Hey all(again!)

With 4-line control bars:
How does "A" work?
It's the "pulley system" on a 4-line control bar, for the brakes.



With all control bars:
What's a "Strop"?

Thanks!

I can't make out what is in your picture.

A strop is a line that runs between the top lines on handles for fixed bridle kites. You can hook your strop into a harness to transfer the pulling power away from your arms.

Quote: Originally posted by BeamerBob

I can't make out what is in your picture.

Edited my main post, it's the pulley system on a 4-line control bar, for the brakes.

Dammed 1000x1000 pixel limit

Right you tie your brake Lines to the ends off the lines on pulley!
Here a pic of bar set up

Quote: Originally posted by alasdair macleod

Right you tie your brake Lines to the ends off the lines on pulley! Here a pic of bar set up

Understand that, but how does it work with the brakes? You can't really "pull" the pulley.

It really just prevents the brake lines from being modulated unnecessarily. For example...Let's say you are turning left, the left side of the bar is pulled in while the right side is pushed out. The pulley allows the right side brake line to essentially lengthen while the left brake shortens slightly. Without this pulley, when turning left, the left brake line would go fairly slack arching down from the kite while the right side brake line would tension enough so that the kite would receive unintentional input.

Edit: While the pulley on a 4line control bar "irons out" these unintentional brake line inputs... with a set of handles and proper skill similar inputs can be applied to induce "fun propeller like" air ballet maneuvers!

Quote: Originally posted by DRH1469

Understand that, but how does it work with the brakes? You can't really "pull" the pulley.

Meatdriver gave a pretty good description of why the pulley is there.... to essentially equalize the brake lines regardless of the angle of the kite in relation to the flyer based on its position in the wind window.

While you can't pull the pulley, you can pull the webbing strap that the pulley is attached to. This then applies brakes equally to both sides of the kite.

You'll see this in the way that 4 line control bars have the wrist safety leash attached just below the pulley.



If you let go of the bar, the wrist strap is your only connection point to the kite and the brakes are deployed.

Strops are used with handles to hook into a harness.

In the context of a control bar, strops aren't really applicable. To hook into a harness with a control bar, you use something called a harness strap or D-Loop.



The ends attach to either side of the center of the control bar forming a loop that the flyer can use to hook into a harness.

The Red Ball is a safety release in case the flyer needs to disconnect quickly.

Some bars likes Ozone's 4-Line Control Bar have a built-in chicken loop and don't require a D-Loop for hooking into a harness.



While hooking into a harness might be tempting if using a control bar for ATB, you should hold off for a bit until you are more comfortable with the kite and board. Also something to reconsider on gusty days.

The wind can be faster than your ability to deploy the quick release which can result in a partial drag.

ATB,
Sam

If the kite you bought came with handles I suggest you use them and don't spend money on a bar for fixed bridle yet. A bar may become handy for one handed riding down the road but handles are by far more fun to static fly + learn how brake input effects the kite.

The bar you show will work on your kite but you won't get the fine brake control that you will with handles. On that bar your kite will basically act like a 2 line kite. The brakes will only come into play when reverse launching or going to safety.

If your kite came with a bar like that I suggest you buy or make a set of handles .

A strop line is a strong line ( usually climbing rope ) that you tie the tops of your handles together with. It does a similar job to the D-loop shown above.

NOTE : there are many types of control bars. For fixed bridle there is a basic bar like you show. A " crossover " bar with more pulleys and a " Turbo " bar by Ozone.
For depower kites the bars are different and hook up different.

The 2 do not swap out without modification.