Hey guys I have never used a bar and was woundering how you turn the kite with them. Do you like pull one side ? Or do you tilt the bar to the left and right. I'm clueless - thanks - :singing:

steer like you would a mountain bike..... pull left, go left, pull right, go right....

I have never used a bar. So how do you break?

Are the breaks on naturally and when you pull the bar towards you they are off? Or is it something else? :dunno:

cheers

Instead of explaining all the options, can you tell us what type kite this bar is on or would be used on? There are bars for 2 different type control systems for kites. One is called depower where you change the angle and possibly the shape of the kite as you pull the bar in to change the power level and turn rate. The other is used on fixed bridle kites where the bar is mainly just for turning with some setups more ingenious applying some brake to one side to enhance turning. In either case, you don't have direct access to brakes when using a bar. I say that but it seems that Ozone makes a crossover bar for fixed bridle kites that does actually let you pull the bar towards you to apply some brakes.

Quote:

Originally posted by gurnard I have never used a bar. So how do you break? Are the breaks on naturally and when you pull the bar towards you they are off? Or is it something else? :dunno: cheers

hi
no real brakes on tap with kites on bars (not yet that i'm aware of).
to stop/slow, fly kite out of power and edge against it.
(as far as i know this technique is same when using fixed bridles, on handles, w/ buggy)
to land, or reverse launch, let go of bar and pull trailing edge lines.
Paul

Yeah if I was to go for it it would be a fixed bridle, I am on a Ozone 4m Flow at the moment.

That worries me about the breaks, I have always flown with handles and find the breaks a real comfortable way to control the kite, that said I have only done recreational kiting up till now, skudding mainly.

I was thinking about moving up to a board and they all seem to use bars, maybe I should try handles with a harness. Sorry for hijacking the thread.

Get a harness no matter what. Bar or handles.

Hooking in has many advantages. You can always unhook when pushing it past your comfort zone.

You can ride ATB with handles , no problem. If you see folks on ATB with a bar odds are they have a depower kite.

Oh the humanity. I had a nice post typed up and I wasn't logged in so the post went into the bit bucked

Long story short If you are on a bar and using a harness then you want to make sure that your body is holding the weight of the kite, not your arms. There's no arm wreslting in kite flying, unless you're flying with handles and no harness! You generally do not need much steering force to turn the kite, this does varry per kite but is a good general rule. So if you find yourself wrestling with the kite, stop, put the kites power back on the harness (center lines) and think of your arms as delicate sterring instruments.

I tried to look for a good picture on hand placements, below is the best I could find. "Proper" form is to keep your hands need the center of the bar. Typically when someone would just pickup a bar, the would grab the far ends, but this will lead you to jerky stearing and twisting motions when you try to turn the kite. Keeping your hands in the center will allow you to control the kite much more smoothly and it will keep your body more square to the kite and the direction of its pull. Always good to drill in good technique. If you move on to more advanced styles like jumping and spins then you'll be well perpared to be able to control the kite with one hand and keep good control of the kite while upside down and backwards!

Once your hands are on the bar, as Bob said, just think of it like turning a bike!

http://www.tinyurl.com/koc7em

Quote:

Originally posted by gurnard I have never used a bar. So how do you break? Are the breaks on naturally and when you pull the bar towards you they are off? Or is it something else? :dunno: cheers

Exactly

Speaking of bars i need some advice, ive been flying with an ozone bar on a fixed bridle 4 line 6 foil and its been working great, one thing that bothers me though is how slowly it turns the kite at the edge of the window, is the any way i can get the bar to be more responsive?? i need it to turn the kite quicker. i havent flown with it in anything above 10mph yet, could the low win speeds be making it slow? help would be much appreciated

Quote:

Originally posted by dylanj423 steer like you would a mountain bike..... pull left, go left, pull right, go right....

sorry i agreed with this lol

Quote:

Originally posted by Jack1988 Exactly Speaking of bars i need some advice, ive been flying with an ozone bar on a fixed bridle 4 line 6 foil and its been working great, one thing that bothers me though is how slowly it turns the kite at the edge of the window, is the any way i can get the bar to be more responsive?? i need it to turn the kite quicker. i havent flown with it in anything above 10mph yet, could the low win speeds be making it slow? help would be much appreciated

That is what you give up with a standard control bar and a fixed bridle kite in low winds compared to handles - turning speed and light wind finesse.

The Ozone Turbo bar (pricey) will greatly amplify brake inputs and give you back some of that finesse. You need a harness for that though.

If you are flying a bar because you like a free hand for a moment, get a harness, fly the kite on handles for the finesse you get and put a strop between them for hooking in to the harness. Best of both worlds.

I just made my own version of ozones turbo bar. Works great, will post pics when I get finished tweakin it. If you can afford the ozone bar get it. Their system works

sorry for hijack
end of hijack:roll:

Quote:

Originally posted by WELDNGOD I just made my own version of ozones turbo bar. Works great, will post pics when I get finished tweakin it. If you can afford the ozone bar get it. Their system works sorry for hijack end of hijack:roll:

I am anxious to see the pics of that. Post any how to diagrams you have too!!!

Here is an old thread with lots of good info about bars for fixed bridles.
http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=3107&pa...

Quote:

Originally posted by soccerflyer I am anxious to see the pics of that. Post any how to diagrams you have too!!!

right now it is made of paracord and stainless steel rings instead of pulleys. Dyneema cord and pulleys will be on the finished item. it is the same design as ozone turbo bar, I just used prusik knots(old school rigging ) instead of adjustable straps.
The bar ,well lets say,you know what substance I make everything out of...... Thats right .. aluminum.
I know ,here it comes " metal bar flying, hit in head , yada yada yada." But my alloy bar is superlight and superstrong. I actually made 2 bars ,1-60cm and 1-50cm.


just look at a pic of the turbo bar, it is easy to replicate the rigging for that. I will post pics when I get to that stage,just waitin on materials.
WG