One of the things I most enjoyed about flying my first depowerable has been the bar and how easy it was to keep the lines sorted out. If I ever had a twist in them I could just spin the bar around and everything was good.

As far as I know there's no equivalent when flying a fixed-bridle kite. If I'm not moving I can just stand up, hold the handles above me, and spin around in the right direction which isn't as convenient, but isn't too bad. However, when I'm moving as far as I can tell my only options are to loop in the opposite direction or simply wait until I've stopped.

If I didn't wear kite killers I guess I could spin the handles around, but to keep from getting my kite caught in a tree I find the kite killer rather essential.

Does anyone have a solution to this, or is it just a downside to flying fixed-bridles?

Looping the kite the other way once in a while might help. :P

Other direction Bro

I typically just loop the kite using only the breaks... That way you get your lines sorted but don't have to worry about getting overpowered. ...Another option is to use that loop as a power boost. For instance, if you go into a turn with a down loop, you end up with your lines crossed, so you down loop again (only now in the opposite direction since your direction changed) utilizing that loop as a big power boost.

I don't worry about it much. maybe it's because I fly so many other kites besides my fixed bridle foils. I usually don't get them too wound up but four or five twists is not much to worry about. I fly right handed so I tend to turn clockwise. Most of the time if I have lost track of which way I am wound up I just do a few counter-clockwise loops to see if that loosens things up. Dualie sport kites can handle twelve wraps in a quality line set before you notice much noise or friction. Quad Revs are similar even with four lines. The big kites have heavier lines so you get more friction with less wraps. The strong lines look like ropes if you are used to flying 50# lines on SUL dualies. If you're flying light wind you may have to use the whole window & good technique to keep your sail full as you loop. Guess I am kind of rambling on. But it's all part of the fun. I really like your spinning around suggestion. I need to add that to my repertoire.

Why I can't go back to fixed bridle from depower...one handed flying...and spinning bar. :D

Without kite killers and while using a strop, you can spin the handles. In most conditions, you can put the handles together and spin them on the strop very quickly and without losing constrol. My quick release also spins so I can just pull my handles apart and the strop untwists.

I was about to say the same thing as Bob. If you have a pulley with a swivel that you use with your strop, you can spin handles just as easily as a depower bar. It only gets complicated if you use kite killers. The exception to this is if you have a special kite killer loop on your shackle or pulley above the swivel, but below the quick release so it still holds your KS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-s when you fire the safety.

Demoknight: That sounds like the perfect solution. I'd love it if you could point me towards something like that.

The only one I have ever seen was a snap shackle AQR setup that was customized by the owner. I have a snap shackle block, but it doesn't have a place for any kite killers. I don't use kite killers for my fixed bridle kites. I have never used them since I got the buggy basics down, and quite frankly, none of my fixed bridle kites are near or dear enough to me to try to hang onto in emergency situations. I use this http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006PHVHRM/ref=od_aui_detai... attached to my D-link spreader bar. The pulley snaps open and closed around the strop, so it is captive, but the swivel allows you to spin your handles. This block won't work with kite killers though. I would have to search for the picture of the setup I saw when doing research. It looked effective, but I think it used a different snap shackle style.

Ah, I was hoping this was something I could just order today.

Kite killers are definitely necessary for me since on my best days I'm usually strongly overpowered and flying pretty close to trees. If I had better space and conditions I might ditch them, but I have to make do with what I have.

DK, those QR's are prone to NOT open when under load. What you should have is a2673 TORSION wichard. Here is an old thread. This comes around ever once in a while. http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=7709#pid560...

here is one for $71 and change http://www.svendsensmarine.com/Wichard_Quick_Release_Snap_Sh...

This is what mine looks like.

I run the BigKid AQR system. Wichard snap shackle and a Allan snatchblock. I figured if it was good enough for him, it'd be good enough for me. I routinely inspect and polish all latch surfaces on mine. So far, so good..