Anyone get to buggy this time of year?

When I first started; I would endure the heat and ride anyways. Now though; the heat seems to detract from the pleasure and pleasantness of the experience.

This is the temp before the heat index.





I ride to give me something to do outdoors. I like being outside on nice days. Plus this is pretty much the only form of "exercise" I get. Not to mention all the thrills, excitement, and adrenaline the buggy can provide. Those tense, heart stopping and eye opening moments. A close call or almost or what if; thinking "that was close" or "that could have been bad". Harnessing all the power from the wind and controlling it and making use of it.

So who here has been riding lately? What are your temps and conditions like?

I'm waiting for the nice weather to come back in September. August is looking a bit warm.

Ha! Gotta love the international internet. We've got somebody from OK feeling the heat, and we've got somebody from "down under" toiling away through his winter. :bisou:

RTZ - I suspect what isn't shown on that weather chart is the humidity, likely the real killer in this situation. Winds look decent, but maybe a bit light for the size kites you appear to be packing. The Reactor 5.5 perhaps?

Since you asked, yes, I've been getting in a few buggy sessions a week in the mountains of Utah. We get pretty predictable winds that kick up in the middle of the afternoon. Predictable that is, in that they usually happen, not predictable as in nice, steady, and clean. More like lulls, gusts, directional changes, etc. Front changes can make for some winds of high force, but more than likely we've got winds ranging from 5-10 knots, dropping to 1-2 only to pick back up again. I can be feeling overpowered one minute and wondering if it will ever blow again the next. Almost all of my buggying in the past two months has been powered by a 12m Flysurfer Peak2 single skinned DP.

I bet Oklahoma with its miles and miles of flat land set up some steadier winds, but I suspect you are finding yourself a little underpowered with your kite sizes in winds advertised as 10-13 MPH, even assuming you want to endure the heat. If you brave the temps do you have enough kite for the conditions? Your quiver looks great, just what appears to be for more wind.

Fall will be upon you before you know it. Chin up!

Used to....

Mostly evenings on beach after beach-go-ers went home....but a seasonal ban has returned to my local area-one that has occurred and been overturned before, and that I hope will be overturned again.

I don't like the heat, but will ride any opportunity.

So for now it's a countdown to Labor day... and freedom to ride after that weekend until next beach season begins.

For now I am only allowed to static fly. Scudding and jumping.:Ange09:

This is first time since I took up the sport I have had to deal with a ban and I'm missing those early evening and cloudy, cool empty beach day buggy sessions of the summer.

That looks just like the temps we had a couple weeks ago...no wind though...so it was beer and shade time!
And a little fishin'...
Sometimes we get summer breezes usually accompanied by rain squall fronts and they are gusty, not fun.
Steve is in a better spot, mountains tend to "breathe", but like he said the wind quality sucks.

So I decided to have multiple hobbies to go along with my personalities so I never get bored!

It's been very hit or miss around here.....between the work schedule and almost non-existant winds, not much buggying is happening as of late Every night I dream of endless miles of snow covered frozen lakes that await me starting in December:D That's when the "real" kiting begins for me. Don't get me wrong, I'll take any wind I can get at the moment to stave off the withdrawal.

Today - finally. First time in almost a month. Booked off work early so I could get in some time before the little soccer dudes took over.
8.6 miles and managed 24.4 mph fairly regularly. Not bad for my little park - the trees tend to come up quickly
Hopefully there'll be another day or two before WBB :wee:

Did I mention...
... 79 ...

Way to go Hiaguy!

Today was one of those days that makes a guy want to sell his buggy and say it's not worth it anymore. First buggy spot wrong wind direction, second spot no wind because of trees, third spot wrong wind direction and trees, fourth spot correct wind direction but you guessed it lots of trees blocking wind. Set everything up anyway, jumped in the bug, rode about 10ft and wind dies, there I sit. Wind comes up, ride 10ft and wind dies, there I sit. Stupid trees keep blocking the wind. Weather man said 10-20mph winds but that's at the airport where there is no trees! Even with the 12m Peak and I was still underpowered. So I pack up and go home Summer sucks I thought to myself. Every buggy place I have to ride is lined with thick trees. Trees everywhere in this state, can't seem to get away from them. Just so frustrating. I realize my attitude will pass, but this part of summer is starting to wear on me. Doesn't seem like I will get another good buggy session in til fall when all the leaves have fallen. These are the days that make me want to switch to riding on water and forget about all this buggy nonsense. At least out there on the water there isn't any trees. I realize this is totally a first world problem and I need an attitude adjustment, but I just need to vent sometimes and you guys are the only ones that might understand.

Thanks Steve! All part of the kiting game. Perhaps there should be a mandatory cooling down period before posting on the forum

Quote: Originally posted by Cheddarhead

Thanks Steve! All part of the kiting game. Perhaps there should be a mandatory cooling down period before posting on the forum

True, I wasn't a happy poster last weekend. Tons of rain and almost no wind.

Today was a brighter day. Had a great sunset session with 7-8 mph wind on the longboard with the 7m nasa star on long lines. Wind direction needs to be right for my limited spots to longboard on long lines.

Sunday, I was able to sneak in a half hour on the 8.5 blade on long lines and longboard. The blade is a different animal on the board. Wind picked up a little before the rain so I was keeping the kite high the whole time and a gust hit which lifted me just enough to lose steering ability. I instantly sent it behind me like my nasa's (when I'm trying to slow down) and up I went :D Nice and floaty onto the adjoining grass area next to the road I was on. I had planned to use a spot next to grass on purpose just in case such an event would happen and sure enough it did

Quote: Originally posted by Cheddarhead

Today was one of those days that makes a guy want to sell his buggy and say it's not worth it anymore. First buggy spot wrong wind direction, second spot no wind because of trees, third spot wrong wind direction and trees, fourth spot correct wind direction but you guessed it lots of trees blocking wind. Set everything up anyway, jumped in the bug, rode about 10ft and wind dies, there I sit. Wind comes up, ride 10ft and wind dies, there I sit. Stupid trees keep blocking the wind. Weather man said 10-20mph winds but that's at the airport where there is no trees! Even with the 12m Peak and I was still underpowered. So I pack up and go home Summer sucks I thought to myself. Every buggy place I have to ride is lined with thick trees. Trees everywhere in this state, can't seem to get away from them. Just so frustrating. I realize my attitude will pass, but this part of summer is starting to wear on me. Doesn't seem like I will get another good buggy session in til fall when all the leaves have fallen. These are the days that make me want to switch to riding on water and forget about all this buggy nonsense. At least out there on the water there isn't any trees. I realize this is totally a first world problem and I need an attitude adjustment, but I just need to vent sometimes and you guys are the only ones that might understand.

Oh man, I used to feel that way all the time. Its not worth trying. You'll end up hating the sport. Only choose days where you are certain you'll enjoy it.

If its nice and warm in the park, take a chair and relax with a drink. If the wind picks up consider it a bonus.

Quote: Originally posted by RedSky

If its nice and warm in the park, take a chair and relax with a drink. If the wind picks up consider it a bonus.

I did just what you said, had a few to many for my own good. But hey, what else is there to do while I wait for the wind? The buggy time that did show finally was well worth the wait, so was the cold ones.
Can't count the number of time I drove a couple hours to hit the beach and something was not right for a good buggy day and hung out waiting for a break in the circumstances so that I could buggy for a bit. But more times than not it ended up being a bust and heading back home only to do it again at a later date.