Power Kite Forum

Buggying with a harness

BeamerBob - 11-2-2009 at 08:19 AM

At the Aiken meet on Saturday, I didn't buggy a bit without either a depower kite or a strop on my Blurr. I had not ever ridden so much being harnessed to the kite. I became comfortable with the concept after awhile, and then started to notice how the physics of the bellybutton tow point was much more stable than between my shoulders. Even in the gusty conditions, with the kite at the side, I never once felt like I was going to get dragged out of the buggy. I know it can still happen but it didn't feel as likely. I'm sure conditions will sometimes dictate not attaching the strop but I think I'll be using one alot more now. I had tridude pick up some amsteel 3/16 line for me in Charleston at West Marine and they are ready to attach. The 3/16 line looks to be the perfect size and is similar to the Flexi strop for the new prolink handles. Any thoughts, observations, or suggestions?

acampbell - 11-2-2009 at 08:31 AM

Were you running the strop over the bar hook or did you have a pulley block on your Wichard QR? I'll have a Peter Lynn Roller Spreader Bar to try if you like. One advantage is being able to hook and un-hook as you wish.(edit) ...unless you are loaded up...

dylanj423 - 11-2-2009 at 08:35 AM

The first time I buggied was at DBBB on Thanksgiving. I noticed immediately that the forces involved with buggying were different than other kite sports. Maybe it was just the weight of the bug, the fact that my arms were off to the side probably had some influence, too.

At any rate, my forearms got pretty sore pretty quickly. I wasnt really a stranger to hooked in flying anyway, so I didnt think much of putting on a harness. It took a few hours of flying time to get comfortable with the feeling, though.

The difference was night and day. I could have buggied all day, and I have pretty much attached a strop to all my kites by now. I use climbing rope from a local store very similar to REI, I think its a 4mm thickness. I am 6ft, and use a 44inch length per strop. They end up being about $1 each.

One thing that I recently have changed was that the loops that I have tied at the ends are only about the size of a quarter in diameter. It makes getting the knot through the loop (for the larks head) a little tricky, but keeps any knots from getting caught up in the spreader bar. Nothing like a glitch in the middle of a kite loop.

I also practice regularly getting out of it under higher speeds. If it is really gusty, or I just dont feel comfortable with what I'm doing, I just unhook until I feel better.

BeamerBob - 11-2-2009 at 08:55 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by acampbell
Were you running the strop over the bar hook or did you have a pulley block on your Wichard QR? I'll have a Peter Lynn Roller Spreader Bar to try if you like. One advantage is being able to hook and un-hook as you wish.(edit) ...unless you are loaded up...


I had a D shackle attaching a wichard of kitedog's to my hammerhead and a pulley attached to the wichard. This is long enough to make the large Flexi strop a tad too long. It would be perfect running straight through the hammerhead. I'm still open to suggestions. At the moment, I have A way to safely hook in with smooth operation, so from here I will refine how I'm doing it by seeing how others have done it. Angus that is a nice compact setup you made with the pulley and wichard. Hard to improve on that. I'll give that pulley spreader a try as well.

BeamerBob - 11-2-2009 at 09:00 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by dylanj423
One thing that I recently have changed was that the loops that I have tied at the ends are only about the size of a quarter in diameter. It makes getting the knot through the loop (for the larks head) a little tricky, but keeps any knots from getting caught up in the spreader bar. Nothing like a glitch in the middle of a kite loop.

I also practice regularly getting out of it under higher speeds. If it is really gusty, or I just dont feel comfortable with what I'm doing, I just unhook until I feel better.


Dylan, this is a knot I came up with for strop attachment. I wanted it to be a smooth attachment and not have knots taking up my usable strop length. It is just a larkshead on the end of the line with an overhand keeper knot to bind it up. Here is a pic.

arkay - 11-2-2009 at 10:55 AM

For different handles and kites I seem to have a different strop length. So, I have a reletivly long strop for my short arm length and I make a slip knot on the strop and connect it to the handle. The will only slip when there's no power and you push back on the line. This lets me easily change the length of the strop depending where on the strop I make the slip knot.

Also since I have to thread my strop through my pulley and QR mechanism is separate from the pulley, it let's me get the strop and pulley off my handles quickly if I don't want to fly hooked and I don't want a pulley dangling in my face.

I've still yet to try a spreader with a pulley attached to it, like the PL. But then again I'm a wus a prefer lots of QRs... not that I've ever needed them yet :wee:





* The above pictures are only a dramatization.

BeamerBob - 11-2-2009 at 11:07 AM

I like the way you are attaching as well. I'll try that to compare with my attachment this weekend.

stetson05 - 11-2-2009 at 12:37 PM

bb
Do you have a quick release for the strop? I like the strop but am worried about not being able to get free of it if I need to. I am flying on handles.

BeamerBob - 11-2-2009 at 12:50 PM

yes, I hook the quick release to the hammerhead via stainless D link and attach my swivel to the quick release. I'm not sure I have things in the best order but I can get away from it if I need to.

Bladerunner - 11-2-2009 at 12:50 PM

I have made up some Q.R.s for my strops using the basic idea on the DIY god page. Simple and cheap using a cotter pin and some tubing. It works well but shortens my stroke on the one side a bit.

So far it releases under load and I haven't had a false release !


Quote:
Originally posted by stetson05
bb
Do you have a quick release for the strop? I like the strop but am worried about not being able to get free of it if I need to. I am flying on handles.

arkay - 11-2-2009 at 03:08 PM

I've got, at least what sounds like a similar setup to bob. Not the same exact parts, but...

spreader to to this...


to this...


to strop...


See also: http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=8353&pa...

Dakitez has hit spreader setup in a pic and angus has his qr setup, which is like what I've got.

BeamerBob - 11-2-2009 at 06:37 PM

this is my quick release. It is frequently said that this type will fail to open but it comes clean every time with little weight on it or my full weight. I'll keep a close eye on it while on the beach this weekend by testing it frequently. I am hooking a petzl pulley to it that I used to use for creek crossings when we rappelled on weekends. It worked fine but I want to try out Angus's setup to see how good it can be.