Photos: Icon prototype. Feedback requested.

[-scott-]

What I mean is that I'd like the back tubes to come up a little further back and tighter together right where the bracket attaches to the back. Re-design a simpler, lighter, smaller bracket.
That way the tube tops and brackets are out of the way of the latissimus dorsi if you bend around back to the side to reach while picking something up.

I think the idea is to make this chair compatible with most aftermarket backrest options.

[jschism]

The Icon will have suspension as an option, from what I understand. For those of us who use low rear STFs, suspension may not be realistic due to the lack of available travel when the seat is set close to the frame.

Jeff - correct?

that would be cool, i don't really want suspension

[JeffAdams]

The ADI back in the photo is the adjustable version - the fixed in space version has smaller hardware/bracketry.

@jschism - if you can hit that backrest hardware with your latissimus dorsi, you should be in bodybuilding competitions...and I'm officially jealous....

The idea is to make the Icon as compatible as possible with as many aftermarket pieces and parts as possible - backs are probably our highest priority, but wheels (front and back), cushions (making sure that the RIDE cushions have enough side support etc), bolt-on pushandles....

Our suspension will have a lock out, but we'll also be offering a "hardtail" verson for those of you who refuse to see the light of the benefits of suspension (kidding - we're working hard to keep our "who the hell are we to decide what you want/need" alive - eg. we want you to tell us what you want and need, not the other way around).

@-scott-: the suspension travel is exactly the issue - so if you sit 1" above the axle, you have to either have just under an inch of travel (which to be honest is probably more than enough to help reduce fatigue and will be enough for most daily activities except going off curbs), or a "hardtail".

The problem with bottoming out is damage to the seat adjustment parts or to the axle, so you're right, there will just be limited or no suspension option.

[PeteShick]

Thanks Jeff. I've not seen brackets like those. And it's the ROHO back bracket on my ZR tube that cut into my Lats when I reached to the floor bending to the side and back a bit pressing into the cushion. The fact that those on the Icon are adjustable explains a lot. Looking closer at the 360 of the Icon I see how easily I'll be able to adjust the back tubes where they attach at the bottom for width. Cool.
So when and how can we order chairs? I'm psyched. Autumn delivery? And will you allow for purchasing direct so an owner can set it up and adjust it for themselves if they needn't help? The Marvel dealer in my region was worthless.

[jschism]

@jschism - if you can hit that backrest hardware with your latissimus dorsi, you should be in bodybuilding competitions...and I'm officially jealous....

i think you meant Pete

[JeffAdams]

i think you meant Pete

Right - sorry, I was answering using my iphone.

We're just in the process of jumping through some regulatory hurdles right now so that we can start to sell the chair without getting in any troubles from the regulatory authoritaaayyyes.

It's looking lieke we should be ok to sell in Canada this month, and in the US by next, but we're taking the regulatory requirements really seriously, and haven't even started talking to dealers yet.

Our setup will be fairly traditional - we'll have three regional reps - one for the west, and two for the east, divided into North and South who will manage our DME dealer network - we will not have any "exclusive" dealer arrangements, so people will always have a choice of who to deal with.

We (that is Icon as a company) won't do any direct sales, but the in-house regional reps will have some lattitude to sell direct if there's no dealer (or no good dealer) in the area.

We'll also be on the SportAid site for folks who want to go that route.

[TexasWheelz]

Chair is looking nice, I hope that the dealer issue that occurred with the Marvel doesn't happen again. As an example there was only 1 DME(several locations) in all of Texas that you could go to for a Marvel. After talking for them for 2 weeks about coming by to see it in person I showed up and they couldn't find the transfer bars, the tires were all flat and they hadn't' change it to my measurements and didn't know how, but they did show me and try to get me in a fucking Quickie Q7!

Speaking of transfer bars, what's the icon going to offer here?

Also what's this?

[JeffAdams]

Chair is looking nice, I hope that the dealer issue that occurred with the Marvel doesn't happen again.

Speaking of transfer bars, what's the icon going to offer here?

Also what's this?

That is a Topeak saddle bag that we modified to act as an underseat storage compartment - it clips in and out - for folks with manual dexterity, it's a great option, for those who don't, they have a few other models that will be more appropriate, and rear-mounting zip-up top loading bags. The Icon will also be friendly for carrying backpack style bags.



For transfers, we're looking at coming up off the front wing with pommel-style handles, similar to this:



The Icon won't have front suspension, which will help a lot with transfer stability.

On the dealer issue, we intend to have a radically different strategy with Icon - last time around, we were following the advice of an MBA-toting marketing director that seems misguided in retrospect.

On his advice, we signed a number of exclusive dealer contracts, and didn't sell through online retailers - this time around, we will not sign any exclusivity agreements (I personally think that people buying wheelchairs have a right to choose who to buy from), and Sportaid will be key to our online strategy - I'm a big fan of the customer service they provide, and the people they have working with them, particularly Jimbo who is a bit of a legend for helping with the "fit" of a chair.

I hope that those two differences alone will be enormous improvements, and we're also looking at having regional sales directors to make sure that the dealers get the attention and service they need to keep our stuff in the front of the showroom, and in a good state of repair.

[stephen212]

That is a Topeak saddle bag that we modified to act as an underseat storage compartment - it clips in and out - for folks with manual dexterity, it's a great option, for those who don't, they have a few other models that will be more appropriate, and rear-mounting zip-up top loading bags. The Icon will also be friendly for carrying backpack style bags.

[ATTACH]39837[/ATTACH]

For transfers, we're looking at coming up off the front wing with pommel-style handles, similar to this:

[ATTACH]39838[/ATTACH]

The Icon won't have front suspension, which will help a lot with transfer stability.

On the dealer issue, we intend to have a radically different strategy with Icon - last time around, we were following the advice of an MBA-toting marketing director that seems misguided in retrospect.

On his advice, we signed a number of exclusive dealer contracts, and didn't sell through online retailers - this time around, we will not sign any exclusivity agreements (I personally think that people buying wheelchairs have a right to choose who to buy from), and Sportaid will be key to our online strategy - I'm a big fan of the customer service they provide, and the people they have working with them, particularly Jimbo who is a bit of a legend for helping with the "fit" of a chair.

I hope that those two differences alone will be enormous improvements, and we're also looking at having regional sales directors to make sure that the dealers get the attention and service they need to keep our stuff in the front of the showroom, and in a good state of repair.

Glad to see things moving along.

How tall with the pommel-style handles be? If they're to be even with the seat pan, they'd be quite tall, no?

Like many of the regulars here I've purchased lots of stuff from Sportaid over the years and agree that their customer service is top flight. I have also begun giving my business (the good kind) to bike-on.com, who I recommend frequently because I find their pricing to often be even better than Sportaid, and Scott Pellett is as informed and customer service-driven as anyone. So, as far as online retailing is concerned, is Icon exclusive to Sportaid or will customers have a range of choices here as well?

[JeffAdams]

Glad to see things moving along.

How tall with the pommel-style handles be? If they're to be even with the seat pan, they'd be quite tall, no?

Like many of the regulars here I've purchased lots of stuff from Sportaid over the years and agree that their customer service is top flight. I have also begun giving my business (the good kind) to bike-on.com, who I recommend frequently because I find their pricing to often be even better than Sportaid, and Scott Pellett is as informed and customer service-driven as anyone. So, as far as online retailing is concerned, is Icon exclusive to Sportaid or will customers have a range of choices here as well?

We're doing some biomechanical studies right now to figure out how and where to put the handles - we don't think they have to come up all the way to the seat, but even if they do, they won't be all that tall - the front wing in the production model will sweep up a bit, so it will already be somewhere between 14-16" above the ground (depending on whether the frame is in the short or tall orientation), so the handles won't really need to come up more than a couple or a few inches at most.

We're shooting to make them adjustable for both height and orientation - meaning that they'll adjust up and down, and in and out - this will address both the transfer issues, and will help out the leg splaying issue.

On dealers, like I said, we're not interested in any exclusive deals.

[JGNI]

It's always hard to judge a picture, even more so since it's a prototype, but I really don't like the look as seen here. Sorry.