Over the years we have seen many variations of the standard wheelchair where people have decided that they want or need something a little different for their mobility needs. These modified wheelchair have taken many forms and have generally been designed to cater for some specific requirement the wheelchair user might have. Others have been modified for the sake of it and simply to make a wheelchair that is a little different and that maybe expresses something about the user, a bit like the concept behind Izzy Wheels - wheelchair accessories.

So it was with curiosity that we read last week about the Irish company who have recently been granted the exclusive distributorship for the 'FREEWHEEL' which is an attachment that converts a regular model in to an all terrain wheelchair allowing users to travel over rough terrain in relative safety.

The Freewheel is an American invention that is being sold already in many other countries around the world. It is essentially a clamp-on third wheel that fits on to the foot plate of a rigid framed wheelchair and extends the wheelbase allowing it to cope with surfaces that would normally cause a problem to the user.

Intended for self propelled wheelchairs, the Freewheel takes only a few seconds to fit and can be carried on board with ease when it is not required, allowing the wheelchair user to fit it as and when it is needed. It is claimed that rough tracks, lawns and plenty of other surfaces can be tackled with ease with the addition of this easy to fit wheelchair accessory. In addition to the rough surfaces it allows, the FreeWheel also makes curb climbing easier as its wheel has a far larger diameter than is found on self propelled models.

When you buy the FreeWheel a kit is provided to allow you to customise the fitting clamp to marry up to your wheelchair. This ensures that is fits virtually all manual, rigid frame wheelchair footrests. It works so well by extending out of the front of the wheelchair by about 2 feet. This effectively lengthens the wheelbase which also spreads the load over an additional 5th wheel.

Weighing in at only 5 lbs, the FreeWheel is lightweight and compact and yet transforms an ordinary wheelchair in to an all terrain model in seconds. Its oversized 'front' wheel pivots on its own swivel fork which allows you to steer your manual wheelchair as normal using the rear wheel hand rims. We will be looking in to this smart wheelchair accessory with interest to see if it takes off in Ireland.