Cheers for the info Dan. That voucher scheme sounds like a great, simple idea. I’ll ask the OT assessing lady if there’s something similar over here. I’m actually excited about getting my wheels now! Yesterday, with my crutch, I only managed a walk from my car to a shoe shop in the shopping centre before my leg just didn’t want to do it anymore. Hobbled back to car cross and disappointed. It’s great to read all your opinions from people who have actual experience.
I recently purchased a G-Lite Por self Propelled folding wheelchair from Careco (www.careco.co.uk).
The chair is light and compact. Even I can lift it if needs be. I have SPMS and and now as week as dish water.
The chair has been great and a big improvement on my previous chair, which although considered light was pretty cumbersome and too heavy for me.
My new chair is now my new best friend and I can’t speak highly enough of it.
You can take a look at one here (G-Lite PRO Self Propelled Wheelchair - Light Folding Manual Wheelchair)
Don’t forget to add the anti-tip attachments as well if you think they will be required. They add to the price of course, but in my case are well worth it.
Obviously wheelchair choice and subsequent use very different for each individual.
Please remember to get as much professional advice as you able to and be prepared to want to change your wheelchair as you grow accustomed to your new means of transport.
My previous chair was an Enigma Spirit SP. If you would like a first hand account of either please feel free to ask me.
Oh by the way. I’m not on the staff so I’m not trying to drum up anybody’s sales!
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Hi Poppy,
Are you working? I had the possibility of a lightweight chair (Quickie) I think through Access to work. They were brought to my workplace to try but I couldn’t manage to self propel up the steep incline from the car park. In the end they bought me a scooter to get from car to desk (which I eventually used pretty full time in work).
Sandy
That’s great Sid. Thank you. I’ll check out the link. 
I work from home Sandy, thankfully.
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Love the look of that G-lite pro. Just the sort of thing i had in mind. I think I’m just going to have to wait till my assessor turns up, see what’s on offer. I’ll probably use it for a while to see how I get on and then have an idea what I want/need. Hopefully.
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self propelling chair is exhausting hun so you wont be much better off than with crutches.
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Oh, well that’s uplifting. I don’t intend to be using it permanently, just to let me go further than my crutch allows me to at the moment. I understood the newer ones are lightweight and nippy. I guess time will tell. My ot visits me tomorrow and I’ll get a trial one.
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You’re welcome Poppy. I think the more advice you can get the better. Professionals are obviously the best and first on the list. After them other users come a very close second.
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Just an update on my new, first, chariot I got today. Provided at no cost to me by the HSE (Irish nhs) I was dreading what I’d be given. I’m impressed. It’s an Excel G3, similar to what you have Sid, but not as light. It’s about 17kg. It’s fairly heavy for me to manage with the car boot, but it doesn’t look clunky. I’ll just have to see how I get on I guess. I’m very grateful for this to get me started and get used to.
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Wow Poppy,
Thought you were going for an assessment and you came out with wheels.
Good old HSE (Irish)
Good luck and don’t forget the L plates.
Jen x
I know Jen! Lady came to house Tuesday to assess. When she realised I’m going on holiday in 2 weeks and would have to hire one when there, she organised it for me to collect on today so I could have a few practice runs. She’ll get back in touch in a few weeks and see if I need to have a “fitting” for any adjustments. I’m sure I’ll be fine. I hope it doesn’t take me too long to get the hang of it. I’m certain I’ll be looking at buying the lighter model like Sid has above though, in time.
Went for my first solo ride with my new wheels today. Hmmm…
My upperbody is quite strong but I have to say, it was an effort to get it in/out of my back seat. I didn’t take off wheels or foot rests. Surely this hasn’t to be done each time I get it in/out? I also found it doesn’t “free-wheel”, as in, when I propel. Once I take my hands off the wheel grippy things, to replace them for another roll, it doesn’t keep going. Is this how they work? I’ve seen some people roll/glide along seemingly effortlessly! Now you experts are probably laughing at me, but I just don’t know what to expect. Is this the norm, am I not propelling myself strongly enough, or is it only expensive chairs that are easier? It wasn’t tiring or anything, just not moving very fast!! Hope this makes some sense.
Just bumping this up. Any thoughts folks please?
Hi Poppy
Just to check I understand you right, do you mean that when you’ve done a push & let go of the push rims, the chair very quickly comes to a stop? If so, there’s a few things that could be causing that - the gradient, smoothness of the pavement, how hard you’ve pushed, or the weight of the chair, smoothness of the wheel’s ball bearings, and how firm the tyres are (if you happen to have pneumatic tyres rather than solid rubber, make sure they’re pumped up as hard as possible.)
And then, of course, part of it is simply getting used to it. You can give a more powerful push if you lean further forward (if the backrest leans back too much, it would be worth getting it adjusted so you’re sat more upright). Also, you’ll get more power if you place your thumb and heel of your palm on the tyre, with your fingers then holding onto the push rim. I always do that for the first few pushes, or if I’m going uphill. I strongly recommend you get some wheelchair gloves as well. Globaleather fo a range of wheelchair gloves that like fingerless cycling gloves but with a full length thumb. Google it & you’ll find them.
I hope that helps, and you soon pick up speed If you’ve got any other questions then ask away.
Dan
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Oh Dan thank you. That is so helpful. That’s exactly what I was trying to convey. Hubby did some adjustments yesterday, one of them making the backrest more upright. He did a few demos and you’re right, I need to put my arms further back and use a longer, more forceful push. I already realised I’m gonna need gloves. I’ll check out your recommendation. If all fails, I may take a small loan out and look at Quickie and Tilite. Thanks again.
Something I did notice…it was like the parting of the red sea as I approached people. They leapt aside to make room for me! I remarked on their consideration to hubby. He laughed at me and said it was fearing for their ankles on seeing the look of grim determination on my face!!
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Hi Poppy, i’m really (Wheelie) pleased that you got your chair for your holiday
Starting your push stroke as far back as is comfortable for you is great advice, but start slowly with this as it can cause shoulder injury if you’re to ambitious, YouTube has some great tutorials on how to learn new techniques when you’re first starting out in a chair, i was lucky to get on a 2 day wheelchair skills course which taught me a huge amount (maybe you might have something similar in your area ?) when you get into a lighter chair you will notice a very big difference in how easy it is to roll along without having to put as much effort in, a couple of good pushes with mine (on the flat) and i can roll for ages (my chair weighs in at under 6kg though) if you’re not a fan of wearing gloves (like me) have a look at the “Natural fit Push Rims” thankfully my wheels came with these already fitted (and i love them) but i think they are around £250+ to buy 
i guess it will depend on how much you intend to use your chair as to whether these will be worth buying or not
I hope it all goes well for you
Jemma
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Love this site. You guys are so helpful.
I’m off to check out youtube now. Going to take a two hour drive on Monday with hubby, to a wheelchair specialist company. Want to try out what has been recommended here. If I can fiind something that suits at a fair price, I might be tempted to buy. I have to look at it as an investment. I mean the speed my mobility has deteriorated is crap and my ms isn’t going to go away, is it…
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Hi Poppy, just curious to know how you got on with your trip to the Wheelchair specialist ?
Jemma x
Hi jemma. After reading what Sid said about the G lite pro, and reading all the reviews on the web, I decided to just go for it. Ordered it online Monday, delivered Wednesday. Did town with it today. Brilliant! I couldn’t even lift the NHS “lightweight” one, Excel G 3. Would never have managed it on my own, in and out of the car. Made of steel, it was going to be heavy. This one I can manage fine on my own, it’s much easier to propel too. I was getting more revolutions from my propelling. Mind you, my right arm was tired after a while. I’m hoping that will build up in time. I paid €230 plus 10 delivery and I’m pleased. Hubby left his rollater in the car and pushed me easily enough towards the end of the afternoon. Will be happy taking this on holiday with me. It’s going to allow me to get to places I couldn’t last year. Happy!!!
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That’s great news Poppy and don’t worry about your arm aching a little to start with, you’l soon get used to it and be whizzing around
Jemma
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