Wheelchair racing

A wheelchair racing is a sport equipment and wheelchair users is the possibility of a sport that is very similar to that of running in athletics exercise. Here are almost all distances, as in athletics, competition course as possible.

History

The history of racing wheelchair begins in the 1970s with modified wheelchairs and everyday DIY projects, which were used by 20 kms around at the first race in Meckenbeuren on distances. 1980, shortly after the Paralympics in Arnhem, Errol Marklein developed with the company Quickie (today Sunrise Medical ) the track. This was as a native of the USA Top End of the first mass-produced racing wheelchairs in the world.

The early models were still four wheels, but this proved to be a disadvantage: Due to the low directional stability too many direction corrections were necessary, had a negative impact on the speed. Later models were therefore only three wheels and had little resemblance to everyday wheelchairs. In 1983, lighter and larger wheels were used as previously, from 1985, took advantage of you, significantly larger front wheels and ergonomic seating solutions, from 1986 to the feet of the drivers were always farther to the rear, in order to achieve a more dynamic seat position. Three-wheeled models sat down finally from 1987, from 1989 was a built-in steering mechanism for the stadium curves usual, then changed the design of the racing wheelchairs, apart from an extension of the frame, no longer decisive.

With the advent of hand cycles, which allows higher speeds and steeper slopes, the number of wheelchair racing driver went back.

Technology

Racing wheelchairs are made ​​of lightweight materials as possible. The rear wheels usually have a strong fall, are larger than the drive wheels of conventional wheelchairs and have grip rings with significantly smaller diameter. The driver sits in a crouching position in the device, the legs, if any, bent under the seat The single front wheel is far ahead of the seat unit and can be determined so that meander driving is possible on a predetermined path. A circuit or other translation aids are not allowed. The driver's hands are protected by gloves or tape, in addition use many drivers a spoke protector.

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