ive actually only ridin in a buggy once in my life, it was actually treble's buggy. Anyways it seems like it would be more comfortable having an anchor spot for your kite instead of using a harness... given you were not jumping.

seem there would be a few hurtles to get past first but i bet a decent design could be made.

:puzzled:

That's called a hot wire set up. Very controversial in some circles. There are a few pictures on PopeyeTheWelder's site. Interesting, but get ready for some crap if you ever decide to do it.

When they did the trip across the Sahara, they had the kites directly to the buggy. If they'd been using harnesses, the guy probably wouldn't have been hurt as bad. At least, that's my understanding.

I admit , I do on occasion fly hotwired. But I use a very good QR safety release. It is not for noobs at all though.

I fly overpowered regularly, and have gotten used to doing so only because I use a seatbelt. The buckle is made of plastic and being plastic has saved me a few times on that it will break under serious distress (upside down under the buggy with the kite powering up). As far as hotwiring yourself to the buggy, it would take a special set of reflexes since you have to manually hit the quick release, which in a stressful situation that only takes a fraction of a second may not be possible. The buckle works autonomously apart from what I'm doing in the buggy and this alone helps me relax and think in a bad situation, allowing me to focus on where the buggy is going and where the kite is.

Sounds cool I'd never heard of that before. I'd say no unless you're flying in clean winds.

I only use it when the east wind comes in off the ocean.
:wee:

One set up on PTW's site, I believe belonging to a PKF member, connects the whichard QR pull to a kite killer so in the event of a rider ejection the kite cuts away from the buggy. In my own personal experience when the stuff hits the fan it happens so fast I have yet to have time to deploy a QR set up anyway. Flexiblade- have you ever had your seat belt setup break away during normal riding? I am curious about trying this as I would be more apt to fly a larger kite in the buggy if I could start moving without ending up half way standing up on the foot pegs. That kind of bothers me

No, the loopback for the strap is usually strapped with enough tension to hold it firmly in place. If I flip the buggy (as screwyfits can attest to) the surge of tension will pull the strap out of the loopback detaching the strap from the buckle. I have also had the buckle break in an accident (another flip) where the strap loops through it. I have never had the strap accidentally come out or the buckle break due to kite pull stress. I have had my buggy lifted off the ground because of kite lift and never had the buckle fail (I weigh 200lbs and my buggy weighs in at 80 lbs).

Here's the link http://popeyethewelder.piczo.com/?g=46928346&cr=7

Certainly not for newbies, only experience buggiers who know what they are doing in any given situation. Gannet recently used a set up similar to these to get the 24hr distance record.

In highly powered up situations, I would say avoid this set up for the reasons mentioned above, but for a nice days cruising in 15mph or so winds, it a nice relaxing day, and remember you don't need your harness on either.

I have a simple arrangement for hot wiring (pic).



When I'm running the dunes, I ride tied into my harness. Sometimes I'm a long way away from my car and have a lot of tacking up sabkhas (flat plains). Some of the tacks are up to 10 kms (6 miles) long and then I hot wire on the straps you see fixed to the buggy rails. It's more a matter of comfort that anything else. Just plonk the kite on one side and almost go to sleep as I cruise up the long tacks.

I have never had a problem doing it but have been hit by gusts, which just dragged the buggy sideways. No harm done.
I don't recommend it for inexperienced buggiers because if something does go wrong you could get hurt.