage a parking brake mode. Ingenious!<br />
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Stop by tomorrow to see what I write. ;)<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11721504987459620057noreply@blogger.com0