Stranger in a Strange Market

07.23.2008 | 12:12 am

A Note from Fatty: Thanks go out to Adam, Dug, Jill, Jim, Kent, Brad, and Bob (and mgrinrr, who had the initiative, good sense, and moral courage to self-tag, thus innoculating against leprosy), each of which has been wise enough to avoid leprosy and get in on the ground floor of what I predict will be the most awesomely successful blog meme in the history of awesome blog memes. Surprisingly, both Dug and Jim made the distinction between giving up ice cream and giving up gelato. Coincidence, or separated at birth? You decide.

A Late-Breaking Note from Fatty: Bike Snob NYC has wisely elected to avoid leprosy. Read his response here.

There are certain memories that stick with you forever. One of mine is my shopping experience for my first serious mountain bike. I had no idea what I was looking for, but the manager of the bike shop — Scott Calhoun — was someone I knew, liked, and trusted.

“What bike should I get?” I asked.

“This one,” he said, indicating the Specialized Stumpjumper M2.

“Well, what bike do you ride?” I asked.

“This one,” he said, indicating the exact same bike.

That sold me.

Since then, I’ve moved from being the guy who needs to ask a trusted expert what bike to buy to being the guy (notice I didn’t say “trusted expert” when referring to myself) other people ask. I know most of the brands and models, and if I don’t know, I can quickly find out.

I’ve become so comfortable with bikes that I’ve forgotten exactly how strange and confusing shopping for a bike must be to someone looking to buy their first (or second, or whatever) serious bike.

For example, take a look at these two bikes:

 langster

tarmac

You, of course, can probably tell that there are masive differences between these two bikes. The one on top is a singlespeed. The one on the bottom is carbon. The one on top is clearly a ride-around-town bike; the one on the bottom is for serious racing.

But try this experiment: show the above two images to someone who doesn’t know anything about bikes. They will probably note that both bikes are from Specialized. They may think the decals on the top bike look a little bit cooler and that the one on the top comes with pedals, while the one on the bottom does not.

They probably will not deduce that the bike on top has an MSRP of $690, while the one on the bottom has an MSRP of $8500.

OK, to be honest, I also am a little bit dumbfounded at the price on the S-Works Tarmac SL2. I mean, no matter how much awesomeness they add to the bike, it’s still just a Specialized. Isn’t owning a Tarmac SL2 is like having the most awesomely tricked out Toyota Corolla in the world?

OK, I’m drifting away from my point in a big way, here. I need to reel myself in.

Back to Novice Land
Today, I was reminded of how confusing it is to be a rank novice shopping for a new bike, because — once again — I am a rank novice, shopping for a different kind of ride.

I’m in the market for a scooter for Susan. No, not like this:

vespa

More like this:

odyssey

You see, Susan hardly ever asks for anything. And she even more hardly ever asks for anything big. So when she, this morning, said she’d really like to have something that would let her ride around the neighborhood so she could walk the girls to school, or go with us to the park, or otherwise just get around without having to be pushed or driven, well, I was immediately all over it.

Until, of course, I got completely overwhelmed by the price range, feature variety, and incredibly variance in brands and models, even as I could not tell any difference at all between a $700 scooter and a $4000 one.  

I mean, it’s worse than not knowing which scooter brands I should be looking at. I don’t even know what kind of questions I should be asking. I’m like the guy who comes into a bike shop, interested in buying a bike to get in shape, but to whom it’s never even occurred that there may be different kinds of bikes for trails and pavement, and that maybe I should know which I want to do.

Do I want three wheels, or four? I dunno.

How long should I expect the battery to last? Beats me.

Which brands are the most reliable? No idea.

What’s a reasonable top speed? Or should I even care?

Does it even matter whether there’s a light system and traffic signals? I don’t think Susan’s going to take this thing downtown (I’m pretending here that Alpine, UT has a downtown).

What I need is a trusted advisor — someone who can just tell me the right scooter to get, because they know all about this kind of thing.

Which is, frankly, why I’m writing this post. The nice thing about having a few thousand people check in on you you daily is that there’s a good chance someone out there is a mobility scooter expert. So, scooter expert person, supposing that price isn’t really an object, what scooter should I be getting for Susan? (Please feel free to email me and we can go into details.)

And to the rest of you: Thanks. When you bought jerseys or sent in donations, you made it so I can get Susan as nice of a scooter as I think she deserves, without worrying much about cost.

And besides, no matter how nice the scooter, it won’t cost a third as much as a Tarmac SL2.

55 Comments

  1. Comment by buckythedonkey | 07.23.2008 | 2:02 am

    Sorry mate, I know nothing about mobility scooters. If your looking for multi-petabyte, replicated, compliant data storage, well, I’m your man.

    > as nice of a scooter as I think she deserves

    That’s going to be one hell of a nice scooter then!

    WIN SUSAN!

  2. Comment by aussie kev | 07.23.2008 | 2:13 am

    glad my jersey will help susan get round, all i know is red is faster !!!!!

    allez cadel

    k

  3. Comment by Michaela | 07.23.2008 | 2:19 am

    Maybe you could ask around at one of the various doctors. I would imagine that Susan isn’t the first person that has wanted one of these things (Lets face it, who of us HASN’T wanted one at some point or another?) and I would think that one or another of the doctors has some knowledge, or knows of someone trustworthy that can point her (you) in the right direction.

    I do know that one in the pictures is awful shiny and purdy. Also, in my mind, I would think 4 wheels would be more stable then 3, and if she’s looking to go around a park where there might be some uneven ground, that may be helpful.

    (Excuse me. I know this is rambling and silly sounding. But it is 4:15 AM here on the East Coast :))

  4. Comment by BillFrog | 07.23.2008 | 2:28 am

    Scooters r us. Well, sort of. Mail on its way to you, Fatty. Let me know if it doesn’t arrive.

  5. Comment by Carolyn | 07.23.2008 | 6:10 am

    I wish I knew something about scooters so I could help you. All I know is that on Seinfeld George would sing, “My baby takes the morning train…” on his scooter. That probably doesn’t help.

    As always, thinking of you guys.

  6. Comment by UphillBattle | 07.23.2008 | 6:24 am

    Fatty, check with the local physical rehab center or if Susan has a “social worker” at the cancer center. They are good sources for this kind of info.

  7. Comment by Daddystyle | 07.23.2008 | 6:50 am

    Sorry fatty, no help here. Good luck with the search.
    Used crutchs and a wheel chair once but that’s not quite the same thing.

  8. Comment by Lizzylou | 07.23.2008 | 7:02 am

    I don’t know about features and such, but my advise would be to get a nice pink one. I’ve never seen a pink scooter, so you may need to give it a paint job. And as long as you’re getting that paint job, you could always have a Clydesdale put on, and maybe a nice ‘Win’ message. Hey, I wonder if Twin Six does scooter graphics…

  9. Comment by Bander | 07.23.2008 | 7:39 am

    Just get Harlan over at soveryalone to steal one of those scooters they use at Walmart for you.

  10. Comment by tsm | 07.23.2008 | 7:43 am

    Go with one with a long battery life. Nothing stinks more then the battery wearing out half way through an errand. Heavy duty would be best for Susan to be able to go outside. Even a small hill can be taxing to a lighter duty scooter. Check in with local VNA as they may have ones you can lease.

    WIN SUSAN!!!

  11. Comment by Tim | 07.23.2008 | 7:50 am

    Seems like there should be demo program as there are for bikes.

    WIN SUSAN!!!

  12. Comment by CorollaDriver | 07.23.2008 | 8:22 am

    Hey, no dissing on Corollas here! I bet my Corolla gets better mpg than your car!

  13. Comment by Marrock | 07.23.2008 | 8:25 am

    All I know about those sort of scooters is how to modify them with a chainsaw engine and gear them so you can wind them up to about 65mph, sorry.

  14. Comment by eunicesara | 07.23.2008 | 9:07 am

    Parts and Service. If something breaks, do they carry simple things like Chains (yes, some scooters have chains, just like bikes), links, those silly, annoying things that keep you rolling, or not.
    Just saying because I used to work in a hardware store and had a few grumblers looking for dyi parts because their dealer/service dept didn’t have on hand.
    Check out the grocery store – and try not to get run over by a scooter. Probably see more 3 wheel than 4. A conversation with an old fart who is actually piloting one of those things will get you more useful info than any brochure or salesman. Worked with a guy at the hardware store who rode one around at work. Held together mostly with duct tape, I think. Then, again, it was a hardware store. He had a home-made ramp so he could ride that thing into his van through the side door. Heck on paint cans, though. Got up a bit too much speed from time to time.
    New topic: I thought the 201 was in reference to when we all think positive thoughts for Susan. Was the person who suggested 2:01 for the time way knowledgeable about all that weight class stuff? That was very clever.

  15. Comment by KeepYerBag | 07.23.2008 | 9:10 am

    http://www.tankchair.com

    Problem solved.

  16. Comment by Boz | 07.23.2008 | 9:13 am

    You want something light and reliable. Batteries go dead all of a sudden, heavy is hard to push. I think something with a small block Chevy engine on an aluminum chassis would be suitable. Chevy parts are cheap and plentiful, and even shade tree mechanics can maintain a small block Chevy. Just my opinion.

  17. Comment by chtrich | 07.23.2008 | 9:27 am

    Tank Chair or Speedster…hard choice, but those are some awesome looking scooters!

  18. Comment by dug | 07.23.2008 | 9:36 am

    scott calhoun never rode a specialized in his life. i’m pretty sure he was riding a bridgestone mb1 when you bought your first bike.

    nice sales technique though.

  19. Comment by leroy | 07.23.2008 | 10:24 am

    Just be sure to get a scooter that’s stiff, yet compliant.

    And, ahem, some of us ride the Toyota brand of road bikes because not everybody can crack in to the lucrative field of bike blogging.

    Win Susan!

  20. Comment by Al Maviva | 07.23.2008 | 10:28 am

    Dude, get the one with the carbon fiber. It will almost certainly be top of the line, and even if it sucks, Susan will feel obligated not to complain and to loudly tout its superiority, because hey, it’s carbon fiber.

    BTW, I’d keep Marrock away from the powertools out in the garage.

  21. Comment by Mocougfan | 07.23.2008 | 10:58 am

    Get a fast scooter. Then you can draft off her all the way up AF Canyon.

  22. Comment by Clydesteve | 07.23.2008 | 11:26 am

    Well if it were me, I would go for a motorized wheelchair, like Ed, the former Forest Service guy who is now disabled goes around town in. He has a cool storage compartment drawer under the seat. All controls are joystick style, on a swing-in console. It has a smaller footprint than a 4-wheel scooter, and you are not required to swing a leg (with artificial or irradiated hip over the steering mechanism to get in. Just swing out the console and sit. Ed must get good battery life, because he goes all over town, and the grocery store is about a mile from his house. Probably 4-5 mph max, I am guessing.

    But, of course, if it were me, I would have a two-stroke internal combustion engine, ported for low RPM torque, and an expansion chamber to provide high-end pulling power, and 23″ knobby tires on my motorized wheelchair. And a wheely bar. So my comments might be spurious.

  23. Comment by DubaiMTB | 07.23.2008 | 11:29 am

    Sorry can’t help out with the scooter, but a bit confused why you compare Specialized with a Corolla. That’s an insult to Specialized! You might have guessed I ride Specialized (both MTB & road) but would never dream of lowering my standards to a Corolla.
    Glad my jersey purchase will be put to good use though

  24. Comment by Scrod | 07.23.2008 | 11:58 am

    I used to put my Specialized inside my Corolla so when it broke down, I still could get home. That probably says something about my priorities.

    Sent email on the scooter, hope you get help making you choices.

    Win Susan!

  25. Comment by JB | 07.23.2008 | 1:12 pm

    Fatty,
    I was just reading Jill’s responses to your little tagging assignment. She tells us all in regards to your ice cream question she does not have any self discipline?!?!
    Really.
    This from the girl who gets on her bike everyday to ride in the “slain” stuff that comes out of the sky, who rides in the iditerod, who hikes across rotten snow fields in the clouds (I have done that and there is nothing about that that could be called fun), rides for twenty four hours straight in a race. If she ever decides to get some “self discipline” look out, she may be queen of all these United States!

  26. Comment by Petite Chèvre | 07.23.2008 | 1:31 pm

    Check out http://www.meritshealth.com. They are very reputable client of ours and have a substantial range of products. Not sure where you might find them locally, but it never hurts to have options!

    Win Susan!

  27. Comment by tim | 07.23.2008 | 1:48 pm

    just one piece of practical advice……make sure it can climb kerbs. Some do, some don’t!
    I too have a Specialized bike and I am mildly offended by your elitist Waltworks wielding comments Elden. I have also owned a Toyota Corolla too, double whammy!

    Win SUSAN!!!!!

  28. Comment by Kathleen | 07.23.2008 | 2:02 pm

    No scooter advice but I do relate as I’m in the market for my first bike. I’ve been riding my husband’s fancy Kestral carbon racing bike and I’m in love! I know just enough to be dangerous in a bike store (money-wise) and not enough to feel confident to make the purchase. Stuck.

    Good luck with your scooter search…

    WIN Susan!

  29. Comment by Paul | 07.23.2008 | 2:27 pm

    I vote speedster it comes with fox MTB shocks?

  30. Comment by Chris | 07.23.2008 | 3:15 pm

    Have you thought about renting a few different scooters to try them out? We recently took my mother to Disneyland with the family and she rented one for the week. It was really reasonable and resembled the red one above.

    WIN!

  31. Comment by uncadan8 | 07.23.2008 | 3:17 pm

    Hi Elden, I emailed you about a week ago on something to help Susan, but think it may have gotten snagged by a spam filter. Shoot me an email if you are interested. I figure it is the least I can do to pay you back for the fish tacos.

  32. Comment by Tyler | 07.23.2008 | 3:29 pm

    Fatty, while I cannot be called a scooter expert by any means, I do have an eye for what’s fantastically overbuilt and gaudy. With this made clear, allow me to present: The Hummer XL
    http://www.planetmobility.com/store/scooters/planet/phantom/index.html
    Let’s review the features, shall we?
    - Top Speed: 8.2mph
    - 6″ ground clearance
    - Burled Oak center console
    - Puncture Proof Tires
    - Ridiculous Name
    - High-Back, reclining ‘luxury’ captain’s chair
    - adjustable tiller, whatever that means
    - ability to scale a 19º grade
    - keyed ignition
    - horn
    I should note that I’m not affiliated with this sales site at all, I just googled ‘motor scooter’ and found them — and laughed at the Hummer name.

    Good luck to you in your quest. WIN SUSAN!

  33. Comment by Linda V. | 07.23.2008 | 4:02 pm

    No help except to say consider battery life. My father-in-law had lost 2 legs to diabetes, yet I would get a phone call and it would be him on the other line…”Hi, I’m outside your front door! Come out and play!”.
    He had a Rascal at the time. He was about 5 blocks from home and the wheels made the world his oyster again….
    Like I said, consider battery life…

  34. Comment by BotchedExperiment | 07.23.2008 | 4:24 pm

    How long should the battery last?

    Long enough, but not too long. Nobody likes batteries that keep going and going and going.

    I’m glad I could be of help. I’ll mail you an invoice for my time.

  35. Comment by bubbaseadog | 07.23.2008 | 5:14 pm

    fatty there is and i have seen commercials for a place called the scooter store . im sure if you talked with a rep he would make sure you got one that wood suit susans needs. http://www.the scooter store.com ialso ordered a jersey to help susan….so win susan

  36. Comment by Anonymous | 07.23.2008 | 5:55 pm

    I lurk. I laugh & cry for you. You will never meet me. But today, I have a tiny bit of help for you:

    http://mobilitybuddy.blogspot.com/
    http://www.wheelchairjunkie.com/
    http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/article_630.shtml

    Finally, I think this one is extremely cool:
    http://www.scootercity.ca/cgi-bin/scootercity/flagship.html

    Also, your son’s video game back there a few posts was totally great. We are adult gamers in this house and it received rave reviews from both of us. Very cool.

  37. Comment by Emily | 07.23.2008 | 6:30 pm

    Hey, Toyota hater… One word: Prius. Boo-yah!
    Oh, I own a Specialized too. One word: Epic. Double boo-yah!

  38. Comment by ann | 07.23.2008 | 6:46 pm

    Sorry, I could tell no difference other than ’stylistic’ in the bikes. I read this blog every day – still nothing.

    Re the scooter – I’m for using all the advice you can get then doing some test driving – as in Susan test driving. Different vehicles (of whatever description) fit different ladies in different ways. All of what everyone says, plus the right fit.

  39. Comment by Don | 07.23.2008 | 7:42 pm

    @ Fatty: “as nice of a scooter as I think she deserves”
    Porsche started making scooters now? Seriously?! You did say , “as nice of a scooter as I think she deserves” didn’t you?

  40. Comment by Co | 07.23.2008 | 8:13 pm

    I vote 3-wheeler. I decided years ago, fiercely independent person that I am, that if I lose my legs (or use of) I’m getting a 3-wheeler. I decided this the day I saw a disabled guy spin in place to catch a bank door and go back inside. just as I would have done on legs. (contrast a 3-point turn on a 4-wheeler.) And he could *move* that thing down the road. I have no idea what this guy was riding, but it had three wheels and I want one now (uninjured) and will insist on such a contraption if I lose voluntary locamotive capacity.

  41. Comment by Marrock | 07.23.2008 | 8:20 pm

    Al, I have a great respect for power tools, why I have a nailgun mod that only illegal in about fifteen states and lets you go full auto without needing a permit, great for hunting and doing -really- quick repairs around the home.

    And, for the record, I only ever burnt down one garage, the other fires and explosions weren’t my fault… well, not that could be proven in court anyway.

  42. Comment by Teamfubar | 07.24.2008 | 5:22 am

    Elden,

    Don’t care what anyone says, the Tarmac SL2 IS like a tricked out Corolla. Much like a Lexus, it is all fancy and whatnot, but it is still a Toyota. (Says the man who drives a Nissan…)

    WIN SUSAN!

  43. Comment by Mike Roadie | 07.24.2008 | 5:24 am

    I would agree that battery life would be the key factor.

    I am so glad we all could help you with this.

    And, no, they don’t come in carbon with Dura Ace components!!!!

    http://bayarea08.livestrong.org/mike

    I will forward more pics to you as soon as they are up!!!

  44. Comment by Tim | 07.24.2008 | 6:36 am

    My boss has MS and has difficulty walking with a cane. He tried a scooter but was not happy with it for several reasons such as difficulty getting through doorways, could only be used on smooth service etc. He now uses a Segway and can go any where with it with very little difficulty. He can open a door and drive his Segway through with no problems. We built him some loading ramps for his Jeep Cherokee and he is able to load and unload himself. There is even a seat attachment available for the longer trips. Something to consider.

  45. Comment by Clydesteve | 07.24.2008 | 10:20 am

    bubbaseadog – Seems to me that a wood suit might be uncomfortable. I thought we were wanting Susan to be more comfortable.

  46. Comment by Rocky | 07.24.2008 | 11:53 am

    George’s “ride” on Seinfeld was the Rascal. I would go with that as it was faster than the geriatric rides that were trying to chase him down.
    Apparently its got some juice.

  47. Comment by Unicycle Tom | 07.24.2008 | 5:36 pm

    I had to go through the scooter-buying experience for my Dad, and learned a few things.
    1) Don’t talk to a scooter salesperson until you have done some homework. They’re sales sharks like any other industry, but they have a better disguise because it’s all about helping you improve your lifestyle. Danger.
    2) Don’t believe a scooter salesperson when they say they have an ironclad returns policy. But do pay attention to the warranty and repair elements. Do they come fix, and how quickly? How long have they been in business, etc.
    3) It is important to get one that meets Susan’s needs, but it is REALLY easy to over-spend on these. The sales strategy is to pump up the bills with features. Example in your model photo above: scooters do NOT need dual side mirrors. She will not be passing semis with it.
    4) Important feature: easy in and out. What equals easy may VARY depending on the mobility limitations of the user. Example…someone with crutches has a different problem to solve getting into a scooter than someone moving from a wheelchair into a scooter. Test for that once you narrow down to a small set of models that meet your other requirements. And keep a small eye on likely challenges if her mobility decreases. From past posts, I know Susan has had some ups and downs in this area. Think about a time when she was more limited, and how would that situation work with getting in and out of the scooter.
    5) Maneuverability and storability. If using it indoors, what size are doors, how narrow are hallways. Some scooters turn much tighter, easier than others. Is it easy to park flush against a wall so it’s out of the way, etc.
    6) Battery life important, but also how easy is it to get the thing plugged in? Look at every model from the user’s perspective. Some models look cool, but they’re actually not designed well for someone with limited mobility.
    7) Good Feature: Front storage rack or basket. Someplace to put that sweater when the Utah sun pops from behind a cloud and things heat up.
    8) Appropriateness to terrain. You mention she wants to use it for trips through neighborhood, walks with kids, etc. Three wheelers tend to be more maneuverable, but I’ve heard they also can tip easier. Does your neighborhood have any streets with funky angles, or are there places where she would need to make turns while also going down a hill?

    Good luck, and WIN SUSAN.

  48. Comment by co | 07.24.2008 | 11:05 pm

    re: Tim | 07.24.2008 | 6:36 am

    I agree with Tim, Segues (aka Segways) are great. Took a few seconds to figure out the balance thing, but great fun and no work! Doesn’t invalidate the 3-wheeler for those who can’t stand up, though. Segways are for folks who can stand up. Zippy 3-wheelers are for folks who need (or want!) to sit down. :-)

  49. Comment by Lucky Cyclist | 07.25.2008 | 7:12 am

    Sure are a lot of Corolla’s in the major tours. Contrastingly few boutique brands.

  50. Comment by Jay | 07.27.2008 | 8:32 pm

    Well, since we’re all cyclists….

    da bomb in this field is Dean Kamen’s ibot, which can negotiate uneven terrain, allow the person to look others in the eye, and even do stairs. It shares a bunch of technology with the Segway, and I remember reading somewhere that a big reason for the Segway was to get production costs for the Ibot lower…

  51. Comment by Andrew Nickels | 07.28.2008 | 3:59 pm

    My father has been using Amigo wheelchairs (he doesn’t use the term ’scooter’ even though that’s what it is) for the past 25 years and swears by them. He’s been through at least 5 or 6 not because they wear out but because he likes to upgrade and because his disability has changed his needs over the years.

    I don’t ever recall him being stranded anywhere because of a dead battery but his chairs all have onboard chargers so in a pinch he just needs a wall outlet to recharge.

    He uses the high-end of their model range since he uses it full time and needs the durability. Check out their lineup and see what you think. I don’t know if they have retailers where you can see them in person. To my knowledge they don’t sell through the major scooter store type places.

    He would be more than happy to discuss it with you on the phone if you would like – let me know and I can set it up.

    http://www.myamigo.com/

    Good luck in the search.

  52. Comment by Bitter (formerly known as Lissee) | 07.30.2008 | 11:31 am

    Sounds like you’ve gotten some great advice so far :) I don’t know anything about scooters, but here in the City you’ll see that some of them can move FAST!

    I suggest that you find one that goes fast, with an option of putting it into a slower gear (for safety). That way if you take the kids on a bike ride, she come too. :)

    oh and I’m LMAO @ this comment….


    Comment by Bander | 07.23.2008 | 7:39 am

    Just get Harlan over at soveryalone to steal one of those scooters they use at Walmart for you.

    Only problem I foresee with this, is that they don’t go fast enough…

  53. Comment by Glenn | 07.31.2008 | 8:18 pm

    Sorry for the late response to this blog, but I just started reading your blog recently and have not been keeping up as much as I should have.

    I used to be a wheelchair/scooter salesperson.

    Everyone mentions battery life, which is important, but the life of the battery is dependent on both the size of the battery and the size/power of the motors on the scooter.

    The first thing you will want to do is determine what type of use you want out of the scooter. If you want to use the scooter to go outside over long distances and over hilly terrain, you will probably want one with a bigger motor and larger batteries. I don’t remember exactly, but I think you can setup the electronics so that the motor can produce more torque (for hills and rough terrain) or more speed, but you usually have a trade off between the two.

    I would not recommend the 3-wheel type as they have stability issues. If you get a scooter, get the 4-wheel.

    Most scooters are difficult to use indoors due to their long wheelbase (compared to wheelchairs). Usually the larger the motor and batteries, the bigger and less maneuverable it will be indoors.

    There are wheelchairs that come with plastic shrouds that many people mistake for scooters because they are more aesthetically pleasing. Unfortunately, a motorized wheelchair will probably cost more (in general) than a scooter, but it is probably more flexible in terms of its use (indoor and outdoor).

    One of the biggest companies is Invacare. When I left the industry in 2004, they dominated the market. They were at the forefront of the technology in wheelchair electronics. Their electronics were pretty reliable. If you buy an Invacare wheelchair or scooter, check if your dealer has received training directly from Invacare and check that they have a lot of experience with power wheelchairs.

    A scooter is easier to fix than some of the specialty wheelchairs, so check if your dealer has experience in doing power wheelchairs for quadriplegics and maybe pediatrics as those are some of the most complex setups. I worked in a small market, so we had to know a little of everything, but in a larger market, it may be better to find someone who specializes in scooters (vs. wheelchairs), but I’m not sure.

    Speaking to a physical therapist may help, but my experience has been that you’d be lucky to find one that has much experience in the vast array of scooters and wheelchairs and has kept up with the latest stuff (even since I’d left, I’m sure things have changed such that I’m out of touch). If you can, it’d be good to talk to other users who will give you recommendations.

    If you have any specific questions, let me know and I’ll try to help.

  54. Pingback by Fat Cyclist » Blog Archive » Early Morning Group Ride | 08.3.2008 | 9:41 am

    [...] Run Before I move on to the next part of the story, I want to say thanks to everyone who offered help and guidance on picking out a scooter. Especially Rusty Church — a Fat Cyclist reader who owns a medical supply store in Arizona. [...]

  55. Comment by andar909 | 08.10.2008 | 5:17 pm

    hi, andar here, i just read your post. i like very much. agree to you, sir.

 

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