FAQs

Please submit an enquiry form online or a pdf version available below. You can also contact us on 1300 663 243 and we will send you a form or complete it over the phone.

Freedom Wheels Form

The enquiry form helps our therapy and volunteer team review your request to make sure we can legally complete this project and if it’s safe.

The form is a great way to also give you a quick answer about whether a Freedom Wheels bike is suitable for you, your client or your child. If everything looks suitable, we will arrange an assessment as needed and go from there to achieve your goal!

Please call us on 1300 663 243 and we can complete the form with you over the phone. Alternatively, you can complete the form online here.

When you have completed the online form, we will contact you to arrange a suitable time for an obligation-free, complimentary assessment. Our Occupational Therapist will consider your or your child’s needs and design a suitable “trial bike”, then assess how your child is riding and make any necessary adjustments.

We will provide a quote to help you secure funding from the NDIS or other funding schemes, or we can subsidise the cost of your bike thanks to our general supporters. Your brand-new Freedom Wheels bike will be constructed at our workshop and checked over by a therapist. Yours or your child’s bike will be delivered within 6-8 weeks.

Freedom Wheels are custom made to order bikes, so it would not be possible to provide a quote over the phone. Once we do know the solution, we aim to get a quote out to you as soon as possible!

When you receive the quote for your solution, please check the details and approve the quote by signing it and either returning it to us or sending us an email with your quote number, with your acceptance of the quote. If you would like to make any changes to the quote, please amend the details as necessary. If these changes do alter the costs, we can provide you with an updated quote.

The NDIS has recently made changes to the process for accessing Assistive Technology (AT). These changes include:

• The upper limit for Mid Cost AT has increased from $5,000 to $15,000.
• Supporting documentation will be easier to complete i.e., instead of an extensive AT application only written evidence from a qualified AT Assessor is required.
• Quotes are no longer required; an estimated cost of the AT is sufficient.
If, after attending a Freedom Wheels trial, you and your AT Assessor decide that one of the products in our range best suits your needs, the NDIS will require written evidence to determine whether this meets the reasonable and necessary criteria for funding.

The written evidence required to receive funding in a NDIS plan and the written advice required prior to purchase of Mid-Cost AT must be supplied by an independent Assistive Technology Assessor. It is not within Solve-TAD’s scope to complete this documentation.
For further information about how the NDIS considers funding for AT, please visit their website www.ndis.gov.au/. Alternatively, we recommend speaking with your Support Coordinator or a Local Area Coordinator.

Freedom Wheels utilise bike frames that cater to a wide variety of needs. These frames can be adapted by adding Freedom Wheels components to them (such as outriggers, postural, foot and hand supports), adjusting the existing bike components (such as handlebars) and replacing existing components with others that are better suited to the client’s needs (such as saddles and pedals). Freedom Wheels components have been designed to suit specific frames and not all bikes are adaptable enough to accommodate this range of modifications.

The models offered in Freedom Wheels current range have been chosen for the following reasons:
• Frame geometries accommodate the attachment points required for Freedom Wheels components and offer a low step through for easier transfers.
• Existing bike components can be easily removed, replaced or modified to accommodate client’s individual seating, reach, and strength requirements.

Freedom Wheels bikes have superior adjustability to maximise the allowance for growth. Having a range of bikes that can be set up appropriately promotes consistency and accuracy across the prescription and build processes and reduces the likelihood of costly breakages and repairs.

The overall adjustability of the bikes and the supporting components in our range provide maximum allowance for growth, ensuring the bike remains suitable for the rider until they are ready to transition to the next size up.

The lifespan of a Freedom Wheels product, just like any other bike, varies dramatically between riders due to a range of factors. Rates of rider growth, frequency of use, cycling style, storage and riding environments as well as maintenance routine all affect the service life of a Freedom Wheels bike.

All bike and trike frames comply with bicycle standard AS/NZS 1927:1998. The adaptations, in the form of therapeutic supports, are excluded from this mandatory standard as they have been added to suit the unique requirements of the individual client.

The adaptations, assessed as necessary by our Product Specialists
with Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy backgrounds at a Freedom Wheels bike trial, add to the safety of the rider and relate directly to their therapeutic goals.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) product safety bulletin for pedal bicycles (2012) also states that the mandatory standard does not apply to “one-of a kind bicycles (i.e. bicycles that are uniquely constructed to the order of an individual consumer)” which applies to all Freedom Wheels products.
Please see the link here for further details.

The Freedom Wheels customer service team can be contacted at any time to discuss any issues, repairs, or servicing of the cycles.

Warranty:
Warranty is frame specific so please refer to your quote or the documentation provided on delivery for details.

Repairs:
When contacted, Freedom Wheels will evaluate any repairs or maintenance required on the bike or trike. A quote will be provided for the cost of repair, parts, or maintenance and undertaken if the client wishes to proceed.

Maintenance:
Freedom Wheels encourages clients to regularly service their Freedom Wheels bike or trike to ensure all the systems of the bike stay in good working order for as long as possible. For details on our Freedom Wheels Bike Service, please refer to the attached fact sheet.

When a client receives funding and places an order with Freedom Wheels, the recommended bike or trike will typically be built and delivered to the client within 6-8 weeks.

• Fixed wheel pedals: helps a rider to develop the motor planning required to coordinate pedalling.
• Coaster brake: enables a rider to brake using their legs.
• Electric pedal assist: allows the rider to pedal further distances, ride up slopes, and manage fatigue when out in the community. EN 15194 compliant.
• Outriggers: stabilise the cycle by keeping in contact with the ground at all times. Outriggers are easily removable for ease of transport and storage.
• Spoke Covers: reduce the risk of a rider getting their fingers and hands caught in the spokes of the wheels.
• Pommel seat: supportive saddle which helps prevent the rider from sliding forwards or laterally when riding.
• Pelvic Belt: supports the pelvis from sliding forward on the seat.

• Adjustable handlebars: able to be adjusted closer to the rider than standard handlebars and can push away for more space when transferring on and off the bike.
• Hi-riser: provides a removable, height appropriate handle for someone to assist with control of the bike. A highriser is also used to mount postural supports, if required.
• Hi-riser bend: enables the rider’s support person to stand further back from the cycle to prevent coming into contact with the outriggers.
• Tow Handle: allows a support person to provide assistance with steering and propulsion. The tow handle is easily removable to allow for skill development.
• Side steer: allows a support person to provide assistance with steering from the right or left side of the bike. The side steer is easily removable to allow for skill development.
• Rear steer system: allows someone to assist with steering and propulsion of a trike.
• Steering limiter: reduces the maximum turning capacity of a bike and is removable for skill progression.
• Double Pull Brake: front and back brakes both located on either the right or the left handlebar to enable the rider to pull both brakes with their dominant hand. This is particularly necessary for riders who have may not have full functional use of one of their hands.
• Locking Brakes: lock brakes in position to stabilise the bike for transfers.
• Toe Clip: aligns the foot onto the pedal to prevent slipping and promotes optimal positioning for pedalling.
• Toe Clip with strap: aligns the foot onto the pedal to prevent slipping and promotes optimal positioning for pedalling. The strap runs across the top of the foot and is easily adjustable (tightened or loosened) depending on the level of support required by the rider.
• Toe clip with strap and heel strap: aligns the foot onto the pedal to prevent slipping and promotes optimal positioning for pedalling. One strap runs across the top of the foot and the other around the back of the heel. Both straps are easily adjustable (tightened or loosened) depending on the level of support required by the rider.
• Heel plate: prevents entrapment of the foot between the frame and the crank.
• Plastic footcup: cup wraps around the back of the heel to align the foot onto the pedal and a strap runs across the top of the foot to optimise positioning and stability.
• Foot leveller: assists with keeping pedals level for the full rotation of a pedal stroke to prevent riding in plantar flexion. Additionally, the foot leveller keeps the pedals in a neutral position which can assist the rider with transferring their feet onto the pedals.
• Step block: a wooden step that can be used to assist with safe and more independent transfers on / off the cycle.
• Hip support – Fin: stabilises the hips for optimal positioning and sitting balance while riding.
• Hip support – Padded plate: provides moderate back support to aid postural stability.
• Hip strap for postural support: a strap that attaches to the hip support to optimise the riders’ seating position for therapeutic purposes.
• Thoracic Support – Fin: stabilises the torso and helps the rider to maintain an upright position.
• Thoracic Support – Padded plate: provides moderate back support to aid postural stability.
• Thoracic strap for postural support: a strap that attaches to the thoracic support to optimise the rider’s seating position for therapeutic purposes.
• Head support – Padded plate: to support the head while riding.
• Ezy hold strap: a soft silicone strap that assists with keeping the hand in place to support the rider with maintaining grip and control of the handlebars.
• Hand mitt: wraps around the hand to support the rider with maintaining grip and control of the handlebars.
• Trike carrier: a rack that allows a trike to be transported on the back of a vehicle.

Please see our article on Bike Benefits here

Freedom Wheels is for all ages!

We have serviced riders as young as 3, and as old as 77!