Do a lot of fliers have several different length lines for different conditions?
For general flying the standard lengths are fine IMO. People with more specific requirements often have different lengths, but I would say that's the
exception.
TimDAKITEZ - 1-5-2013 at 02:29 PM
those should be 200/100kg x 20m which is good. I certainly would not go any longer lines. I personally like 17.5m and others will even go 15m on the
smaller size kites like this one.B-Roc - 2-5-2013 at 04:12 AM
Different length handles for large and small kites but not different for different conditions. Larger kites need longer handles to leverage them
through the turns on the brakes. Tiny handles don't turn big kites well and really long handles can make small kites twitchy and unstable by adding
too much leverage to the trailing edge / brake bridle.lives2fly - 2-5-2013 at 06:30 AM
I run 25m flexifoil lines on all my fixed bridle foils. As long as all 4 lines are the same length you can do any fine tuning for specific kites on
the bridle pig tails.
I seem to need to slacken the brake lines on my blade for example.
generally big kites and light winds are best with longer lines and small kites and strong winds are more manageable with shorter lines.
Shorter lines increase control and response but decrease max power as you are effectively reducing the size of the wind window. longer lines have the
opposite effect. utahtami - 2-5-2013 at 02:46 PM
Thanks for taking the time to help expand my understanding!Scudley - 2-5-2013 at 07:17 PM
If you fly at locations with lots of rotor, longer lines will help get you above. I fly 30m lines on all my kites except my 2m.
Sutahtami - 9-5-2013 at 07:59 PM
What size kite would you consider longer handles for? I have a 3.5 m Reactor II with longer handles. Could I just as easily get away with shorter
handles on that one?DAKITEZ - 9-5-2013 at 08:27 PM
I personally like small on anything under 6m. I know others will like long on 5m and up.
I am working on a response for the long line / short line thing. Just having a tough time not making it a novel. Everyone has their different
preferences. Location and type of riding plays a big roll in developing these preferences I believe. on the lake bed with a race kite ... shorter is
better for most. In a small grass field surrounded by trees with a lower aspect kite. Longer might be liked better to get over those trees into
cleaner winds and bigger wind widow to get a power stroke to get moving on the grass. greasehopper - 9-5-2013 at 08:59 PM
With a 30m line set on any kite, it takes an exquisitely long time for mistakes to be over. Think super-slo-mo, 1000 frames per second kind of long.
I've got the same problem as Dino, too much to cover on such a topic. I fell into the trap of swapping stuff around just to see what would happen
before I was truly cognizant and comfortable with what was happening already as well as what could happen if I got behind the curve with my inputs.
The terms strain, sprain, abrasion, contusion, laceration and connective tissue damage come to mind in all their glorious permutations.
As you get comfortable with making a particular wing react to you rather than reacting to the wing, then is a good time to play with different
combinations. Until you get comfortable with EVERYTHING a particular wing does, WHY it does it and what input it needs to enhance or limit those
characteristics, line and handle selection should probably stay close to what ever the wing ships with new. Most spec sheet will tell you what you
need to know there. indigo_wolf - 10-5-2013 at 07:12 AM
Most spec sheet will tell you what you need to know there.
I would love it if more kite manufacturers provided easy to find, thorough and consistently laid out spec sheets. This would be immensely useful
especially for kites obtained on the secondary market. However.... it's very hit or miss in a lot of cases.
Trying to readily find line specs for some kites.... especially those that are often also made available KO is a major PITA.
