Essential Equipment for Wheelchair Users: Training and Event Day

Claudia Burrough gives us the lowdown.

1. Consider gloves to avoid blisters

Pro tip: pack a spare pair on Event Day, in case they get wet or you wear them out!

Gloves improve your grip and protect your hands from dreaded blisters, but if you choose to invest in them you’ll need a few pairs over the course of training, so consider the cost. Gloves specifically designed for wheelchair users are a little more expensive, but can be more durable. You can try strength training or cycling gloves, just make sure they provide suitable grip for pushing. Alternatively, hardware stores offer a wide range of gloves which are usually affordable.

There are pros and cons to both full-finger or fingerless gloves. Full-finger gloves provide greater protection and grip but they can limit your ability to feel your push rim. Fingerless gloves are generally lighter and thinner, giving you a great feel for the push rim. However, you are more likely to get blisters, especially round your finger joints.

You'll need to consider the weather too. If it starts to rain, you’ll want a water-resistant arctic glove. These gloves provide essential grip and allow you to push with less effort. If you use these in dry conditions, you are likely to find them way too grippy.

It’s down to personal preference. For my first London Marathon, I used a pair of fingerless rubber-based cycling gloves with some tape covering the areas prone to blisters. Back then, I felt full-finger gloves provided too much resistance on the push rim going downhill. I now use cheap gloves from the hardware store that work well with my push rims and combine this with a thin pair of liner gloves to provide blister protection.

2. Choose the right tyre and puncture repair kit

Pro tip: your tyres will wear much quicker than usual during training, so keep an eye on them in the lead-up to Event Day. If they are completely worn, you will have less grip and are more likely to pick up a puncture.

You can go for pneumatic or solid tyres. Most people go for pneumatic as when you pump these tyres, the inner tube inflates like a balloon. The air acts like a shock absorber when going over bumps and uneven surfaces. Whereas solid tyres are solid rubber attached to your wheel. Sure, you don’t need to pump them, and they can’t puncture, but they don’t offer the same level of shock absorption. If you roll over sharp objects, you can also rip chunks out of solid tyres too.

You should carry a puncture repair kit if you go for pneumatic tyres. There are two ways to mend a puncture and both require a hand pump or electric pump. The first solution is to carry a spare inner tube and tyre levers. You can see how this repair method works in detail on YouTube but, essentially, you hook the tyre off using the levers, replace the punctured inner tube, and reset the tyre using the levers. Then pump up the tyre and you’re good to go. Double check there are no sharp objects on the inside of the tyre; if any are left behind, it will cause another puncture quite quickly! The alternative solution is bike tyre sealant. It is quick to use, not to mention light to carry. The sealant comes in a small canister that you attach to the valve on your wheel and inject. You leave it for a couple of minutes before pumping up the wheel. You can find it in most bike shops, and it is much easier than replacing the inner tube during an event. Just make sure to get it replaced afterwards!

3. Track your training 

Pro tip: If you’ve got a smartphone, your cheapest option is to download an app. Strava has a specific wheelchair mode. It also allows you to import activities from other devices, which you can convert to wheelchair mode.

You can track your distance and speed using several devices. The Apple Watch and certain models of Garmin have a specific wheelchair function. You can also use a cycling computer, which you can pick up relatively cheaply compared to a watch. However, these don’t always have GPS included, so if you want a map of your route, you may need a slightly more expensive option. 

4. If you have the budget, you can explore a front wheel attachment

Pro tip: if you can afford a front wheel attachment, you should visit a wheelchair specialist to view the different models in person to make sure they can fit your chair. If you have a chair provided by the NHS Wheelchair Service, or similar, it’s important to check if it is suitable for a front wheel attachment, as the extra strain can cause damage to your chair, which might affect your warranty and insurance.

Front wheel attachments provide a much smoother ride as they lift your front caster wheels off the ground, which opens up a greater range of training locations, but they are expensive. Lots of people have taken part in the London Marathon in day chairs without a front wheel attachment, so if you can’t afford it, don’t worry!

The main three available are the FreeWheel, RGK FrontWheel and Rehasense Track Wheel. Here's a little more about them.

The FreeWheel generally clamps onto your footplate, so if you are a NHS Wheelchair Service user check if you can use this attachment. The FreeWheel provides a smooth ride due to the larger wheel size and is very sturdy. It also has a central steering mechanism, which means the wheel’s default position is to stay straight which is good if you’re going at speed. It can tolerate faster speeds compared with other front wheels available, but it can make it difficult to turn. You can reduce and increase the resistance of this using the dial at the front. 

The RGK FrontWheel has a three-point attachment, connecting twice onto the front frame and once under the footplate. This front wheel was initially designed just for RGK wheelchairs, but it now fits onto some non-RGK wheelchairs. This model puts less load through your footplate and is compact, meaning outside of training you'll find it much more manoeuvrable in small spaces, such as shops. However, it doesn’t have the central steering mechanism that the FreeWheel or Rehasense Trackwheel do, so it can be difficult to use at higher speeds, such as downhill. 

The Rehasense Trackwheel comes in two different attachment options, one which clamps onto the footplate (very similar to the FreeWheel) and another which clamps onto the frame only. Both have the central steering mechanism, which you can also adjust the strength of, and both offer a larger front wheel to give you a smoother ride. For the footplate attachment you’ll need to check if your chair is compatible, and NHS Wheelchair Service users will need to check whether this attachment is suitable. The frame attachment is good for folding wheelchairs and a good alternative for people who may not have a compatible footplate, or who are worried about breaking their chair’s footplate.