Power Kite Forum

Harness

Bassetman - 22-11-2012 at 01:21 AM

What sort of harness would you need for use in a buggy if you fly with handles?

How do you hook up without interfering with the handles ? Would the kite killers still work? Could the same setup work on an ATB? Is a bar better for these uses, I have seen videos of handles and bars but they do not show the connection to handles very well. Sorry for the noob questions but I am about to spend the money and want to get the best use of it. Thanks.

elfasa - 22-11-2012 at 09:32 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bassetman
What sort of harness would you need for use in a buggy if you fly with handles?

How do you hook up without interfering with the handles ? Would the kite killers still work? Could the same setup work on an ATB? Is a bar better for these uses, I have seen videos of handles and bars but they do not show the connection to handles very well. Sorry for the noob questions but I am about to spend the money and want to get the best use of it. Thanks.


Hey :)

The majority of Bugyers use a seat harness.

To hook in using handles you need a 'strop'. This is a small bit of rope (around 50-70cm long) that attaches the handles on the top (power line side of the handles.) Strops can be home made, out of a tough bit of rope, of bought specifically for not very much.

Whilst being hooked into the harness with handles, even with kite killers, if you let go of the handles you will still be attached via the power lines, and so the kite killers wont work. You could either reach for your knees, that might work, or grab the break lines (so long as you’re wearing gloves.) I still wear killers at the moment, even when i'm hooked in, as I purposely unhook every now and again, if I want a bit of a work out, or if the wind gets a bit gusty.

The same set up can be used on an ATB. Most ATBers would use a waist harness however.

The debate of bars Vs handles is an ongoing one. Most people with fixed bridle kites would use handles. Some use bars, primarily the Ozone turbo bar.

Others will add their more specific knowledge i'm sure, but this is the basic info.

Hope it helps
Tim

John Holgate - 22-11-2012 at 01:49 PM

Quote:

You could either reach for your knees, that might work, or grab the break lines (so long as you’re wearing gloves.)


Reach for your knees? Might work with a Peter Lynn backstrap......

If you're using a strop with handles, you can shift your hands to the bottom of the handles and reef the brakes on (no need to grab the brake lines) - that works quite ok.

You could also release the kite - providing it's safe to do so. The strop is usually run through a pulley and quick release of some sort. Picture here: http://www.extremekites.com.au/forums/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=7545