News from Loopwheels: what's coming up in early 2015?

What are our plans for Loopwheels in 2015? Find out here . . .

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Welcome to the first Loopwheels newsletter of 2015. We're excited about what's happening with our shock-absorbing loopwheels in the year ahead. First up, we're launching loops for wheelchairs and we're exhibiting in the UK, Germany and Japan.
There's more stuff coming up that's top secret for now. I'm busting to share it but it has to wait!

Our supporters continue to grow in number - thank you every one on our mailing list. Whether you joined us right at the start of our adventure in 2013 or if you've just signed up this week - welcome, and thank you for coming on the journey with us! You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest too.

Want a look at what suspension wheels can do?

Check out this YouTube clip of our wheels from Spezi 2014. (Thanks, thesproat!)

Launch of loopwheels for wheelchairs

This has been THE major project for us over the last year! We're nearly ready to go: we're launching on Kickstarter.com at the end of February and in the UK at the Naidex show, at the NEC Birmingham, 28 - 30 April 2015. We'll soon have a new website showing all our products. Bring it on!

Why wheelchairs?

From the first weekend of the launch of our bicycle wheels in 2013, people asked if our technology could be applied to wheelchairs. Over the last year, we have completely re-designed, built and tested a new loopwheel specifically to meet the needs of people who use wheelchairs. We're going to take pre-orders via the crowdfunding site Kickstarter.com, as this worked so well for us with our bicycle loopwheels in 2013, followed by a physical product launch in April with a Loopwheels stand at the mobility show Naidex. More information including Kickstarter dates will follow in a future newsletter.

What are the benefits of loopwheels?

You already know that loopwheels are shock-absorbing wheels with integral suspension. These new ones have been designed to help wheelchair users push over uneven streets, soft ground, grass and gravel paths, with less effort. The carbon springs give you extra power to get up or down kerbs. They're more comfortable than standard wheels: they absorb tiring vibration, as well as bumps and shocks. They’re extremely strong and durable, needing little or no maintenance. With quick release axles and initially in 24" and 25" sizes, our loopwheels will fit most active wheelchairs.

Mark Briggs, former GB Sledge Hockey team captain, with loopwheels on his Quickie Ti this week

Mark is helping us film a video next week for our Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign. The former paralympian supports young elite athletes through his company 19eleven, which he set up with former team mate Richard Whitehead.

Alongside Mark in the film will be Helen Lowe, who's been using prototype loopwheels on her chair since last summer. Helen's been a fantastic support to us, giving full and frank feedback at every stage of the development.

20" Loopwheels - 20. Internationale Spezialradmesse 25 - 26 April 2015
We've exhibiting at Spezi in April too with our smaller, 20 inch range of loopwheels. We've been trialling different springs to optimise performance for recumbent trikes as well as on bicycles. If you want to try out loopwheels and can get to Germersheim in April, please come and see us there! Spezi is the world's largest show for recumbents, recumbent tricycles, quadracycles, folding cycles, tandems, family cycles, velomobiles, transporters, special needs bikes, adult kick scooters, child and luggage trailers, customised designs and accessories. Always something different and interesting - and the best bit is that you can try them out on the Spezi test ground. This is a hands-on show - for touching and trying, not just looking!

Innovation is GREAT - Japan

Throughout 2015, the UK government (UKTI) is promoting innovative UK technologies and products worldwide through the “Innovation is GREAT” campaign. The British Embassy in Tokyo will hold a series of events in late February and early March – timed to coincide with a royal visit to Japan – to kick off the year-long campaign. We're really delighted to have been asked by the British Embassy in Tokyo to exhibit Loopwheels in this showcase of UK innovation 27 February - March 6th. Wow!

As well as a full test programme on our mechanical test rigs, we put our wheels through loads of real-life trialling. Here's our new wheelchair loopwheel fitted with a disc brake on a mountain bike, out in the woods on Friday - with some January snow (and mud!)

That's it from me for now! Hope the first month of 2015 has been good for you, as it has from us.

Best wishes for an exciting 2015!

Gemma

FROM THE LOOPWHEELS TEAM

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