Power Kite Forum

new 2 buggyin...help

stevep - 16-7-2006 at 04:55 PM

hey everyone my name is steve im new to buggyin been flyin revs for a while now bought a rev 4.8 also have 2.4 any tips for buggyin with this kite or should i get a 3m beemer for now to start ussually have 10-15 mile winds daily live in clearwater florida any help appreciated

Pablo - 16-7-2006 at 11:32 PM

There's a bit of a gap there, but if you spend some time and get used to flying static, you'll probably be pretty well set with the 4.8m, I'd suggest smaller, but the 2.4m may be a little small in under 15-20mph.

Basically, spend a day or so getting used to a couple things, you should be able to fly the kite blind, that's looking at the ground, another object, eyes closed and have a fairly good idea what it's up to without having to watch the kite. This is very helpful when trying to navigate the beach/park and dodge objects, other people and hazards.

Be fairly competent at kite flying in general, be able to control kite somewhat with brakes, kill power when needed using brakes. This will get you out of trouble when the kite's powering up and threatening to yard you out of the bug, often one spike of the brakes will stop the kite long enough to get yourself sorted without an OBE.

One other thing to work on is to fly the kite in a fairly tight figure 8, you can start in the middle of the window, but want to get used to flying a figure 8 only using one side of the wind window, this will get you used to pumping the kite on one side of the window to get going when underpowered. When your flying static, it'll look like a figure 8, when you get moving at speed it'll naturally turn into a sine wave.

Last bit of advice, try to travel cross wind, it's natural to end up heading downwind to start with, but you'll find it's hard to control the kite, lots of slack in the lines and kite luffing. You want to start with the bug on close to a 45deg to the wind, bring the kite to the side of the window and turn straight cross wind. If you're slowing down while keeping the kite low, you're going too far upwind, if you get lots of slack in the lines, kite is sluggish to control, too much downwind, you'll know when you get it right with enough power behind you.

Last bit of advice for now, NO MATTER HOW FAR OUT OF CONTROL YOU FEEL, IT WILL NOT GET ANY BETTER IF YOU TAKE YOUR FEET OFF THE PEGS AND TRY AND USE THEM TO STOP.

DON321 - 17-7-2006 at 03:24 PM

I agree with Pablo ,

IT WILL NOT GET ANY BETTER IF YOU TAKE YOUR FEET OFF THE PEGS AND TRY AND USE THEM TO STOP...... Never forget that.......;I saw a guy last week who put his feet down and he just topled over the buggy and rolled a few times until he let go of the kite, he was okay but he had a good knot on his head and some minor road rash....... as for the kite it ended up in a tree, but I helped him get it out...... he was more worried about the kite than his injuries......

Flying revs in my opinion is alot more work than a powerfoil kite, you have to keep them moving or they will just provide no power, a foil kite you just put it in the wind and let it sit there and you will generate power,
get familiar with flying blind, its very important especially if you buggy where theres alot of people around, you need to keep your eyes on the road.....
I would recomed you get the beamer 3.0 you were talking about its a foil style kite and its a small meter kite wich will provide a good amount of power for a beginner, it just takes practice......
I know everyone will agree with that......

hope this helps.....

krumly - 17-7-2006 at 09:50 PM

stevep -

So now I gotta ask how much time you've spent with the Rev 2-4 and 4-8 flying static, and have you buggied with them yet?

I started out flying 2 line stunt kites, then got a Rev Supersonic and learned to fly it a couple years ago. It was my first 4 line kite - kind of like taking driver's ed in a Ferrari, and really nothing like flying the foils and LEIs I have for tarction kiting. Wickedly fast, instant control, and Don321 is right - the power comes from speed. And how cool to fly a kite that has more speed and responsive control in reverse than many four line foils going forward...

I'm kind of surprised there isn't more out there on using the 2-4 and 4-8 for traction.

Chris Krumm

awindofchange - 18-7-2006 at 11:46 AM

Steve,

I fly the PB 2-4 and the 4-8 regularly with my buggy and they are absolutly awesome!!!

The power Rev's are actually easier to fly on the buggy than static, just lock in the power and haul!! The only downside to them is that they are so darn fast you need a large area to buggy to really get the most benefit from them. Getting the buggy up to the speed of the kite is the most difficult in grassy fields or softer sand areas. Out here at our dry lake beds one or two pumps and your up to speed and cruisin'. The instant depower of these kites are awesome as you have probably already discovered, just drop the bottom handles out and the kite dumps 80-90% of all power. Load up the rear lines and your off like a shot!

There are very few kites on the market that can match the Revolution Power Blast in upwind and speed. And in the buggy, you dont need to constantly keep them moving, just set your tack and lock the power in. The sweet spot on the power is very narrow on these kites, especially the 4-8. Just an inch or so of movement on the handles can start to dump the power so flying skills must be right on to get the most out of these kites.

The Rev's do take a lot more skill to fly than a simple ram-air foil, and even more skill to keep the power locked in but the performance gains are pretty staggering once you get it mastered. Some of the funnest times I have had is riding the Power Blasts with Joe Hadzicki out here at the NABX events, and watching the looks on others as we blast by and they can't keep up. Joe usually outruns me unless the wind is stronger, then my extra weight starts to play some benefit.

10-15mph winds are just about right for buggying with the 2-4 (depending on the conditions, your weight, and skill). The 4-8 would be totally lit up. The 4-8 works for me starting around 5-6 mph winds and maxing out around 12-15 but I am on the heavy side at 240.

The Power Blast series is very different than the other Rev kites but are more than capable of pulling a buggy/board anywhere you wish to go.

Hope this helps.

stevep - 18-7-2006 at 07:05 PM

thanks everyone lot of good stuff gonna get a beemer 3.6 but also gonna use my rev i am only 5-6 160lbspb 4-8 is very powerful but i love flyin revs nothin like it will b flyin sat n sun will let u know how i do also i have a3.3 symphony with brake lines will this do sat cant come quick enough

thanks

krumly - 18-7-2006 at 07:45 PM

Kent-

Thanks for the specific info on the rev 2-4 and 4-8 with Buggies. I learned how to kite ski last winter with a 3.5 m foil on an icy lake in northern Wisconsin. I'm 130 lbs, and I'd guess when I was skiing the wind was 10-12 mph.

When the winds got lighter I started flying patterns with my Supersonic. Boot-skated and was dumped on my butt numerous times. I'm sure I could have cruised with ice skates. That's when I started thinking a Power Blast would be nice. You gotta be on the ball all the time with a Rev, but steering a kite with a subtle flick of the wrist is nice.

Chris Krumm

stevep - 21-7-2006 at 08:07 PM

hi yall
went out yesterday and bought a 2.5 and a5.0 beemer to start with kite store didnt have 3.5 but ordered one will let u know how i do goin tommorow also using apeter lynn bigfoot had to modify for my height almost couldnt reach pegs all pitcures i have seen knees bent much more comfortable now feel safer

thanks for all info steve

coreykite - 22-7-2006 at 10:40 AM

Hey SteveP,
Before you hurt yourself...
Concerning the fit of you on your buggy.

The main reason you see riders with their knees bent is for control.

Here's the correct way to fit your buggy:
Turn your front wheel all the way to lock.
Either way.
Your outside foot needs to be firmly on the peg.
At your instep, against the peg stopper.

If you make your buggy longer for straight-ahead comfort, you'll run the serious risk of loosing control during quick maneuvers.

So adjust for control, not comfort.
Your body joints will adapt quickly.

But again... What do I know?


Safen Up! Buggy On!

"Often wrong... Never in doubt"

the coreylama

stevep - 22-7-2006 at 05:24 PM

thanks 4 the info i actually made it shorter drilled more holes its doing excatly as u said thanks

Chip - 24-7-2006 at 03:11 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by stevep
thanks 4 the info i actually made it shorter drilled more holes its doing exactly as u said thanks


LOL, with the standard PL Comp and extended front fork on the last whole I still have my knee bent when extending to a full turn. But that's what I get being 6'5". I can barley ride with the standard PL downtube, my knees are in my chin!

As far as bugging with Rev's, you will be in the minority of powerkiters, but it's good to be different! :)

I buggy with foils more than Rev's, but I enjoy bugging with Rev's the most. There's a balance and grace of movement that you just don't get with a foil. And a LOT more control, the ability to dump power off by flicking your wrists back is quite nice. (Just don't try to break a Rev to loose power like you do with a foil! You need to let it speed up and flutter.)

The two reasons I buggy with foils more than Rev's are A) my weight, and B) harness.

At about 280+lbs the 2-4 need smooth ground and/or a lot of wind to get me going. The 4-8 has a lot more power, but since I have not yet acquired my own, I've only been able to abscond with Joe's for a while during the last two years at NABX. :) Back home in Ohio, on rough grass fields, the 2-4 just isn't enough. That being said, on a hard smooth service I've buggied with my 2-4 in as little as 15mph winds, and as high as 25mph and have a max speed with my 2-4 at about 40mph. I covered over 30 miles in a day lat year at NABX with my 2-4, and in really gusty conditions, it was nice to have the control. Though at the end of the day my hands where VERY tired!

It is possible to do a harness with a Rev, I've tried several ways that worked ok. (The best being a 3 cord system) The problem is that unlike foils, flying a Rev is a constant balancing act to eak as much power out of the kite as possible.

As with any power kite, if you work the kite a smaller one will still get the job done. Last year at NABX I was able to keep up with Joe flying his 4-8 and me with my 2-4, I just had to work a lot more to eek out every last drop of power!

Also, the upwind performance of a Rev is far better than any foil I've ever flown.

so, stevep, learn to buggy with a foil to get used to controlling a kite from a moving platform. And stand and fly your Revs, practice on locking in the power, and finding the 5 degree sweat-spot of maximum power, and practice staying in that spot throughout wide sweeping turns. Then go buggy with the Rev and have a blast!

-Chip

stevep - 24-7-2006 at 05:51 PM

thanks chip im real glad i didnt spend all that money on my 4-8 just to scuddle real fast gonna take advice and fly with my foil till iget used to movement then on to revs






thanks steve

coreykite - 25-7-2006 at 10:52 AM

Hey Chip...
You give good advise.

You're fun to watch too.

Any progress on the buggy bottle holder I ordered at nabx?

Or have you been bouncing around your grassy fields too much?


Safen Up! Buggy On!

"Often wrong... Never in doubt"

the coreylama