Leaving lines attached when packing away

[edt]

4. Walking the lines out, is often felt as a necessity to be sure there are no crossed lines - but when you do this, the bar will usually be spun a couple of times - so makes no sense as not easy or impossible to see if any crossed ones, if they are spun multiple times - as they will be usually

if your lines are spun a half dozen times (mine usually are spun and flipped several times because I wrap and throw the bar in the bag any which way), grab a rear line and a center line on the same side, if you put a little tension on and keep them apart the twists move up to the kite, then if you bring the lines together and snap it, the twists move down to the bar, and you can see immediately how to flip and twist the bar. I have nothing against walking it out, go for it, I'm just lazy.

[SupaEZ]

WOW Peter_Frank quite a detailed opinion..Thank you ...It is good to have a method that works for you...For myself leaving lines attached on all 5 different size kites works great "every time"...You could probably say that i am experienced at it....Been doing it that way for almost 13 years. Set-up and pack down almost 250 times a year (yoohoo almost 3,250 sessions)....It is supa easy,supa fast,supa accurate (for me and many others)

[Peter_Frank]

One thing I'll say is that since I started keeping my lines attached, I have never forgotten my bar at the beach.

This is where a routine helps you out.
Open the kite valve(s) and while the kite deflates (maybe your board on top if windy), you wind the lines up and put the bar in the kitebag. Then your kite gets max deflate time, and you will never forget your bar again. A real efficient and easy habit, and works like a charm !

Maybe some think it sounds "silly" - but such a little detail prevents forgotten bars.

- Peter

[Clew In]

Hey,

Always look back. That is after you have packed up and walking away.

Clew In

[TommyDuotone]

Agree with Peter Frank Unless you are in snow, what's an extra minute when rigging. If you wrap your lines correctly, there should not be too many twists anyway. Does not seem like rigging down will save much time, maybe more since you have to be more careful with the kite. Plus, i like rinsing all my stuff(bar, harness, wetsuit, ect) in a bucket when i get home. Regardless of which you prefer, we can all agree that sticking to your routine is safest. D

[Kamikuza]

I never take the lines off my foils, but always off my LEIs. Just doesn't seem to work with the LEIs ...

@ Clew - my finds this week ... a watch, an anemometer and - a board all left behind at the beach!

@ Peter - getting lines tangled seems like a problem but in reality it almost never happens ... if you take a teeny-weeny bit of care wrapping the lines up and keep the bar outside the kite when you pack.
And if you do, it's pretty obvious what lines goes where so just loop the bar through - we're talking the "massively complex" Flysurfer bridles here too
Same with twists - for me, untwist the bar a few times as you walk out the lines and you're left with maybe one or two turns when you set the bar down.

@ Billy - another good point ... I don't trust bars not to poke holes in things either

@ Windy - $250 for bars - where are you buying them from?!?

@ Frank - I run them through my fingers and check them as I pack up. And with the bar outside the kite, it's easy to unwind them all and tune the lines.

[SupaEZ]

Taking the wiper blades "OFF" your car then putting them back "ON" every time you go for a ride does not take very long ....BUT WHY??? ALIENS looking down to earth would be puzzled by this popular "RITUAL"

[frankm1960]

@kamikuza, I used to leave the lines on my small foil and had no problems... it was much easier.

I've tried doing that with my tube kites but I gave up pretty quick. I lay out my lines straight up wind because of the way I solo launch off my 5th line... so I don't know if leaving my lines on is even an option? Plus I got that stupid 5th line as well.

I may try it again as I'm wasting a lot of time untwisting my lines...they're getting old and worn (like me). Would be nice to leave them on for snow kiting.

[Bille]

Was a Good Thread !
Two things i learned :
** checking Lines as often between methods.
** Pin-hols in kite where bar is placed against kite.

My 13M Ozone Edge is my main kite, it's used 75% of the time
so the lines are always left on that one.
When put away with wet lines, the bar goes Outside the bag.
When put away dry, the bar goes inside the bag,(perhaps 50/50 %).

So i checked the kite where the bar rests on the spot on my
2008 Edge ; low & behold, there's pin hols on that there.
So the bar will "Always" go outside the bag from now on my
new,(used) 2010 Edge.
ALSO
I will check the lines Every time on the 13M, like i do with the
other kites i have, (3 PL's and 2 other LEI's).

SO Thanks for bringing up this Thread !!

As for tangled lines when left on kite ---
NOPE, i got a system & that almost Never happens.
I also roll up the lines whenever the kite is on the beach for a lunch break.

I may sew on a permanent tube sock for the bar, under the rear on the
center strut with a Velcro cover. What will that weigh, maybe 5-7grams ?
But I'll need to work out the pros/cons on that one.

Bille

[optimus]

Hey,

Always look back. That is after you have packed up and walking away.

Clew In

Ya looking back should be part of your routine. I also check my rear view mirror before driving away.