Hey All...

I have a Dakine 10" spreader bar with a roller that I use on a waist and seat harness for windsurfing and was wondering what you think of using this with a two handled/strop setup? I think it would work fine but see no "Eject Button" if a bad gust hits.

(I crewed on helicopters for years so don't know why I'm worried about "eject buttons" now? Guess I just don't like pain)

Most people use that setup with fixed bridle kites on handles, or they use a quick release system. And you are right, NO EJECT button, which can cause big problems. Be very sure you know how to fly and when to fly and when to walk away before you hook up to the kite, Would hate to hear you went for an unpleasant ride in the meat wagon, as some of us know about.
I am sure many others will speak on the subject soon:tumble:

Nobody like the pain.

I have flown both with a QR system and a pulley spreader (my current set up.) My experience with QR's is that you simply do not have time to pull the chord to cut loose- the splatter mark is a done deal before you have the chance. There are other ways to rig a system to automatically deploy QR's (as Bigkid was working on last I knew,) but the best defense, as BK stated, is knowing when you are out matched by your flying conditions. When I see trouble brewing, I will let go of one handle and grab a handfull of both brake leaders and pull hard. Then steer almost lock to lock and slide out my buggy while bracing hard against the foot pegs. Not to say I still don't get OBE'd from time to time still but it tends to happen late in turns anymore and the landings are pretty soft.

Thanks for the info bigkid and heliboy50. Very helpful advice. I have to agree with the fact that things can happen so fast, QR's may be too late for an OBE. Caution and good sense seems to be the best defense. I'll do my best to take that with me into this addicting sport.

Yesterday I was buggying in 15g25 wind with my 2M Beamer, park n ride downwind course at about 18 or 19mph, work it back upwind at about 8-10mph. Late in the day, the wind was picking up and I hit 25mph on my downwind, and I was keeping the kite high to avoid picking up too much speed,(bumpy beach, light buggy, pansy a$$) and I parked and rode back upwind at 17! I thought, one more run, and then thought of this post,(and the one about the broken ankle) and the fact that it was only 43 deg.F out with wind chill enough to cause my fingers to be stiff and numb with cold, I packed it up for the day!

as stated already... no real effective QR for a strop line... i buggy with kitekillers attached and have so far been able to disengage (after i hit the ground) if i needed to...

my last obe demonstrated it well... before i knew it i was hovering about 3ft over my bug, going way too fast, i just knew it was really going to hurt... upon impact i pushed the strop out of the bar cause i knew there was no way i was going to be able to keep it in the air... after i hit i could barely move, thank God for kitekillers...

most buggy without them, and they can get caught in the wheel if you let them dangle (i keep them high & tight)... but i have had a few experiences where i REALLY needed to get away from the kite and you just cant do that cleanly without kitekillers

wear a helmet, fly safe, but know that even in ideal conditions things can go wrongly... take any safety precautions you can

Got a strop release system, for static flying. Just waiting for the manufacturing/design/patient stuff to all work out :bigok:

Quote:

Originally posted by bigkid Got a strop release system, for static flying. Just waiting for the manufacturing/design/patient stuff to all work out :bigok:

Was "patient" one of those Freudian slips? :smug:

I heard you were working on something along these lines and can't wait to see what you came up with.

BB, Yes it was and No it wasn't:evil:
Some things are hard to wait for, like watching grass grow.

I wear the kite killers with my Core and the wrist Velcro with the TSR and Rush....It's a pain to keep putting them on but they, in my short experience, have proved their weight in gold so far....