I was looking at these nice pictures of the Rage kite and noticing that it seems to have a lot of bridle?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Flexifoil-4-Line-Guarantee-Winning-D...

I got my older 2.5m Rage out to see if it had that much bridle to it also. Being that it uses a darker color bridle line; it made it not stand out like it does in the new model. For some reason; those pictures make it look like it has an excessive bridle? Maybe it's just the line type and size?

I think it being setup for the AAA adjuster makes that junction look more bulky? It looks like it's installed in some of those pics?

Basically I saw those pics and it reminded me of my Pansh and older kites that had that style of bridle before companies started to reduce the bridle. Surprised the new model still had that bridle is all.

Seems to me that there is more. I think this might have to do with the Triple A Bridle Adjuster they added, (at least it would make sense). Could be wrong though.

While the AAA adds some bulk to the Rage bridle layout, I think most of it comes from the fact that the Rage still uses vertical internal ribs. A lot of newer kites have been able simplify their bridle layout by employing diagonal internal ribs, which act like a hidden bridle cascade.

There's a good explanation/diagram of this in the flyer for the Ozone Flow.
http://www.flyozone.com/landkites/downloads/Flow/Flow_Brochu...

ATB,
Sam

Is there anything wrong with a lot of bridles? I've heard people say different kites here and there are bridle heavy. Particularly single skin. In reality, out of the different kites of owned, my blade III 8.5 seemed to have more bridle lines than any kite I've owned thus far. I didn't count them so it's not proven but more of just my impression when packing and unpacking. Also, the number of bridles hasn't hindered the kite in any way that I can tell in the environments that I fly in. The one place I've flown that bridles were an issue was montrose beach, chicago when it's frozen. Little sharp frozen objects formed barbs that would snag any bridle in site. Aside from that spot, I really don't care if a kite is bridle heavy or not.

Like you mention, early freezing conditions without snow can result in annoying things sticking through the ice to catch bridles occasionally. Also we sometimes get micro snowdrifts on the lakes, sculpted in such a way to catch lines and bridles.

It's not really an issue, though I do remember a time the wind shifted heavily while I had a kite parked on the brakes ready to launch. As the kite skidded on the ice to the new downwind location, a bridle caught one of those little drifts, which flipped the kite over and caused an unexpected reverse launch. I wouldn't say this was caused by "too much bridle" though, it could happen to any kite.

I do agree, that Rage looks like it's heavily bridled for a modern FB foil.

Now I know what was throwing me off. My Sting has very little bridle to it. Which made the new Rage seem odd in comparison.

Quote: Originally posted by ssayre

Is there anything wrong with a lot of bridles?

It will only make a differences at the edges of performance.

Sleeved bridles and a lot of bridles add to the drag quotient of a wing.

So it you are trying to flying in "butterfly fart" winds or trying the eke out the very last bit of performance in a kite chasing a record it will make a difference. Otherwise, not so much.

Quote: Originally posted by ssayre

Is there anything I've heard people say different kites here and there are bridle heavy. Particularly single skin.

Single skins have more bridles because they don't have another entire layer giving the kite shape/structure it depends more heavily on the bridle system to maintain it's designed profile.

ATB,
Sam

Quote: Originally posted by rtz

Now I know what was throwing me off. My Sting has very little bridle to it. Which made the new Rage seem odd in comparison.

The Sting is a rung or two down on the performance ladder. The reduced bridles make it a "softer" kite with a bit more power bleeding off the trailing edge. On the plus side, it results in a kite that is a lot more gust-tolerant.

By comparison, the one of the Sting's predecessors, the SkyTiger was an absolute bridle party....



A Sting and SkyTiger of comparable sizes were two totally different characters..... very Jekyll and Hyde. The multitude of bridles on the SkyTiger made for a decidely "tighter" canopy with almost no trailing edge bleed of power, no tolerance for gusts, and a very on-off power ramp. On a windy day, it was like being tied to a bullmastiff chasing a squirrel. In short order, you were missing the beagle-like sensibilities of the Sting.

ATB,
Sam