Wheelchair Racing

History Classification Measurement Guidelines Wheelchair Racing History • 1986 Top End was founded • 1986-1990 were all 4 wheel designs • 1990 first 3 wheel design • 1992 Barcelona Paralympics Top End Eliminator OSR

• Today’s Top End Eliminator OSR is custom built of aircraft aluminum, equipped with fenders, a precise steering system and has optional carbon fiber wheels.

Step One: Determine Cage Style First time athletes Experienced Athletes Classification of T51 or T52 Classification of T53 or T54 • Athlete has limited balance • Athlete has good balance • Injury level T-10 or above • Injury level T-10 or below • Needs more “squeeze” or • Position is more flat, less bucket “squeeze” • Open V: Allows both • U Cage: Kneeling only Kneeling OR traditional feet position with fitted cage and forward position knee plate – Recommended due to stiffness • Existing racing chair and positioning choices required for measurement • I Cage: Traditional feet process forward position only – Not as stiff but easiest transfer

Step Two: Complete SV1 or KU1 Form

Open V Cage: Measuring V Depth and Cage Depth

V Depth: (number 3) Cage Depth: (number 4) 25” or 26” 15” is standard • Longer depth allows for Hint: 1. Athletes with high SCI injuries or more transfers and legs have less balance position knees high for balance need shorter cage depths 2. Athletes with low SCI injuries, amputees and have good balance position knees lower and like standard or 1” longer depth I Cage: Measuring Cage Depth

Cage Depth: (number 4) 15” is standard Hint: 1. Athletes with high SCI injuries or have less balance position knees high for balance need shorter cage depths 2. Athletes with low SCI injuries, amputees and have good balance position knees lower and like standard or 1” longer depth U Cage: Measuring Knee Width, Kneel Height & Depth Knee Width (number 5) Kneel Depth: (number 6) • Measure width of knees 18” is standard Hint: together straight across 1. Athletes with higher SCI injuries or have less balance position knees high for balance need shorter cage depths 2. Athletes with low SCI injuries, amputees and have Kneel Height (number 4) good balance position knees • Determine height by using lower and like standard or existing chair 1” longer depth • Height is fixed with a welded aluminum knee plate • Hint: Error on low side so that athlete can reach pushrims. Use foam to position higher if needed. Measuring Axle Position

Axle Position (number 5) Hints: • Typically 5”-8” • 5” for lower amputees • Determined by • 6” for T51/T52 or those classification/amount of with SCI T-10 or above balance • 7” for T53/T54 or below T- • More balance=greater 10 axle position • 8” for tall athletes in class • 6” is minimum for T53/T54 kneeling position • Exception is amputees who have less weight on front end Measuring Seat Heights

Rear Seat Height (number 6) Front Seat Height (number 7) • 18” front seat height is • 17” rear seat height is standard and minimum for standard kneel position • 17” is minimum for kneel Hint: must be able to reach the position pushrim • Athletes with long trunks sit in lower position • Athlete with short trunk sit with higher seat heights • Adjustable seat upholstery allows for adjustment Selecting Camber & Overall Length

Camber: (number 8) Overall Length: (number 9) • 11, 12, 13 or 15 degrees • Dependent on athlete’s height • Helps athletes reach the • Shorter chairs are easier to bottom of pushrim with less maneuver on track injury • Longer chairs offer more • Camber give chair more stability and speed on for road stability in corners • Heights of 5’ to 5’6”= 72” • Track racers choose: 12 or • Heights of 5’6” to 6’= 74” 13 • Heights of over 6’:=76” • Road racers choose: 11 Selecting Wheel Size and Type

Wheel Size Wheel Type • 700C – standard for almost • Standard Wheels: all adult men and women – 28 spoke clincher with • The larger wheel equals clincher tires • Clincher tires have tube and more top end speed and is a tire separate and save on must for the serious racer replacements • Fender helps shorter armed • Carbon wheel Upgrade: people use a 700C wheel – Corima Carbon Fiber 4 spoke and protects against chaffing • Tubular Tire only • 26” is an option for children – Corima Carbon Fiber Disk or adults with very short • Tubular Tire only arms – Zipp Carbon Fiber Disk • Tubular Tire only

Selecting Pushrim Diameter & Footrests Rubber Coated Pushrims Footrests: • Average is 15" for men • ABS Plastic footrest with strap • Average is 14" for women is standard • This depends on arm length • Attaches on the long main and power frame • – Athlete’s feet are secured using Range is 12" – 16“ the 3 positioning straps which • Most good racers have tried are included (25", 30", 35"). many sizes over time • Optional clamp-on adjustable fixed footrest – Adjustable both in height and length – Clamps to the main frame and provides a rigid surface for the feet which is sometimes easier to use for higher level injuries Other Frame Options • Solid Seat

• Cut out Axle – Creates more room for legs with low seat heights • Steering Handles/Track controls – Horizontal handles are standard and aerodynamic – Vertical handles used for athletes with less forward reach – Bottom mount is standard – Top mount preferred by road racers for areodynamics – Oval steering option topendwheelchair.com Option Photos