Buggying advice

[Capt Slog]

Although I've had a buggy for a number of years, what with wrong conditions and time, I don't get out that often to use it. So I'm still very much a novice.

 

I can tack up wind no problem, occasionally I pull off an upwind turn but I enjoy what I do.

 

The problem I find is that I sometimes seem to get stuck in a run that I can't get out of. I'll be bowling along at right angles to the wind or maybe a little bit downwind, and just keep acelerating. The kite seems to stick at 2 oclock to my direction of travel and 30 degress off the ground and it takes every ounce of strength to pull it out of this position. Meanwhile I'm quickly running out of field!

 

I don't think I'm overpowered because in other manouvers I'm sometimes struggling to move.

 

Any ideas?

[DaveN]

I get this sometimes and it is pretty scary. I started using a harness and with it point the buggy upwind quickly (and it may slide a bit - cool) and pull the kite up to 60% or more off the ground but let the harness take the strain so your arms stay attached.

 

Or get a depowerable and let the bar out!

[flydad]

you'll always be able to slow down by just turning more into the wind but remember you need to do this BEFORE you start realising 'Oh Shi* theres the fence' either that or find a bigger field

[Capt Slog]

Thankyou both.

 

It's a relief to find that it isn't just me, I thought I had the kites set-up wrongly.

 

I don't use a harness BTW, I don't like being fasten to the kite.

[Plezzy]

Your experience is exactly the same as mine. Felt like I needed the space of an oil tanker to turn around by slowly edging up in to the wind.

 

Following advise from the 'pros' I finally got the bottle a few of weeks ago to be more vigorous turning upwind to generate sideways slide to scrub speed. Scary at first, but as long as you keep the kite fairly low until you've slowed a little is not that difficult and it doesn't half give you confidence when buggying on smaller sites and with other buggies around. Once you've cracked it you'll look forward to the end of your speed runs:D

 

I'd seriously think about getting a harness though.

[HOUSE]

I have had exactly the same experience a number of times - its a strange feeling and takes some getting used to - in fact I've just had 4 hours of this on Mablethorpe beach with a northeasterly and flying a 10m frenzy.

 

The trouble today was that the best run on the beach was by the sea going south before the wind, so to turn into the wind was not an option (without doing an impression of a submarine:eek: )

 

I did two things to slow up - one was to slide the buggy hard from left to right in order to brake and the other was to ease the kite up to the top of the window and as far back as it would take. I then turned hard right to keep the kite inflated and managed to keep going all day along these lines.

 

It's always comforting to know that you aren't the only one thinking - jeez how am I gonna stop this thing. My first run south today ended up about three quarters of a mile further south than I wanted to be.....lol

[Mark Rose]

You have discovered the noble art of "locking in"

 

Racers use it to gain maximum speed and used on a reach it can be an interesting ride.

[Pilgrim]

My first run south today ended up about three quarters of a mile further south than I wanted to be.....lol

Somewhere near Sutton-on-Sea then:cool:

[Russel]

if you think the power slides are fun, be a little bit more agressive with the up wind turn and bump down wind side rail of your buggy with your hip and you'll be on your way to your first 180 spin or even 360.

 

enjoy have fun

[Sand-Yeti]

If you are managing upwind turns then I don't think you can call yourself a novice.

I too can do upwind turns but must admit they require a lot of concentration on my part to manage them successfully & I have been buggying regularly for 6 years.

 

Several years of buggying without a harness & without pulling your arms out of their sockets is quite an achievement. Sorry if this sounds facetious but you must have arms of steel now.

 

Being hooked in to the kite via a harness is intimidating in the beginning but takes one hell of a load off of your arms & makes power kiting a lot easier.

I understand the concern you have because if something goes pear shaped, you don't want to be dragged along the floor by your kite.

A couple of things that should help with your confidence level in getting a harness is:

1) Buy a comfy harness with a spreader bar. Attach a small shackle & Witchard quick release. Any time you feel uncomfortable about what you are doing in the buggy, just look down and check that you can release the kite quickly.

 

2) Wear loads of body protection for:

head (full face helmet), shoulders, upper torso, lower back, elbows, wrists, knees & feet (boots) & any other part of the body you feel might be vunerable.

Body armour is a real confidence booster especially if you have had an accident in the past. I smashed my should some years back and was scared I was going to smash it again, which was horribly painful I might add.

Good shoulder protection gave me the confidence to get back into the buggy & start pushing the envelope again.

I still wear tons of protection today because its not much fun getting hurt.

 

Once you get used to the harness, you will wonder how you ever managed without it.

I would never recommend a newbie to get a harness .

 

Strangely enough, today, if I fly a kite without hooking into a harness, I feel quite naked.

[Rev]

Welcome to the club.