I am not a pessimist at all but  following my pleading son and wife on a bike ride around the park and down to the beach were little pleasures I thought I would have to live without. 

Thanks to Team Hybrid and their fantastic viper, bike riding everywhere is now possible and with great results.  The past 2 weeks that I have had my viper have been incredible. I feel as if I am 12 years old and just gotten my 1 st bike… I want to ride it all the time everywhere even in the house!  Riding after 18 years with my family is … P R I C E L E S S !

All my friends have noticed that my spirits have gone through the roof and I constantly have a happy grin on my face.These are the things that give our life salt and pepper and I have Team Hybrid and Mark to thank for that. Thank you very much for introducing me to my new best friend… the VIPER!

Alexis Demetriou (T4-5 paraplegic)
Cyprus

Steve Bolton

Let me start at my search for a flexible powered wheelchair.  The only one I knew of was made by your competitor PDQ who have now gone out of business.  I had the time to research, and disabled forums expressed 'doubt' as to the quality and reliability of this competitors trike.  One forum mentioned the Viper, and how good it was.  I looked into it further, and had a demo at Draft Wheelchairs who were very helpful.  Needless to say I bought one.

My Viper attaches to a TI Lite chair with carbon fibre wheels and run flat tyres. The trike weighs assembled about 67Ibs, and even allowing for my svelt like 14st, will reach a steady 12mph on cycle paths, with 26miles range when conditions allow. I also have a set of wheels with mountain bike tyres when expecting rougher terrain. On a daily basis it allows me to exercise my dogs and operates in all weathers. OK, ice is not good, but a few inches of snow is not a problem.

It's daily use is on pavement, bridle and cycle paths.Average use is 1.5-2hrs.

Since I bought it in Nov 2007 it has been to the USA twice, and Virgin Atlantic are to be recommended for people with a disability. The trike has been carried assembled, it has been used up to the aircraft, and  been there as soon as I disembarked. The reaction to the trike has been amazing in the U.S.  The kids think it's 'cool' and many scooter users have been fascinated.

My Viper has NEVER let me down, and it has been wet, muddy, cold, hot, and has often needed a hose pipe to clean it!  Many thanks to you and your team.

The pics are taken in Sarasota FL, and a wet and windy Hustanton with a wet Tibetan terrier  who was having a great time.  The Lahasa Apso rides when her little legs can't cope with the speed.  Both dogs will walk to heel by the trike on or off the lead.  The Viper has made an enormous difference to mine and my families life.

Chris Stone

Just wanted to say how much we are enjoying the viper

it is a brilliant machine, and is really making my life much easier

Many thanks

Chris.

Laura Collinson Viper

I purchased my trike 3 years ago and have clocked up over 2000 miles since. I use it whenever I can in my home town to nip along the seafront to the shops. It's good for the environment and I've bumped into so many old friends on the streets that I would have missed had I been driving.

The beauty of the trike is it's so portable and I can throw it in the car and take it anywhere, it's really useful at music festivals and other large events that require a lot of pushing otherwise. I've also used it all around the world including Australia, Hong Kong, India and Thailand and had no problems getting it to the airport.

In the 3 years I've owned the trike, I've only had to have it repaired a couple of times, mainly due to wear and tear and so far this hasn't proved too expensive. I've always been very happy with the service provided by Team Hybrid. I can't imagine being without my trike, it has opened up so many places to me and made getting around so much more fun.

Viper in Portugal

Dear Mark,
 
Please find attached the photos of the Viper power cycle with the Quad Bars bike that i purchased from you and used whilst on holiday in Portugal.

It really is great now that I don’t have to have anyone push my wheelchair, I now have my freedom.

Kind Regards
Ashley Card

After a search on the internet we located Team Hybrid who make the Viper, which is similar to the Powertrike but with much better reviews, several of them by people who'd had PDQ Powertrikes. As I had already spent a lot of money on the PDQ and wheelchair my funds couldn’t stretch to buying a complete new Viper so Team Hybrid agreed to use the existing wheelchair powertrike frame and battery, and fit the controller, motor, brakes etc. as well as new wheels to the chair.

I took Broomstick to their pretty little workshop near Fareham. It's full of interesting bikes of different shapes, and wheelchair conversions of all kinds. Some of the things they build for children are very inventive, and so are the sports machines. Mark the owner is in a wheelchair, so he knows what he's doing.

Broomstick was sent back looking all shiny and with snazzy. The Viper controller is smaller and neater too. And it works!

Thanks must got to my sister who started a fund for a replacement as a birthday present so, with much gratitude to her and those who pledged donations, I am now the proud owner of a PDQ -Viper conversion. It's no longer a Powertrike but a Viper power cycle.

These photos were taken on a wander round the lanes of the hamlet where I live in France. As you can see, a manual wheelchair wouldn't be much use! It was marvelous to be able to go out with my friend who is a keen hiker. It was also quite amusing to leave her far behind at times.

Elisabeth.

Viper at University

I needed an electric hand cycle for when I started at Bristol University last autumn. After looking at the Team Hybrid’s other competitors, I purchased a VIPER Power Cycle and have been pleased with it ever since. I've used all around my university's campus which is very hilly and the VIPER has coped really well. Within the first few weeks of getting my VIPER I had to ride it in a torrential thunderstorm with water literally running down the hilly streets, the VIPER continue to climb the hills and get me home.

Since then, I've used it to go further and further as the battery is reliable and the VIPER's main life-long components have yet to show any sign of failure. I couldn't even have thought about going to university without a piece of equipment like the VIPER as I need something reliable and long-life in order for me to get to my lectures. 

Greg Judge.

Jane in Cyprus

Dear Mark,

We thought that you would like to know that we took the took the Viper to
Northern Cyprus and it was excellent.

There was no problems on taking the cycle on the aircraft, in fact the staff
in UK and Cyprus were very understanding. Jane took the power cycle on to
the mountain tracks and it performed superbly. Some photos for you to be
used as you wish.
We stayed in a mountainous village and the Viper allowed us to get around.

With best wishes.
John & Jane Prince

A Viper for all occasions

I have had my viper for some years now and it has taken me to places I couldn’t get to before. I think you may even have a new contender for the most travelled viper in the world…?

I have taken my viper from Wales to England, Ireland, Germany, Holland, South Africa, Los Angeles, Mexico, New Zealand and Australia, where Billy Connelly asked me about my Viper (he was on tour in Sydney at the time!). I have been through jungle, on beaches, deserts, snow and on safari with it, and it has never let me down. I think the Viper is the best adaption I have ever bought.

Due to a high spinal chord break and a brachial plexus injury, the only limb I have the use of is my right arm, which makes pushing for a long time strenuous on the shoulder, so I take my viper pretty much everywhere. As a result of this, my viper has been to rock concerts, international football and rugby matches, balls, exhibitions…all with one arm!

The most use I get from the Viper is around fishing lakes, though. While I own Teglan Fisheries - two totally disabled accessible fishing lakes in West Wales (http://www.teglan.net), I frequently visit many other lakes and rivers and the viper always rises to the challenge. As any fisherman will know, the place that you fish can make or break your day’s fishing…if the fish aren’t where you are, it’s very hard to catch anything! With my Viper, though, I can get to the most difficult (and often best) stretches of river, whether it’s across fields, through woods, or on beaches. Where some lakes were out of bounds for me before, I can now get pretty much anywhere – this is the power of a positive attitude and a good hand cycle…and they don’t come any better than your Viper.

My experiences with Team Hybrid have always been very positive. Your team is friendly, professional and always very efficient – parts are sent out in a matter of days, for which I am always grateful. You have constantly been a great company to do business with – one of the good guys!

I cannot stress enough how much freedom my Viper has given me – it has literally unlocked a world of possibilities for me. Thank you Team Hybrid.

Viper in Australia

We spent a month in Sydney earlier this year and took the Viper Power Trike. Because it folds virtually flat it was relatively easy to pack in a bike bag together with the battery and charger. It is important to inform the airline in advance of the weight of the baggage but it falls within the limit and therefore carries no surcharge. It certainly proved to be an absolute Godsend in Sydney, particularly with such hilly terrain, and in the whole month that we were there my wife didn’t have to push me at all!

Paul Mountain

PDQ - Viper Conversion

Thank you once again for making my holiday so successful I could not have done it with out my trike. Hope the photos are OK.

                                                                                              All the best Roland

Joanne Davidson

Dear mark

It took a couple of months to arrive, but it was worth the wait. After some practice in a quiet car park on the Friday evening, Joanne had the confidence to go out on a trip along the river on the Saturday afternoon. It is worth the money just to see the delight on her face, and for her to once again to be able to go where she wishes to go, without the restraints of being pushed by somebody, or being bound to the short distances she can walk on her artificial legs.

For this the Davidson family are grateful, also as requested, I have enclosed a picture of Joannes first adventure.

Kind Regards
Phil & Family

Sue Marshall and her Freedom Bike

“The Viper Power Cycle i call my FREEDOM BIKE as it goes where no other wheelchair that i have had goes. It comes apart and it will go in the plane Jeep and most taxis, it’s very mobile and i could not have done my trips without my FREEDOM BIKE”.

Three years ago we went on a safari We crossed the Chalbi Desert with the Viper which would not have been possible in a ordinary chair and this includes my All Terrrain chair as it would have been to heavy to transport on the plane and in the Jeep. We traveled all over Kenya and even stayed in a Massi family camp. The children and adults had never seen anything like the Viper before and of course they were fascinated and all wanted a go on it.

From there the following year I went to Uganda gorilla trekking across Bwindi national park, over terrain that most people would not consider on foot let alone with a wheelchair and trike.   read more>>>

IS THIS THE WORLD’S MOST TRAVELLED VIPER?

The Viper has made a huge difference to the way we travel and where we decide to go.  No longer are we restricted to destinations that are flat and well paved - ie wheelchair friendly.  We can now go to the places we always wanted to explore, off the beaten track!

VIPER, AIRPORTS & PLANES

I suppose the best place to start is with airports and planes.  To keep it short - I’ve never had any trouble travelling by plane with my Viper – not once!

After trying several different methods, my preferred one is to check in with the Viper attached and keep it attached until I get to the plane door.  I remove it, transfer onto the aeroplane aisle seat and, if possible, re-attach the Viper and wheelchair so it goes in the hold together.  I un-clip the electrical cables to the battery and have elastic bungy’s holding the battery securely in place, as well as the loose cables.

On the occasions where I’ve checked in the Viper, I always made sure the battery was packed in my suitcase and the cables strapped up.  More lately, I’ve also added the plastic cling-film that’s available at most airports now, just to give it extra padding.  However, to help the handlers work out what it is, how it moves and how best to handle it, I keep the brake handles uncovered.

Either way works well, as when we land my wheelchair and Viper are either together with the airport support staff, or the Viper is sent off with the luggage.  When we collect it with our luggage, I attach the Viper and then take the battery out of the suitcase, and off we go – easy, simple and stress-free!

My Viper has had some damage during travel, but it’s always been very minimal – more like excessive wear and tear as opposed to damage.  The key is to protect the parts with padding so it can be removed and re-attached for the homeward journey.

The important thing to remember is that airports, airlines, travel companies, staff and crew are all different and each have a different way of handling these situations.  Always be friendly, polite and relaxed, ask for help and assistance, and they will all be helpful.  If you decide to be stressed out, aggressive and rude, then you can only expect the same in return.  In cases where check in staff have insisted I check the Viper in, I’ve told them that I’ve done it this way many times and never had any problems, and would prefer to keep the Viper and wheelchair together, as I’m worried it’ll get damaged or lost in transit.  This nearly always works and all goes fine, but in the few cases where it hasn’t and I’ve had to check in the Viper with my luggage, I cooperated and complied, as I don’t expect special treatment.

LISBON

On one of the first trips the Viper, we organised a short break to Lisbon – the city built on 7 hills!  We took the Viper and went everywhere we wanted, which opened up our eyes to the new possibilities available to us, as we’re not interested in the normal touristic sunshine and beaches type of travellers. Everything went well on the flight and we got our Viper with the luggage, and off we went.  We jumped into a normal taxi and put the Viper in the boot – a bit of a squeeze as we had luggage also, but this was only on arrival and departure.


LONDON

We’ve spent many enjoyable breaks in London, thanks to the Viper! We’ve found little hotels not too far from an accessible Tube Station as the Viper works excellently on the London Underground.  The lifts are large enough to drive straight in and reverse straight back out.  I drive straight on to the trains and park in a spot that best accommodates the people around me – not always easy, but people do move!

The Viper fits OK on London Buses too.  There are so many accessible buses in London it’s easy to flag one down and jump on.  Getting off is done backwards, but it works fine for us. We’ve caught trains to London, from London to Gatwick and so on, and never had any problems.  Once on board, I either leave the Viper attached (for short journeys) or remove it (for longer journeys).


PYRENEES

This mountain range that forms the border between Spain and France is amazing – but only made possible for us because of the Viper.  We drove from the Mediterranean end at the eastern end of the Pyrenees to the Atlantic ocean in the west.  We stopped off at historical villages and towns, exploring the cobbled back streets, weekly markets, lake side walks and so on.  It was summer so the winter ski resorts had converted their business to mountain biking, white water rafting etc so our daughter had a great time whilst we did our usual bit of exploring the historical parts of the towns, nice lunches etc.  We stopped at Lourdes, which has streets bustling with people moving around slowly, so having the Viper made life so much easier.  We strolled around shops, traffic and people, and it was effortless.


CAPE VERDE ISLANDS

After hearing so much about these new islands, in Jan 2007 we booked a 2 week holiday – but only because we had the Viper!  Had it not been for the Viper, we’d not’ve even considered a holiday to an island that has just got on the tourist map.  Facilities, roads, etc were exactly what we expected and combined with all the sand blown up from the beaches, we couldn’t’ve done without the Viper.

Our hotel was about 2km from the local town so if I had to push my way along the cobbled and sandy road, the holiday would’ve been more of a “warm weather training camp” than a break.  We enjoyed strolls into town, checked it out everything from one end to the other, explored markets, beaches etc.  The Viper makes having a stroll just as simple and relaxing as before – no need for any great physical effort, no straining – just relax, switch off and enjoy the surroundings!


THE ALGARVE

We rent a villa called Dama da Noite in a beautiful rural location, so we hire a car with hand controls also.  The Viper comes with us and we drop the kids off at water slide parks, beaches etc and go off to explore different parts of the region.  Each day there’s a different market on at different towns along the coast, and there’s so much history and culture to discover, from the old town in Faro to the castle fortress in Silves to Prince Henry The Navigator’s fortress in Sagres.


FUTURE DESTINATIONS

We’ve been to Australia, but before we had the Viper.  We’re thinking of going back some time soon and the Viper will be a major part of our trip as I know I’ll be able to go further than before, without all the hassle and physical effort.  After all, holidays are supposed to be relaxing, not a “survival exercise”!

South Africa is also on the cards, as well as new eastern European countries like Bulgaria, Croatia and Poland.  We really want to take a cruise and check out all the different places they stop off at, and unless I had the Viper, I wouldn’t even consider it as we’d never get much further than the harbour on our own!

Get the most out of your Viper and see how it can change your life and that of your family and friends, as it has done to me.  The more we used it, the more we realised how much easier and enjoyable everything has become.  I even enjoy going around the shops and shopping centres (well…. not exactly “enjoy”, but it’s easy to switch off and relax, and carry the shopping for my girls!)

Dave.