Power Kite Forum

Buggy Help

Gronniger - 25-2-2007 at 08:29 PM

I have had my PL buggy for just a few days, had it out three times now. I can't seem to get going well except for straight downwind. I can reach a little and turn (I would call it a jibe) and go the other way. But it doesn't feel right. Does anyone have any good links for some help or any ideas?

Pablo - 25-2-2007 at 10:08 PM

First off, what's the wind like, how strong, how clean, your weight, and kite size.

I find that if you're only going down wind you're usually underpowered, when overpowered it's usually super easy to stay upwind. Also, I suspect that you're not going straight across left and right, probably more of a good angle going one way and a bad angle going the other, this'll explain your tough time going one way.

SecondWind - 26-2-2007 at 06:31 AM

Gronniger,

Here's a good link for getting started:

Click Here

Hope this helps some,

Joe

SecondWind - 26-2-2007 at 06:36 AM

I'm with Pablo - you probably did not have enough wind.

Gronniger - 26-2-2007 at 10:24 AM

It was 20-25mph wind, 3.6m HQ Beamer kite and I am 230lbs. I felt there was plenty of wind, I was able to get her on two wheels (didn't mean to...) It felt like I needed a different kite, any excuse for more kite stuff!

Gronniger - 26-2-2007 at 12:38 PM

Would a 5.5m or a 7m kite be better for my weight in a 15-20mph average wind range? Those are the two sizes I'm looking to progress towards when I can afford it....

coreykite - 26-2-2007 at 12:45 PM

Gronny,
How much are you flying the kite?
Keeping it up top and fairly centered in the wind window?

Did you build a solid foundation of kite skills before jumping on the buggy?

Going on an upwind angle usually has the kite much closer to mid-way between the ground and overhead, and pointed towards the horizon rather than pointed up.

Using fixed-bridle foils, it's usually better to be a bit under-powered.
You can "zoom" the kite in a "vertical infinty" out near the edge and increase power.

You will learn to notice the relationship between "where your kite is going" and the angle to your front wheel.

You will learn to keep tension on your flying lines.

Are you coming to nabx?

I can even teach you how to have your kite going opposite your line-of-travel and still accelerate you.

It's not science... It's Magic!


Safen Up! Buggy On!

"Often wrong... Never in doubt"

the coreylama

acampbell - 26-2-2007 at 02:36 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Gronniger
It was 20-25mph wind, 3.6m HQ Beamer kite and I am 230lbs. I felt there was plenty of wind, I was able to get her on two wheels (didn't mean to...) It felt like I needed a different kite, any excuse for more kite stuff!


20-25 mph and a Beamer 3.6 is plenty for your weight. Don't get a bigger kite yet. I'm 200 and was moving with a Rage 3.5 in 8-10 mph but I had to work at it. I was in a heavier bug, too- my Flexi Wide Axle.

Point the bug down wind about 45 degrees. In other words when you are sitting in it the wind will be coming over one shoulder. Launch your kite downwind of the bug and get it to the zenith. Move to the bug from downwind and straddle it then sit. Move the kite from the zenith down and directly in front of you and you will be putting it "in gear".

As you start to move, harden up, or turn towards upwind until you are now about 90 degrees to the wind . As you accelerate , the wind the wind you feel will move forward and your wind window will swing to being mostly behind you. Your kite will move from in front of you to the side of you . When in motion your kite is always towards the edge of the window. If you let the kite move back into the window which is now behind you, you will either slow down or have an OBE (out of buggy experience) which is often spectacular and always entertaining to on-lookers.

To learn to jibe or turn around the other way via a downwind turn, practice first on your feet, walking in figure of eight turns on the ground. This way you can learn the movement of the kite, the timing and dynamics without the distraction (or terrror) of the buggy.

Start the turn by bringing the kite up in the window towards overhead to power down. If you are walking with the wind off your right shoulder, you will turn left down wind. Start to turn the kite to the left and down and immediately turn yourself to follow it. By the time you are facing direct down wind the kite should by powering up again in the opposite direction, pulling you out of the turn. Do this till you can do it without looking (much) at the kite and it is automatic.

When in the buggy, timing is critical and depends on wind speed and kite size. As Corey said, it is most important to keep tension on the lines. If the downwind turn is too broad, you will slack the lines, luff the kite and you have a mess.

Tip: keep a carabiner attached to the siderail of the buggy via a strap near your butt. Use it to attach you brake loops when you crash the kite in a bad turn and have to go sort out a bow-tie. I do not like to carry a stake in the moving buggy.

To slow down before a turn, turn upwind a bit and/ or do a lttle fishtailing -s-turns to scrub off speed.

Practice. Practice. Have fun

Gronniger - 26-2-2007 at 03:06 PM

I would love to come to NABX, if money and job will let me of course! Those two are the determining factors presently. I should know by the end of the week. Is March 12th the cut off date for reg?

coreykite - 26-2-2007 at 03:39 PM

Cut-Off Date?

You make it here and I'll personally get you in.

Pay attention to the important stuff and let everything else go.
Get you and your gear here.

Fall back into the arms of your family.
All it takes is overwhelming faith.

I know, I make it sound so simple.


That is then.
This is now.

Please describe a bit of detail on your kite skills and what the kite is doing while you're in the buggy.

We can help now.


Perhaps a medical condition...
You'll have a vision problem...
Just can't see yourself going to work that week.


Safen Up! Buggy On!

"Often wrong... Never in doubt"

the coreylama

Gronniger - 26-2-2007 at 08:20 PM

The more I think about it it does seem underpowered. I was going on a broad reach and moved it into a beam reach (the buggy pointing more up wind than down from a sailors viewpoint). When I did this I noticed I had to move the kite up and down more to generate more pull but it just wasn't enough. The kite was halfway or more to the ground from the zenith (a little in front of me though), the buggy perpendicular to the wind. I would describe my kite skills as self taught, I understand the wind window, power strokes, I can comfortably put the kite anywhere I want it to go. I can park the kite and walk around holding the bar with one hand, etc etc. I fly every chance that I can get!

khooke - 26-2-2007 at 09:15 PM

Gronniger - you say buggy pointing more upwind? Depending on how far upwind exactly you might be trying to turn further upwind than the kite can give you usable pull. In this case you should turn downwind slightly until the kite starts to give you some pull again.

You'll find some kites will be able to give you pull closer upwind than others, and you'll just have to work out what that limit is. You've probably found out already that you can't actually turn that far up into the wind and keep rolling (also depends on the surface you're buggying on - the more rolling resistance the harder it is), so you'll have to find the angle that works and then keeping gybing back and forth to get upwind to where you're heading.

Another thing to bear in mind - if the kite is too small for the wind you'll find it more difficult to get upwind at all. The opposite is also true - if you're flying too large for the wind you'll be over powered making it impossible to turn upwind since you'll be fighting getting pulled downwind (and probably spending time sliding sideways if on wet grass or sand!).

Hope that helps!