Power Kite Forum

Brakes on a buggy?

dai_pie - 4-7-2005 at 01:41 PM

Hi, I'm currently thinking of building a buggy and am considering putting a brake on it - first of all just for emergency use. I also thought a buggy would corner better if i took the idea further and put a brake on each of the back wheels - could then slow down one side relative to the other. I was thinking disc brakes intended for bicycle.
Has anyone out there tried something/anything like this? All suggestions are welcome!!

Lack-O-Slack - 4-7-2005 at 02:46 PM

Greetings, dai_pie!

Brakes have been done, most notably here stateside by Larry Lindner, who used a motor-scooter front wheel as the front wheel on his buggy. This gave him a drum brake with pedal, allowing him to slow the buggy, or provide resistance when traveling straight downwind. Not a bad idea, either!

Most of us use our heels, pressed against the side of the front wheel, to act as a "coaster brake", for the same purpose. With good leather boots, properly oiled, you don't even seriously burn out your shoes, for awhile. :o)

Either of these options are a good thing, in my book, as they tend to prevent the old habit of putting a foot down and dragging it, to stop. This can lead to broken ankles, totally flat shoe-soles, (on just one side), or worse... it's a bad idea.

Listening to the Corey-Lama, I recently learned how to scrub off enough speed and fly the kite to a safe stop in camp, without needing brakes or boots to stop... that's finesse. When you can pilot your buggy right up to your stake, and have no excess momentum making your stop hazardous, you're acting like a pilot, instead of an out-of-control hazard approaching vehicles and people too fast. It takes practice, it takes paying attention, and it doesn't require brakes or another pair of boots next season. Just a thought.

-The Karlsbad Kite Kriminal
-aka Lack-O-Slack
-aka Mike Dooley

RMV - 5-7-2005 at 03:57 AM

Here is a pic

L1000099.jpg - 155kB

darkwater - 28-11-2005 at 09:16 AM

I agree you don't need a brake on a buggy to slow down, but, where we fly on top of a hill there have been times that a parking brake would have been a good idea.

popeyethewelder - 30-11-2005 at 03:49 PM

I like the scooter front wheel idea....got me thinking now:saint:

KYTE SLINGER - 30-11-2005 at 06:20 PM

Pop eye
look into go carts, they have a great set up, not the kiddy carts but the all out race models.

I aggree w/Dooley about pilot finesse and able to control your buggy, that's what it all about

as for parking brake just flip your buggy over, the crown on the fork should be enough to keep it still....

ahhhh yes how to do it w/o having to set the wing down and having to buggy roll away. Step on the upper back (not stand on)wheel kick down and outward will flip the buggy over

Lack-O-Slack - 1-12-2005 at 08:53 PM

Jeez, Sabby WOULD know how to flip a buggy with his feet, now, wouldn't he? :moon:

afpe45 - 12-1-2006 at 03:22 AM

try a wheel hub from a midimoto midibike hubs are 8" diameter,with disk brakes(mechanical ) and alloy (like parastorms typhoon mkll) anstandard or wide tyres fit,
you could even put three on if you wanted but that is a bit overkill but flash.

afpe45.

PS: You would have to fix brackets for the calipers though

Attachment: F1-MIDIMOTO WHEEL (38kB)
This file has been downloaded 493 times

afpe45 - 12-1-2006 at 03:26 AM

PHOTO OF TYPHOON MKll

parastorm typhoon mkll.jpg - 11kB

!(*)! - 22-2-2006 at 08:20 AM

There is really no need for brakes on a buggy. A brake on each rear wheel to help you turn is really unnecessary. Buggys turn just fine without them hence 360 sliding spins. But if you spend your time learning to fly better and learning to find the relationship between the kite and the buggy verus using that time to modify your bug you will in the end be ahead of the game. If you rely on a brake you may find that it is a crutch that will stop your leaning progression. Also the brakes add another task. Instead of just turning the kite and steering the Bug you have to turn the kite, steer the bug and apply the brakes. Wow gets me tired and confused just thinking about it.


///saftey in numbers\\\

Nickthechef - 23-3-2006 at 07:30 AM

There is really no need for brakes on a buggy I think it Dangerous.
Just think if you stoped and the kite stll moving...
however I saw this braking system at the World Champanships 2004 in Germany.However it wasnt used to race ..So its not a new idea!!

WIND nickthechefPicture 967.jpg - 31kB

Chip - 23-3-2006 at 10:29 AM

I've seen some people simply glue thick rubber scraps to the inside heels of their boots, and then squeeze their heels together on the tire to act as a break.

The idea is not to stop from full speed, use the kite to do that, but rather that last little bit of energy to bring you to a dead stop. Only and issue on hard surfaces, and mostly to keep you from wearing through the heels of your boots!

I've toyed with doing something similar as a fixed part of the front fork, if I ever get around to building a buggy from scratch. But for the most part it really isn't necessary, just a novelty.

-Chip

!(*)! - 24-3-2006 at 11:12 AM

Chip:

Trying to stop from full speed using the kite may work for the skilled flyer. But at 30mph if you put that kite a little too quickly behind you and up and out of the buggy you go.

Best to learn how to scrub speed fishtailing and sliding/skidding the bug.

IMHO telling someone to use the kite as a brake who is new to buggy piloting can be asking for trouble.


/////saftey in numbers\\\\\

Sand-Yeti - 28-3-2006 at 05:32 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Chip
I've seen some people simply glue thick rubber scraps to the inside heels of their boots, and then squeeze their heels together on the tire to act as a break.

The idea is not to stop from full speed, use the kite to do that, but rather that last little bit of energy to bring you to a dead stop. Only and issue on hard surfaces, and mostly to keep you from wearing through the heels of your boots!

-Chip


I use contact cement to stick pieces of rubber cut from truck inner tubes to my boots. (pic)
It is primarily to stop my boots wearing out. As soon as the rubber wears through I replace with new pieces.

I wouldn't dream of using my boots to slow down. I slow down by the usual methods of scrubbing off speed. i.e. turning buggy sideways as if starting a turn.
However, because I buggy a lot in sand dunes, it is very handy to shove my boots into the wheel when on a steep slope to stop rolling backwards.

A front brake would be nice to have for sucha situation but it isn'ta priority with me at the moment.

Bt01s.jpg - 15kB