Steve J

bumpty bump

bump ity bump

After a very long discussion about kiting with a close friend she decided to call kiting a "hobby" and wallop a "convention" not wanting to be classified as a treckie or a wood turner I pointed out that kiting is much more a sport than a hobby. However still unconvinced I want to get a small poll from everyone on here (because you are all so nice and unbiaised!!!) So is anything associated with power kites a) a sport b) a hobby or c) something totally different?

Cant find any reference as to whether there is any restriction on the forms of kiting taking place? Is this purely static flying or are traction activities allowed?

Nope no permits required just something to pick your tongue up when it drops out of your mouth with astonishment at the size of the beach. If you are going down please have a look for my lost footpeg bolt... see link http://www.flexifoil.com/community/forums/showthread.php?t=72081 Im not holding out much hope though... 2 cm bolt and 4miles wide by at least a quarter of a mile deep beach... I cant do the maths but thats a large "square metre age". And yeah Tall Paul is right make sure the co-efficient is less than 60.

OS map already obtained...

Thats brilliant fears now resolved... sounds like Sister got a bit over zealous with map and perhaps she picked the wrong carpark. Cheers to all and may you always have the wind behind you! Steve

Cheers thats useful... So if thats the case whats the distance from the car park to the beach? I much prefer paths through the dunes rather than dragging a buggy over the. My sis suggested it was close to a full kilometer through.

Ok myself and another forum member our taking our inaugural trip to wales with buggying in mind. We are staying with my sister in Swansea and will be down on the Gower area on Saturday and Sunday. Now heres the problem. Like a sensible planner I sent my sister down on a quick rece a last weekend. Now having read the forum messages people suggest that access from Llagennith is best. But and heres the problem. My sis suggested that it looks like a full 1Km worth of dunes to drag the buggy over (thats on the basis of observation and an OS map.) (And from the car park where she saw kite surfers getting their kit together to hit the beach) Is this right cus if so I'd prefer to go down the steps at the Worms head end and walk along the beach? So basically whats the best way down to Rhossili beach with a buggy?

Local councils can and do do just about what ever they like with regards public land. Thats what all the hundreds of previous threads have been on about. As members of the public we appoint local councillors to make the decisions on our behalf hoping that the ones we appoint make sensible decisions for the good of all. Frankly comparing responsible kiters to gangs of motorbikers pulling wheelies isnt an appropriate comparison.

Attrocious news not happy at all. Was on the heath both yesterday and Monday evening taking care not to cause any problems. Didnt hit any small children, dogs, little old ladies, blind people. Didnt leave rubbish, cause fires, leave kite stakes in easily "trip upable" positions. Only danger I caused was to myself taking outrageous turns and generally skidding around a lot. Lets hope this is another of their 5 mins worth of attention to a sport that generally is very well internally policed and they get on sorting important council things out and stop covering their collective wide arses.

Yeah done this a month or so back now with mates from London. Went on a Friday and Saturday. Tides went back leaving a good firm beach, (in places!) but there was a servere "mogul" field of water pools and puddles left which proved very bumpy. Two very nice rocks acting as great markers to race around on the far right hand side when you get down there. Having said that wind was pretty good on the first day nice steady and consistent (great for a 3.5 bullet) However next day was more like 20-22 with gusts up to 35mph way too much and too difficult to keep control of even with a 2.6 skytiger. The cliff edge also played with the winds and caused big problems. Generally though a great beach with good facilities and a great "Extreme Burger" to be found at the Extreme Sports Academy who teach and rent buggy gear. Dom there is very helpful rented a 4.9 Blade on one day and he threw in a Flexifoil Buggy as well same price. (My buggy was disassembled in the car at the time). Very good place. (Just make sure you get the tide time right and allow for BST not GMT (You know who you are!) cus there is only space to buggy at low tide). The Bucket and Spade Brigade should have disappeared by now (was busier in August) but what ever you do dont use Smugglers Haven Campsite as their facilities have gone rapidly down hill over the last 3 years (reminiscent of the scene when Renton went into the Bookies to use their toilets in Trainspotting!)

Not sure that I can afford a brand new buggy or even trade in for a second hand one as a result of a few foot pegs. Thanks for all suggestions have emailed flexifoil and see what they say and will follow up if necessary with the other suggestions. Thanks Steve

Bump Come on with the amount of expert buggiers around someone must know the relative diameters of the flexifoil origional footpegs (straight) vs the latest flexifoil buggy footpegs (curved) Steve

Ok problem for you to consider. One Original Flexifoil Buggy plus beach and land use plus original and not particularly great footpegs = feet sliding all over the place once covered in sand. Now I have tried the new Flexifoil Buggy and apart from the great seat I liked the footpegs. Now I know I could mod my existing pegs with strips from old bike tyres and other such things but am more interested in replacing the whole footpeg for the nice curvy ones. But would they fit the same hole? Anyone know or has done this? Steve