Andy Mac

Weight on the front? Knobby tyres?? Let air OUT??? :shock: Just move your seat back a bit - this will move the point from which the kite delivers power to the buggy (Through you) back. The shift in weight distibution will help the buggy tend to slide the rear before the front. You still won't be able to turn away from the kite when fully powered (You should slide) but as Dukey says you can use the back end to help steer. Wash off speed in a slide and you'll be able to point higher as you finish sliding and your speed drops off.

Still trying to decide if the magic bus will make the trek. Craig is heading to WA for some bike ride so he won't be attending. Port Fairy mob have dropped off the radar so no idea if they're dead/alive/coming/not. Some of the joy is gone since the South Aussies got beaten so consistently year after year that they gave up supplying us Victorians with trophies....

The general public already think we're a bit strange getting excited about kite flying. Now we want them to think we're a contortionist with a low IQ ???? :roll:

Overflying the window and snap luffing, particularly in strong gusty winds, is not surprising from modern high performance kites. I got it with the Razors and was very frustrated initially until I learned to fly them well. Once you can deal with the downsides the upsides are more than worthwhile (Upwind performance, fast upwind turns, spot on control, and plenty of power when and where you want it). I doubt it will be a fault of the kite (And not having a go at you either) but more likely the conditions you were flying in and the possibly the initial setup (Line lengths?). I have an extra knot that brings the brake line in 1 inch when I'm flying inland or in gusty conditions. Makes a big difference and reduces the tendency to snap luff considerably. Goshen would probably have been more than happy to help out rather than have you return the kite and be unhappy. Flexifoil generally do good gear so sorry to hear it didn't work out! Better luck with next choice....

What the?? Hey Nigel - you might win one, I'll still be in NZ working Should be around for both 13th Beach Poker Run and Sandy Point though - better get off my ass and sort out BF wheels...

57.8km/hr is VERY quick if you're fairly new to it - especially if the park isn't that big. Plenty of experience here up to 70+ km/hr and I can say that anything over 50km/hr and you're going quick enough to be entertained (Or scared, depending on what's coming up towards you fast). CALIBRATION - this is for the likes of the Cateye speedo that allows you to input tyre rolling circumference. (You could also use it to calculate your diameter or radius - get out the old maths books.....): 1. chalk mark on smooth flat ground (Like a starting line) 2. chalk mark on tyre where you can see it sitting in buggy 3. line up the two with tyre mark at top or bottom, where you can repeat positioning. 4. roll yourself forwards two or three tyre rotations 5. measure distance travelled 6. divide distance travelled by number of rotations to get wheel diameter. without being in the buggy you'll get a varied measurement because of the rubber tyres - this is the best way I've found (Thanks to Craig) Enjoy, and if you really are doing nearly 60km/hr, stay safe.

Yes they still exist. This one has been carefully preserved and flown about three times. Complete with original bar and lines, wrist leash, and pump. I don't use it so might as well offload it. For the money it's not a bad way to start off and the downsides of the older style are more difficult relaunch off the water and older safety/ depower setup (Quickrelease? What's that?) Kite is in very good condition with no repairs or tears. $300 ono including postage away from Melbourne/Geelong.

Roughly $30 for a basic cateye speedo - make sure it's one that will allow you to input a small diameter wheel though. I've been through a few and now use GPS too but it cost about $250 (There are a couple cheaper but more options suckered me in). Another GPS advantage is when you bend, break or need to change front forks or wheels. With the speedo - try and rig it so that the wires are protected - that was always the weak link on mine. Consider mounting it on one of the rear wheels perhaps where there is no fork movement to worry about? (Although then you don't know how fast you can two wheel...) The unit itself seemed pretty happy on the beach being splashed etc with just a rinse off afterwards.

Been cruising Google Earth looking for some entertaining buggy areas. Sand dunes near Portland sound good (From Dune Buggy Club) with bigfoots on. Anyone down to Bridgewater Lakes and the sand dunes for a good look? Anyone from the Eastern suburbs or Gippsland been onto the loooong straight stretch of narrow beach that begins almost directly south of Sale and runs on a NNW heading?

Hey Nigel - working in NZ for Christmas so no can do. Check out new thread re another beach near Sale though ....

What? Never heard anything so silly. Of COURSE you need more toys - it's just a matter of WHICH toy has highest priority.....

laughed out loud at the lack of classification of the missus as a light wind alternative cos she doesn't go on kite trips No complaints from radio controlled toys - a great plus for that category. Girlfriend does have it's benefits Justin - but you just KNOW there are a few downsides (Not the least of which might upset you is the time you may be required to devote that will eat into kiting time...) Do like ski boats, but probably reached my no wind toy budget limit. 35, no kids, want to see the list of toys? :roll: Doesn't seem to stop me planning for the next one though....

I've been running a PL 15mm stub axle, heavy duty, for years. It's a bit bowed from use, jumping etc but never had any issues with the stubs. No bolts to drop or lose. Bent and broke a few 12mm bolts previously but the 15mm seems to hold up fine and it was a stock PL item.

I've got a girlfriend

Still for sale guys, and girls (Just in case). Great Christmas Stocking Filler! Good value! Hours of entertainment to be had!

Would love to join in, and the wind may even cooperate for a run on the beach where we were last time. Low tide is early arvo so could be good. Sadly, have to attend a wedding with the GF in bloody Tongala! Middle of nowhere. No beach, no buggy, no joy.... Maybe next time.

Doesn't need any more demos - he made it to the lighthouse last night He was dressed in t-shirt and shorts. Goshen and I were in winter woolies and freezing but Chris seemed so pumped he didn't even feel the cold (Either that or it's part of his Antarctic training). After work run is still possible - we didn't get off the beach until after 8:15pm last night. Leave at 5pm...

Craig decided that there were just too many touristas for his liking. He only had a short time and he had to be somewhere else anyway, but still his loss. OG main was bloody great again tonight. Goshen and Chris (New guy from Melbourne) were down having a lesson. Chris has a Libre with Bigfoot lights on it - nice bit of kit like yours Nige. There was another Geelong lad on the spit at Barwon Heads too with a PL and a light green 3 or 4m Vortex. Strong southerly, slight SE. 3.5m Razor, 71km/hr max on the GPS coming around Raffs after tacking up to the Heads. 56km travelled in a couple of hours and nowhere near the number of obstacles/pedestrians as on the weekend. Fast and FUN! If the wind is good tomorrow Craig and I will be there from just after 5pm for another session

Cheers for the reference Toby1 Checked up on rough shipping costs and would send it through Goshen at Kitepower. As a customer one of these freight services he gets good rates but the once only cash rates are scary! Buggy comes in two packages - wheels and frame (In the two bags.) Shipping via Goshen it's about $20 and $23 - less than $50 for the two packs. My original quotes: Australian Air Express - $161.70 for the two to Hobart!! Fastway - $132 per parcel!!

Bob, wind inland at the common was a bit off and on and we ended up on the Raffs side of Ocean Grove main. SE coming in nicely for 4 to 5m kites and we were there from about 3pm to 6 - 6:30pm. Low tide was about 3:30pm and it was the best day out on the beach so far this season! There were a few pedestrians about but the beach was wide enough to allow everybody enough room most of the time. All the kites looked great and we had about 3 or 4 buggies and 3 or 4 boards going up and down at any one time. Nigel, Neil and I tried to reach for the lighthouse but we needed more wind, a swing more southerly, or larger kites. If you haven't been to main beach before I recommend getting down there one day on a southerly with low tide and going for a cruise to the lighthouse at Point Lonsdale. Lovely run on really nice beach!

Freddie (Or Tim?) Will have to check on shipping costs and let you know. It all breaks down and fits in the bag and it's super light. Not technically advanced enough for Paypal but I'm known in the Geelong/Victorian kite traction community and Goshen at Kitepower might give me a reference if you give him a call at the shop (Or pm via this site). I've sold kites over the site previously and no-ones been upset (Or if they have been - NOW is the time to speak up!) Rear axle has bolts rather than stubs. Fits standard width PL wheels. If I don't get any takers on the day down the beach I'll try and take it in to check the weight and postage stuff during next week and let you know. Cheers,

hey - now you're talking! Beach sounds good. Coming from Melbourne so will drop into the common on the way through (1-ish...) The beach has been ok, not much rock exposed and tides have been HIGH so sand is firm fairly well up. Could be good! (Please O please send us a southerly....)

Anybody near Altona? Go have a look at the grass for us and we can shorten the list! Or better yet - take a mower down there... just do like an airport, a strip north-south and another east-west, nothing fancy, wide enough for two wide axle buggies to pass, bit of a margin for safety, room at the ends for nice wide high speed turns,.....

SOLD! $600 (Includes shipping anywhere within Australia) - Buggy was imported from China pre-production and as far as I know is the only one in Australia. Designed in the UK and built by the same crowd that crossed the Gobi desert and attempted the North pole (Nutters apparently, but buggy construction is first rate). It's tubular alloy. Tough as hell and super light. Bought it to use it for jumping but find that I tend to just get the old PL airborne when the conditions suit rather than taking it out specifically. 2nd hand but used on the beach exactly twice. Previously advertised on this site. Now includes rear wheels, buggy travel bag with separate wheel bag (Holds 3 wheels), and spare PL alloy rim and tyre. Frame and seat in basically new condition, wheels straight but second hand. Bags as new. SOLD $370 (Includes Shipping within Australia) - Mountain/land board. Also basically in new condition and has stainless steel kit installed for beach use. Retailed for $600 or $700 at Kitepower - swapped a Flexifoil buggy won as a prize for it... More photos of buggy: More photos of board:

69.5km/hr in the blokart - so what was Gav's top speed with the buggy?