Power Kite Forum

Side rails

rtz - 15-12-2016 at 07:07 PM

Thinking about bending some up. The universal fit ones I have now are so wide; I feel like I slide to one side; then when I turn around; I slide to the other side. Also when I'm powered up and light in the seat; I'm only barely hanging on with the top part of my leg above my knee. Just barely.

Though that may be some of the appeal and rush as it's all so on the edge most of the time and has that out of control feel to it. The buggy is the upper limits of how much risk I'm willing to accept these days. I make it feel plenty dangerous.

Seems I can make some tight fitting side rails; though I would likely need two sets? For summer/winter clothing.

Then the detail about bending the front of the side rail inwards to curve slightly over the leg? But maybe it's too restrictive?

Still mulling around the shape in my mind before I start bending.

Any thoughts on side rails and what's ideal?

slapbasswoody - 16-12-2016 at 08:03 AM

If you can get a good picture of the Apexx, MG Supra, Libre Majestic or GT Rapide. You will see that they have a pinch point in the side rails.
This is a fantastic innovation for confidence in your buggy.
When you feel like you are being lofted you push outward on your knees and the buggy stays with you. If you relax your knees then he presto you will pop out of the buggy.
This also helps with the amount of support you have around you when fully or over powered.

bigkid - 16-12-2016 at 09:03 AM

Quote: Originally posted by slapbasswoody  
If you can get a good picture of the Apexx, MG Supra, Libre Majestic or GT Rapide. You will see that they have a pinch point in the side rails.
This is a fantastic innovation for confidence in your buggy.
When you feel like you are being lofted you push outward on your knees and the buggy stays with you. If you relax your knees then he presto you will pop out of the buggy.
This also helps with the amount of support you have around you when fully or over powered.


You spoke of all the full size bugs which have some weight to them. Some more than others, far more than the smaller entry level bugs. My kite bag alone weighs more than a pl buggy. Even the pl Bigfoot weight is under 45lbs.
I have the apexx and have owned a few of the others you mentioned and they are worthy of the design and work because of the weight.
Not sure of the pl style bugs with the slide in side rails. I know of a few guys that have been around for sometime that gave the idea a go and quickly dumped the idea because the bug is to light. Hot wired in is the solution, so I have been told.
Winter clothes and summer clothes are hard enough to make the same for each outing let alone be consistent for each trip. Would it be better to just add some sort of rail padding? Add it for the summer and remove it for the winter.
The apexx I have came from a guy it was not made for. He added 4 inches of foam pad to each rail to keep is skinny butt in the bug. It worked great for him. He would remove half of it for the winter when he put on his snow chains for the snow. His snowmobile suit was his winter riding attire.

slapbasswoody - 16-12-2016 at 09:17 AM

Quote: Originally posted by bigkid  
Quote: Originally posted by slapbasswoody  
If you can get a good picture of the Apexx, MG Supra, Libre Majestic or GT Rapide. You will see that they have a pinch point in the side rails.
This is a fantastic innovation for confidence in your buggy.
When you feel like you are being lofted you push outward on your knees and the buggy stays with you. If you relax your knees then he presto you will pop out of the buggy.
This also helps with the amount of support you have around you when fully or over powered.


You spoke of all the full size bugs which have some weight to them. Some more than others, far more than the smaller entry level bugs. My kite bag alone weighs more than a pl buggy. Even the pl Bigfoot weight is under 45lbs.
I have the apexx and have owned a few of the others you mentioned and they are worthy of the design and work because of the weight.
Not sure of the pl style bugs with the slide in side rails. I know of a few guys that have been around for sometime that gave the idea a go and quickly dumped the idea because the bug is to light. Hot wired in is the solution, so I have been told.
Winter clothes and summer clothes are hard enough to make the same for each outing let alone be consistent for each trip. Would it be better to just add some sort of rail padding? Add it for the summer and remove it for the winter.
The apexx I have came from a guy it was not made for. He added 4 inches of foam pad to each rail to keep is skinny butt in the bug. It worked great for him. He would remove half of it for the winter when he put on his snow chains for the snow. His snowmobile suit was his winter riding attire.


Agreed,
If the buggy is a sit on top of style like PL and Flexi then the Pinched side rails would not be a practical solution. For one thing your butt would scrape on the ground due to the position of the down tube and angle.
Lots of things would have to change to the buggy to be able to have the comfort and position of a race buggy.

I am not too sure what weight has to do with the way that the side rails pinch but I take your word for it.

All the best
Woody

bigkid - 16-12-2016 at 09:50 AM

After talking to Ozzy about the apexx the idea was to add the weight of the buggy to overcome the OBE. By keeping you in the buggy it would reduce being pulled out of the bug. Now this idea works well with small slow anticipated OBE but not the quick powerful OBE. Add 100lbs to your weight and you can buggy with more kite and in higher winds. Nothing more scary than the kite picking you up with a 120lb buggy stuck to your butt while you fuss with the kite to not collapse while trying to direct a 8 foot long buggy in the direction you hope to travel after you hit the ground while still trying to keep the kite powered up. Not something we all plan on and work at. Up and over a soccer goal while trying to miss the street lamp and not land on top of a garbage dumpster after going air bound for some 60 to 70 feet. Which I practice on a regular schedule.:lol:

slapbasswoody - 16-12-2016 at 09:58 AM

Quote: Originally posted by bigkid  
After talking to Ozzy about the apexx the idea was to add the weight of the buggy to overcome the OBE. By keeping you in the buggy it would reduce being pulled out of the bug. Now this idea works well with small slow anticipated OBE but not the quick powerful OBE. Add 100lbs to your weight and you can buggy with more kite and in higher winds. Nothing more scary than the kite picking you up with a 120lb buggy stuck to your butt while you fuss with the kite to not collapse while trying to direct a 8 foot long buggy in the direction you hope to travel after you hit the ground while still trying to keep the kite powered up. Not something we all plan on and work at. Up and over a soccer goal while trying to miss the street lamp and not land on top of a garbage dumpster after going air bound for some 60 to 70 feet. Which I practice on a regular schedule.:lol:




Ha ha ha, very true.
We started playing with the side rails on the XXRacers and Tornados to stop us from being dragged up and out of our buggies when tacking at high speeds.
Also the Fisly rules state that you cannot be captive in your buggies when racing. During the Euros this is tested so that ou are not breaking the rules. The pinch points were the best way of doing this without breaking the rules.

This all helped us to hold down larger kites during racing, e.g. 11m Vapors in 15-20mph winds.
It did get a bit worrying at times when tacking around markers at 50mph with you and the buggy 5 -6ft off the ground. Always wore brown pants:lol::lol::lol:

bigkid - 16-12-2016 at 10:03 AM

Very true.
Adult diapers are easier to hide and change. :cool: