Jump to content

Robtulloch

Forum Member
  • Posts

    526
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    43

Posts posted by Robtulloch

  1. I'll be honest, I only skimmed the responses.... but

     

    As the second frame, get a black race. Some dealers even give you the upgrade for only an extra buck!

    A black race will be marginally, a couple of grams if at all, heavier than a 2 but the workability of it is much higher. The loading of the race will have you going lower and higher on a given sail compared to a 2. Some cases a 3! 

    A race frame loads/unloads far easier and faster than a given wrap frame. It reacts to inputs faster. A Race can work the gusts and lulls better (read more efficiently) than either 2 or 3 frames. I have popped 2 Race spars but that was my fault. Too much wind in the wrong sail and the verts broke.

    I use a Black Race in my Standard and MidVent sails with a 3 in the Vented and PoloVTD (like an XTRA). 

     

    Yes, it will work in ALL sails but effectiveness is greater in the Standard. 

     

    All told. My absolute favourite set up is a Standard sail with a Black Race frame on 30 footers. And trust me on the 0 to 20mph wind range!

  2. Are the bottoms being pulled inwards into the handle?

    Not sure if similar construction to the Indoor handles but I had my leader pull through the plastic grommet. After threading back through, I tied a big (literally) knot just as the leader came out of the handle and now I attached my lines to that.

    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  3. I see on Facebook a rev announcement the new site is complete. As reasonable 4-line addict I miss in the program a few kites. Like the Zen, Rev 1 and the B-serie..... Stopped production? Spare parts for those

    kites?

    Hmmm....?

    It's all there, you just scroll down to it. The Zen is under the PRO Series tab.

    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  4. Challenging winds are horribly discouraging.

    80 feet makes 30 and 50 really easy and gives more options. Just for next time.

    If you measure your handles around the curve, are they 11 or 13. If you just measured tip to tip, that isn't how they are graded.

    Longer leaders on top (of handles) square your sail to the wind. This means that the largest amount of sail can catch the wind. However. It requires an input to get going. A small thumbs back and a short, sharp pull on the lines produces forward drive drive. A quick thumbs forward stops it.

    I fly inland and also around building. Wind shifts of 180 degrees and just completely dropping out are the norm. I fly on a lighter frame, 2 wrap outlets with a Black Race centre on 30 feet of line. It's a small window but I'm only on the ground when I want. Learning to regain ground is a skill. When the wind is light you back up. When it blows you walk forward.

    Light wind is challenging. Having to set up for variable conditions is very challenging too. You use your whole body to pump air into your kite then glide out.

    Practice practice practice. There's no real cute other than that.

    40 foot lines will feel greatly different than 80. Working them in variable conditions will be easier than 80 for sure.

    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

    • Like 1
  5. The hardest thing to do when starting is keeping it small.

    Small arm movements.

    Small wrist movements.

    Small body movements.

    If to can imagine your wrists in a set of handcuffs. This goes to reduce the big arm and body movements. Also forces you to concentrate on small wrist inputs. I've even used a big elastic band to physically stop it. Works. Feels weird but works.

    Worth remembering that you stake your "top" lines and set the kite back up with the Leading Edge on the ground.

    Keep the lines relatively tight when setting up and you won't get any tangles. Or minimise them at least.

    Stick with it. It will happen. Breath lots. I learnt on my own but I had lots of help from this forum and others (Kitelife).

    The handles that come with the EXP will be 13". You measure the length of the rod around the bend. 11" come with the Rev2/B2 platform. But yes, smaller handles minimise inputs.

    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  6. SUL bridle is made from 90# flying line. That's why SR had a slipping knot - the line is slick. Putting a drop of nail polish on the knots will keep them from slipping!

    That and I wasn't being too gentle with it...

    Much happier with the Frenchie, suits me better.

    • Like 1
  7. Never flown the Zen or Green Race frame so I cannot make a personal comparison, sorry.

    Cath and Eliot Shook at Flying Smiles Kites have French Bridles. Don't worry as they come with very good instructions on how to install.

    Youre dead on about "just flying". That is the best thing. Your confidence and skills increase every time.

    Watch what other pilots do to stay up in low wind.

    If you can, meet up with others and learn from them.

    Jump in, the waters fine....

  8. Nice information, but I must admit you lost me at French Bridle, and Magic Sticks.

    I'm not sure if I want to add weight to a ultra light.

    I have heard of pilots using 2 wrap, and 3 wrap frames in light wind, and it makes my brain melt.

    I have a Revolution 1.5, and Revolution B Series, and trying to find some low wind fun, I still have a lot to learn.

    If you have a "full sail", that is a sail with no other venting screen other than the strip that runs along the leading (top) edge, a set of lighter rods will serve you better than a new sail/kite.

    1) Diamond rods are very light, Revolutions lightest, and they snap back into shape very quickly after they have been compressed. They aren't cheap but are brilliant for very light winds.

    2) Black Race rads are light, not as light as the Diamonds, and snap back in a very similar way. They are a bit more robust and can take a bit more sail pressure.

    If you have a 2 wrap frame that will serve you well while you practice your light wind flying. Technique will serve you better than all of these. Each component helps but learning how to cycle your ground, when to load and unload your sail all will teach you more. Also, light wind flying is outside most people's comfort zone to start with. Very frustrating. Stick at it. There are tutorials specifically for light wind flying on a Rev, JB has done some on the Kitelife forum.

    The Magic Sticks are the framework sticking out from the back of the kite (rhs of pic) picture I posted. They act like a truss to stiffen up the frame. The extra weight isn't as much as you think.

    The French Bridle is in place of the normal bridle (on the front, lhs of pic) and acts to change where and when the forces on the frame are distributed.

    Ask questions. Poke around the forum. There is lots of quality information on here.

  9. I'm interested in the all white Ghost SUL from TKC

    I was wondering the wind range, what lines should be used, what wrap of spars are best, and handle length to get the most out of the kite.

    Should I go with the SUL or get the standard sail also available from TKC

    Looking to fly in low wind, but I don't want to blow the kite apart, or break the bridle in higher wind, and looking for the limits of the SUL.

    Thanks

    I have the same kite. I have a Diamond frame, a French Bridle and Magic Sticks. I use 15 inch handles. Wind range on that set up is a true zero to about 16km/h(10mp/h). It's still relatively comfortable at the upper range but I have other kites so have never needed to push it. It will happily fly in the middle of that range on 120 foot. But the bottom range at that length is working it. At zero wind on 30 feet it's is really a slow walk to keep it going.

    I got the extra bits as I wanted a Zen like kite but a little more 1.5 responsiveness. The Spectre bridle that it originally came with I didn't like at all. I had one knot that kept coming loose. I painted it with nail polish and put a stop to that but it just didn't feel the way I wanted. I got the Diamond frame with the French Bridle as a support. Diamonds aren't cheap. The shop I was getting them sold the Magic Sticks so I got a set to try out.

    Low wind weapon, yes it is. BUT. You will need to give some movement into it. If you can "feel" a breeze then that is enough to stand and fly it.

  10. I remember someone mentioning line sets made in Germany. Try Googling it.

    I think Vector is from Germany. I have some Vector line. 50 Dan which is about #110. Certainly nice line. It's a little rougher to the touch than LPG but response is better than #90 LPG. That could be the extra strength though.

    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  11. 120 footers are great if you are going to be flying with a team. Or a trio at least. Otherwise they are a great source of LPG. 30 feet, 50 feet for for main kites. 10 and 20 for an Indoor. With loops that about rounds it out.

    My favourite length is 30 feet. Even if I have room.

    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  12. So your saying that you don't need the 7th middle line on a three stack?

    What about a 3 stack progressive?

    When you say progressive, do you mean a Rev Progressive stack of 2,1.5 & 1? Or a progressively vented stack. I found I didn't need it as there are 6 other train lines and the bow in the LE wasn't too bad.

    I didn't use it on a 3 stack; Vtd, Mid then Std.

    I did use it on a 4 stack; XTRA, Vtd, Mid then Std.

    I do have it on my permanent 2 stack of EXP's.

    I've got pigtails on all the kites to attach train lines to. Just to speed up connection times.

    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  13. A sail that is "square" to the wind presents the maximum amount of usable sail area. To create drive in low low wind you have to pull back on both handles to compress the sail. Give it some WHUMP.

    Practice extending your brake lines (tops). It will feel very heavy but don't give up. Give it sometime. Low wind needs your input.

    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

    • Like 1
  14. You can get "stacking kits" from AWOC for a great price. Hint, get more than one set as stacking is a little compulsive...

    If you go over 3 sails you will need to connect the middle line, the white line of mystery. A stacking kit comes with 7 train lines for the connection points.

    To shorten the back bottom 2 link lines, pull the loop through and double over a couple of times. Only the bottom train lines for the last kite connection. A little brake helps to pull the stack together and reduce wobbling. It's a black art to tune stacks.

    A 2 stack Vtd/Std would be good on #90 up to winds you would've changing to a Mid.

    Be prepared for LOTS of attention.

    Edit: Dacron is ok for train lines.

    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  15. Race Rods, very worth it. My short line set up uses a Black Race frame, 30 foot lines and it sees from 4 to about 25km/h winds.

    The race rods load/unload very efficiently and are great all rounders for a full sail.

    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

×
×
  • Create New...