A modular assembly for a manual wheelchair wheel is provided that includes first and second modules carrying front and back portions of a hand rail. The hand rail portions have surfaces adapted for a substantially abutting relationship when the modules are attached to each other. The assembly also includes third and fourth modules forming a wheel body and a wheel back portion. The wheel includes a central hub and spokes having separate portions carried by the third and fourth modules. The assembly may also include a cylindrical thumb rail portion having a surface adapted for a substantially abutting relationship with a surface of the hand rim when the modules are attached together. The hand rim is preferably contoured to provide a cross section that is substantially oval in configuration and may include indentations in the front portion to facilitate grasping engagement by a user.
