Power Kite Forum

To those who buggy on grass

rtz - 25-12-2014 at 10:59 PM

The field I ride on used to have very short; basically lightly grass covered dirt. Smooth fast grass. Until they redid the field. Now it is a lush 2 or 3 inch thick grass. Like riding on quicksand! I can't even ride on it anymore. It's like getting bogged down in sand.

If anyone has similar conditions; I feel for you. Until they changed the field; I thought all short mowed grass was the same. I never knew.

John Holgate - 26-12-2014 at 02:24 AM

The secret to buggying in long grass is here.....Long Grass secret...

Highly recommended and very necessary. :D

BigMikesKites - 26-12-2014 at 05:25 AM

I have several different fields around here. One is so almost no grass, it is hard and fast, but its difficult not to find it full of cricket players.

I have 2 with medium, well kept grass that are fine for the most part.

I have one (the closest by 25 miles) with full thick, I want to lounge in it, grass. I don't buggy on it unless it is winter, and then, I'd rather go to the other parks.

I don't have any other good recommendations. Maybe the Soccer fairy will come out and help trample the grass shorter

awindofchange - 26-12-2014 at 10:36 AM

Bigfoot tires pumped up hard. :) Makes long plush grass fun again.

hiaguy - 26-12-2014 at 10:48 AM

All I've got around here is soccer fields. It's best during the summer when the city cuts the grass, but it's never "good". Between midis and barrows, I prefer the barrows and a slightly larger kite to pull me through.
Since it's my only option, I'll take it 'cause it's better than not flying at all.
But it's "best" at Wildwood:-)

canuck - 26-12-2014 at 10:48 AM


Quote:

John Holgate posted
....Long Grass secret...
:lol:
A Calgary policeman lives beside our neighbourhood park and he uses his mower when the grass gets too long for bocce, then leaves the clippings in bags so the regular grounds crew knows he had to cut the grass.

rtz - I have similar conditions. One field gets really mushy and lush when the irrigation system gets overused. The only thing I found that helps is to keep the air pressure up in your tires and pick a bigger kite than you would normally use.

lunchbox - 26-12-2014 at 12:01 PM

+1 for bigfoots!

soliver - 26-12-2014 at 01:00 PM

I'm like you rtz, all of my "grass" fields are really dirt or clay with sparse grass growing on them... thin enough that it causes very little rolling resistance. The worst I get is when the parks dept. lets the grass grow long at the fairground's parking lot and I have to wade through the clover.

skimtwashington - 26-12-2014 at 07:45 PM

I thought the thread title meant something else....never mind.

;-):frog::smilegrin:

Safety meeting!:bouncy:

MeatÐriver - 26-12-2014 at 07:50 PM

Bwahaha! :thumbup:

soliver - 26-12-2014 at 09:02 PM

Alls I can say is, I got high with a kite last week... It turned out bad for me

WELDNGOD - 26-12-2014 at 09:44 PM

And beer sometimes as well....:D:D:D

bigkid - 27-12-2014 at 04:33 AM

Beer and grass buggy riding, Washington or Colorado? :o

As for the long grass problem. This is an opportunity to expand your buggy skills. It is much like the soft dry sand at any beach, not your 1st choice as the hard pack is your destination.
Long grass, wet grass, fresh grass is the least desirable because of the rolling resistance which is the same as soft dry beach sand.
Bigfoots are the best for such surfaces, be sure to pump them up as stated above.
Now for the positive aspect, you need more power to get moving which means a size bigger kite or so. This alone will make you work harder to get moving, which makes you figure a way to move without increasing your cardiovascular workout regiment. :evil:
This is when you learn to loop the kite and build power/speed while steering the buggy towards and away from the kite. With very small movements you can find this type of bugging very educational and skill building.
Many of the little tricks are the same as using long lines. Dry short grass is as said above is very fast compared to long wet grass.
We have all types of grass to buggy on with as many types of sand to boot. If you can buggy on any of those surfaces than you have better than normal skills, a day you drive home after playing in the buggy is a good day!

Cerebite - 29-12-2014 at 02:29 PM

another "fix" for those on soccer grass is to get riser plates between the axle and side rails [bolt on axle] or side rail extentions [slip joint]. Van made me a set of plates for my VTT and it makes a world of difference for ground clearance on med -long grass [and "short" snow :)]. I have not noticed any effect on the steering geometry on Midi's.