Do you need it
Ok Ok i hear you all saying "what about the QR " my cab Qr has a small steel piece that folds over and clips into Qr handel so i could connect up direct too harness hook with out chicken loop . The QR WILL still work unchanged . I cant see any problems but you guys might .
Pros : doing this bar is much closer to you no arm strech at all
cons : no like rubber strech "shockey" more direct feel , so harder on kite,lines
Any thoughts
Sam
^^ yer good point i dont unhook so shouldnt be a prop any other probs . I am worryed that it would be too much stiffness and could break other things cause the chicken loop would absorb lots of jults ect.
Don't worry about the shock on the lines just make sure the release works properly and it's not pulling on the release mechanism at an awkward angle
^^ok i now some one will come in on this but here goes . my arms are to short for standard operation . Have trim kite even have landed and changed rear line lenghts but i am finding that i must have a extra long (if there is ) chicken loop . Even on the ground if someone pulls on the cener lines i am finding to get to 1/4 power or should i say 3/4 power off i am reaching streching to far and is not a real problem but other than after a big jump haven trouble full depowering. Thought that if i attach with out chicken loop gives me about 250 mm less strech . It would just make some moments more comforatable . Just a thought .
In answer to the short arm problem.
In earlier times you could get a replacement chicken loop for Cabs which was a bit smaller, so you don't have to reach as far. Don't know that they still exist.
Other option, wear a seat harness. The hook will sit lower and allow ample reach.
One more option, ride one handed - this allows you to sheet out further than you can with 2 hands on the bar.
Still one more option - fly Ozone. No problem with reach.
Why do i know these things? I've got short arms too.
+ 1 for the seat harness, I can comfortably use a waist harness for my other kites but for the Cab it's a hassle reaching the bar and trim tabs if I'm not on my seat harness with the hook sitting a couple of inches lower.
I also just tried the set-up you are considering on the back verandah. Hooking the QR onto the small horozontal section on the harness hook, I applied some sideways force with just my hands and found it forces the QR to start sliding up. I'd imagine a fully loaded kite flying close to the water will pop that sucker right open.
I use cab kites as well i have a cab 2005 element 10m that has a tiny chicken loop if you can find one of them that would be perfect . Your idea will work but there is a chance it could get stuck on the hook when you really want to release (just read topic: beginner dies in France during lesson )
What u might do is:
Zero cost: taken from my spare leash, used tap rubber O-ring, used piece of plastic as a sleeve so cannot be opened and to secure it in my harness.
And one SS ring...
:)
I wouldt consider myself having short arms, but I can relate to your problem. I experienced the same thing with my Cabs.
My suggestion would be to sell the cabs and go for Ozon, naish or North.
I liked the cabs but wouldnt think of going back.
Another pro on loosing the cabs is that you wont need to use those short arms, trying to reach round the trees while climbing down.
Thanks to everyone
dbabicwa that looks like the go i was thinking of a swivell in there too .
Just reading my post and though what if a begineer dose something like this .
WARNING TOO ALL BEGINERS dont try this at home i have 4 years under me (no that dosnt mean that i know everything) and consider myself as a very safe rider and i would normally not stuff with main kite parts . I can see the potential of this going wrong so i will make it absolotely sure that my QR dosnt snag in any way. once again Thanks
If you head to a boat shop you can get a quick release with a built in swivel,used to fly like this all the time a few years ago with no chickenloop,takes a heap of length out of the system will see if i can find mine and upload a pic.
Select to expand quotedbabicwa said...
What u might do is:
Thats OK but what did you use for your secondary release?
If you dont want to unhook the chiken loop is not needed, havn't had one for ages, increases the power/depower range and doesn't induce a moment into the bar.Grind off the hook and wrap a bit of flat SS around with 2 x shackles.
Looks safe enough dbabicwa god knows it's safer than a few shackles I have tried in the past but the snap ring (or whatever they are called) off a leash isn't normally strong enough.
new rivalry in kiting...
Short arms v Long arms.
Personally I think short armed blokes should be made to wear kite pants and fly foils.
Knuckledragger's forever
Simpy shorten the chicken loop line. I have had about 6 different brands of kite since I started (even cab :-) and I could do it in all. Then you still have the original setup and safety, and it is entirely safe for beginners. The vast majority of kiters don't unhook, so we don't need a long chicken loop.
As for stretching of the chicken loop line to absorb gust: it doesn't happen and it would be bad if it did, because it would reduce the responsiveness of the kite (the less stretch the better).
