After quite a bit of searching on the forums, I couldn't find any references to a buggy with brakes..

I was working on a BMX- Kite buggy conversion - and decided to keep a set of brakes on the rear....

at first I thought it wouldn't be possible, , until knew about strop lines- it should be a cynch to attach an old brake handle from a bike - the only problem would be - where would the pads go??

basically, has anyone ever set up a real kite buggy with a pair of brakes on the rear tyres - it would be great for drifting!!

any pics would be well appreciated

i think you will be the first, we usualy use the kite as a brake too, also as you are coming around on a jybe you can use the kite to get a drift out of the buggy. or shove your butt into the down wind corner of the seat and you will side to a stop

you'll be sliding the rear around whether you intend to or not. :evil: you def don't need brakes to do so.
if you suddenly arrive at a situation where you feel the need to hit the buggy's brakes you'd find them to be useless in most any type of situation. the kite will keep on hauling you/buggy unless you maneuver the kite to slow/stop.
imagine riding a bicycle hooked to a car. how effective do you think the bicycle's brakes would be at slowing you down.
Paul

You certainly will not be the first to put breaks on a buggy. I've seen several.

Did someone say brakes? Shoe brakes or mountain bike disk brakes? Sorry front tire only. Contrary to the norm, there are quite a few great uses for the brakes and the buggiers behind you will see the difference.

Quote:

Originally posted by jellis Contrary to the norm, there are quite a few great uses for the brakes and the buggiers behind you will see the difference.

Heh, Heh, Heh, that's funny.
I had been thinnking of adapting disk brakes from the bike shop for the rear wheels with heel or toe levers to activate, as is done on aircraft rudder pedals.

Sliding to a stop sideways is effective and fun. The first time you do it it will likely be by accident, but just act like you planned it. Just watch your surface; even on the smooth hard-pack here you can catch a rim on a sandcastle (or the hole next to it ) or even a dried jelly fish.

When I do power slides to stop or jibe, I throw the wheel hard over, throw my butt to the outside and lean to the inside, hooking my inside elbow around the side-rail. When I am about to pass 90 degrees, I start steering again to keep myself from going past 90. When I want the front wheel to grab and steer out of the turn, I lean forward to put weight on it.

It's easier to do than to describe.

Well, when christmas rolls around I'll have a new buggy - undecided on which one though...

Would disc brakes be the best idea, as they get boiling hot and will cause water to evaporate, even after stopping at about 30km/h downhill. Unless you lock the brakes, I imagine the brake blocks would start to melt pretty quick...

No worries about sandcastles/jellyfish here, as I live dead centre of England, about as far away from the beach as it is possible to be.. however, there's a great field, which leads onto a sailing club - hopefully will be able to get permission to kitesurf there.

the line in the pic below is just shy of 500m