SoloRider Golf Cart

In 2005 we were lucky enough to begin using a SoloRider regularly, after the City of Steamboat purchased one for the Haymaker Golf Course, a Scottish Links course in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Needless to say, it’s great to be back on the links!

Overall Rating: ***** 5 Stars

Pros:
Front mounted rack for your clubs
Soft swivel captain’s chair for easy transfers and play
Hand controls
Reasonable price

Cons:
Play time is lengthened with any adaptive cart
Chest strap can be uncomfortable after time
Potential extra charge for adaptive cart usage


Review:
I have actually tried out several different brands of accessible golf carts over the years and of the ones that I have tried so far, the SoloRider has proven to be the most dependable. The front mounted rack for your clubs is very convenient and the swivel captain’s chair makes transfers very manageable. With the addition of hand controls and easy to use waist and chest straps, this cart is really quite amazing. Its lightweight design and special weight distribution and soft tires allow you to go anywhere on the course, including the greens and sand traps. The price is also surprisingly reasonable when purchased through a golf course at just a couple thousand more than standard carts.

The initial problems I ran into included whether or not there was an extra cost to rent the cart, even though we really don’t have a choice of whether to walk or ride and whether or not the cart was charged and ready to go when I arrived. Again, not problems with the cart, but the course getting used to having one that someone used on a regular basis.

Another issue you will run into is that you cannot golf with a friend who is disabled that would use the same cart unless the course has two carts. Golfing is also heavy exercise despite what you might think about riding around in this cart. I usually only have the stamina for 9 holes. And if you are hitting balls on the driving range, make sure to take a break every ten or so swings. As I mentioned, the chest strap is great for holding you up, but it really digs into your chest if you hang on it too long. Last, play time is definitely lengthened by the time it takes to set up with this cart, although this decreases with practice and is inevitable with any adaptive cart.

Overall, I would recommend this cart to anyone or any course who is interested in buying one. Golf courses can get financial aid from the USGA with a well-written grant application. The pros definitely outweigh the cons here. As I always say, anytime you can get out of your wheelchair and leave it behind gives you an incredible sense of freedom and independence. Now got our there and hit some balls!


LOOKING FOR A SOLORIDER NEAR YOU?
Check out their database of equipment on courses at:
http://www.mobilitygolf.com/

Invacare XLT Pro Review

by Matt Strugar-Fritsch
Rating: 4/5 stars

I received my Invacare XLT Pro in July of 2004 with stock shimano XT cranks and standard quick release wheels. As parts wore out and I began to focus more on racing and riding long distances, I began to replace and upgrade parts accordingly. Today the only original parts on the bike are the frame, seat and right shifter/brake lever. Overall this bike has performed remarkably well, however there are certain limitations inherent in its design which can limit the performance, adjustability and comfort of the machine.

For a paraplegic, the front mounted horizontal shifter/break lever setup on the cycle is easy to adapt to and effortless to execute. It is easy to flick out a finger on the down stroke to shift both the front and rear derailleur in nearly any riding condition, allowing the user to adapt to terrain “on the fly” instead of relying on intuition to choose the right gear ratio for what lies ahead.

One disadvantage to the stock crank set was the inability to pedal and turn the cycle concurrently due to the cranks clipping my legs. This, in addition to the lack of leverage per revolution that is achieved with V style cranks (which now come stock on this machine) led me to upgrade to V cranks after one year of riding.

After upgrading to the V cranks (length 220mm, width 22 inches) I immediately noticed the increase in leverage which helped dramatically when climbing hills and slightly increased my average riding speed. I also noticed that the V cranks positioned my hands just outside my shoulders with my elbows slightly elevated. This setup utilizes the muscles of the shoulders and back much more than previously. In the long run, more functional muscle groups is an advantage, but in the short run it caused considerable pain and muscle fatigue as my body acclimated to the new riding position.

This handcycle comes stock with a road crown compensator which I feel is one of the bikes greatest assets. An on the fly adjustment of this lever allows you to fine tune the angle of the front wheel to compensate for the downward slope that most roads and sidewalks unfortunately feature.

The biggest downfall of this machine I feel is the lack of adjustability of its seat position. After 3 years of adjustments, it seems that there are only a few functional seat angles that can be achieved on this machine, rendering it nearly impossible to dial in the reclined angle that is desired by most high level paraplegics on the racing circuit. Invacare realized this flaw and recently launched a new bike, the Top End Force, which caters to this demographic much more suitably.

Overall I am more than satisfied with the quality, durability, design and performance of this machine. It is an excellent machine for everyone from the newly injured to the seasoned veterans and I couldn’t agree more with what they say in the bikes promotional material, and that is: “If you want a great way to exercise, cross-train or just have fun, the Invacare Top End Excelerator XLTPRO is what you're looking for!"