When our dear friend Alf, a Parkinson's sufferer, came to us with a request to build him a wheelchair-bike hybrid, I had no idea it would lead to this.
As a great lover of all things outdoors, we couldn’t imagine what it would be like to lose touch with nature and lose the ability to get from A to B on our own. Helping Alf regain his freedom and get back into exercising seemed like a project that was right up our alley. Jeff had been inventing products for decades and tinkering with sports equipment his whole life. In his day job, he designed outdoor sporting products and stand-up paddleboards. On weekends, he gets out on his mountain bike at every opportunity and does all of his own bike maintenance. With that foundation he got down to work designing what would evolve into the very first AJ / Extreme Rhino pedal wheelchair.
Once we had a prototype built, we were blown away by the reception it received. What started as a one-off passion project led us to an epiphany—there were people of all ages, all over the world, who could benefit from an AJ / Extreme Rhino chair. Witnessing the impact it’s made not only on people’s physical health, but their mental health, was enough motivation to devote ourselves wholeheartedly to building more chairs. Partnering together, we hope to help anyone facing a mobility challenge to get moving again.
— Jeff and Heather Lewis
Hand-crafted
We build each AJ / Extreme Rhino wheelchair lovingly by hand in our Victoria, BC, facility. High quality materials and a frame engineered for strength ensure every AJ / Extreme Rhino chair is sturdy and safe.
Continuous improvements
Since the first prototype, we’ve updated our core material from steel to aluminum to make the whole system more lightweight. We’ve also slimmed down the frame for easy navigation through tight corners and doorways. We’re always looking for ways to make the AJ / Extreme Rhino wheelchair even better.
Sky’s the limit
Where do we go from here? That depends entirely on you, our community. We’ve been blown away by the inventive ways customers have used the AJ / Extreme Rhino chair so far. Our next inspiration is right around the corner.
Testimonials
“It’s a lot of fun. It’s so easy to pedal, I easily go faster than my husband can walk and sometimes I go ahead and do extra turns. It’s great on corners.”
Emily, Edmonton AB
“I get to feel movement again. I get to race my young kids on their bikes in our driveway. I most often lose, but I am in the race! I get to feel my legs generate power again. It is both a mental and physical benefit.”
Rahul, Victoria BC
“We are quite thrilled with our AJ / Extreme Rhino chair and are considering getting another one so I can keep up with Emily. Thanks for introducing us to this great invention.”
John, Edmonton AB
“It’s all exciting. Riding up and down the aisles at the grocery store, shopping (something I haven’t been able to do for quite a while). Talking with folks who want information about the AJ / Extreme Rhino chair. Waving to people who smile and give me thumbs up.”
Lorne, Victoria BC
