Quick and simple question really:

Where the fudge do you attach your safety leash to your kite?

The 1:1 bar system has an OhShyte handle to attach a leash but the pulley bar (2:1) bar system looks like it can only be riden suicide?

there is a flag out ring on the left centre line u can attach ur leash to. only downside to this is that it eliminates the spinning bar feature so if u kite loop or crash u are gonna have to ride with crossed lines. cabrinha recomends attaching leash to chicken loop just above the qr which will still allow to kite depower if riding unhooked..

Cheers mate, I thought that was the case.

avagoodone

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Crashtest

if your gona use the flagging ring make sure you attach a stopper ball and adjust correctly.SB doesn't have one fitted so if you flagg without it , it will just loop and loop and twist your lines to hell.

On the 1:1 bar, if you connect the leash to the chicken loop line you can switch it to the flagging ring if something goes wrong & you need to flag the kite.

The problem with the 2:1 bar is the flagging ring is out of reach, so if you are connected to the chicken loop line & something goes wrong you can be stuffed. I had a situation last week where a pair of new front lines on my 9m crossbow stretched significantly as soon as I got on the water. The kite became fully powered up in 25 knots even with the bar pushed fully out. In then end I had to release the the kite entirely because I was out of control & I couldn't flag it... it was either release the kite, drown or get smashed into some solid object.

Not sure what the solution is, as you can't spin the bar with the leash connected to the flagging ring?

BTW, make sure you always buy good quality replacement lines that don't stretch

Clip it straight onto the big black rubber rope thing just after the chicken loop.
If you loop the kite, or your body, while it is on the flagging line up the top, when you unspin the bar your safety leash is all tangled.
I'm yet to have been in a situation where letting go of the bar doesn't work. (touching lots of wood).But if you set the kite up right, it should be ok.
Also, if you eject, you don't have a mother of a knot to undo.
I think suicide went out the window for the bow style kites, the depower is quite enough in suitable conditions for a properly set up kite.

Lol at the image not to scale thing. Should probably also tell us the bar, bar setup, and safety leash appear smaller than they are in real life.

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Tony M said...

On the 1:1 bar, if you connect the leash to the chicken loop line you can switch it to the flagging ring if something goes wrong & you need to flag the kite.

The problem with the 2:1 bar is the flagging ring is out of reach, so if you are connected to the chicken loop line & something goes wrong you can be stuffed. I had a situation last week where a pair of new front lines on my 9m crossbow stretched significantly as soon as I got on the water. The kite became fully powered up in 25 knots even with the bar pushed fully out. In then end I had to release the the kite entirely because I was out of control & I couldn't flag it... it was either release the kite, drown or get smashed into some solid object.

Not sure what the solution is, as you can't spin the bar with the leash connected to the flagging ring?

BTW, make sure you always buy good quality replacement lines that don't stretch

Sounds like an unfortunate and scary situation TonyM, glad you got out of it.
However I want to use your post to highlight the problem with something we all do and we must train ourselves not to do it!!!

Its great you had the presence of mind to release in time, and hopefully your released kite did no harm to anyone else?
We really need to avoid instances where we need to release kites completely.
Released kites hugely increase the risk of harm to others and their property and also risk future access at your favourite spot.

Maybe launching with the leash clipped to a flag out ring, then transfer it to your preferred position for a spinning or unhook position when on the water and safely away from land?

ASSUME! (makes an ASS out of U and ME)
Works for me just like No RED PORT LEFT in the bottle!

When you buy replacement front lines as a pair, from any brand, never ASSUME that the new pair is the same length as your old lines, check them first before kiting on them.

Check them by attaching all 4 lines to some solid point and see if they are all even, with the trim strap at its longest.

If not adjust lengths with pigtail sets or loops of line, etc.

I would bet a zillion$ that the Cab pair of lines you purchased did not suddenly stretch heaps, they were in fact longer than your rears leading to your kite being over trimmed and unable to be depowered.

This is not a defence of the Cab lines or brand, although I have never had an issue with lines stretching badly with this particular brand, in normal use.

Always check your lines for even lengths whenever you replace any of them or any component of the trim system or leaders!!

Cya and

Goodwinds

Steve

Thanks Steve. The replacement front lines that stretched were not cab lines, and yes I checked their length before using them & they were the same as the back lines.

I have now learnt my lesson & bought some cab lines on the weekend.

I agree with your suggestion about launching & landing attached to the flagging ring, but its hard on the pulley bar as the ring is so far away. Maybe some sort of extension attached to the ring would work?

It happened to me south of Brighton le Sands in that NE last wednesday. Luckily I managed to release the kite so that it blew against the netting of one of those swimming enclosures. Big thanks to the guys that helped me retrieve the kite.

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Flux said...

if your gona use the flagging ring make sure you attach a stopper ball and adjust correctly.SB doesn't have one fitted so if you flagg without it , it will just loop and loop and twist your lines to hell.

Where do you put the stopper ball ?

flagged a SB2 the other week and yes, it loops ALOT

another thing u can do in the situation of front lines stretching and not being able to depower the kite is grab the bungy adjusters and chicken line in ur hand and pull towards ur body. i have had to do this a couple of times when a 10 or 15 knot gust has cum in and i havent been able to get back to shore in time.if u let go of bar and pull in on centre lines it efectivly lengthens the rears even more and u can either just wait there and sit out the gust or in ur case, make ur way back to shore. also, when u pull these lines in, it brings the flagging ring within reach of ur hand to put leash onto

so basically what is being said here that one of the 'safest' kites on the market has crap safety!

We checked a heap of new cab kites last week, short people can't reach the front line safety on a CB, (I can't even reach the depower thingy doo daas when the clip has gone up!) and to be honest the steering line safety is IMHO so dangerous for learning and general riding it should be got rid of! if your leash gets caught around your board when you stand up (or anything else for that matter as its all hanging out the side) hello kiteloop goodbye face!

cabrinha I feel has really let down the safety side of this kite for the price if a 50c metal ring!

Yeh that was my exact thoughts and why I originally put up this post. I couldnt believe that such a good company has bar setups that are worse than most 05' kites.

I reckon its time for Cabrinha to start copying slingshot and airush with their bar setups.

On another note, does the Naish smart loop have a below the bar leash attachment? No? Change that naish and make everything free spinning and you will have the best bar setup out there IMO.

I am talking 4 line setups here BTW people.

The Core riot bar wins my vote for best 5line setup.

Totally disagree ..... the CAB bars are by far and away the best bar setup out there.
Comfortable grip, easy to use, uncluttered etc....

I even use one with on my Fuel (4 line mode ).

I have found that the kite easily depowers if you just grab the front two lines and in the event that a front line is broken you can still do this easily. I only use the ring as a last resort.

IMHO the switchblade 3 8m has got to be one of if not the best kite on the market
( flame suit on )

g'day walshd!I've had my sb2 for over a year and i reckon this bar is invincible.The way you attach your safety leash is where number 23 is on the diagram.I've never had to use the flagging out ring on the back line.the only reason why it is there i think is so you can use this bar on a C kite,which is what i use it for when the wind gets too strong for my cab.I always ride in override mode which makes it impossible for the kite to power up and go into death loops.You only have to take your hands off the bar and the kite will slowly make it's way to the edge of the window with zero pull. Every time one of the boys get a slingshot fuel/Rev or a naish,i can't help but shake my head why anyone would want to buy a kite that comes with such a crap bar.If you kite as much as we do,the slingshot bars only last a couple months before the depower rope wears away.One dude went through five bars with an 06 fuel. with my sb2 i have no wear on the bridles and the bar is still in perfect condition.I reckon it'll last another two seasons. The only way i'd be flying a slingy, naish or rebel these days is if i got my kites for free, but for the hard working regular folk who have to pay for their gear,your better buying a product that will last at least a couple of seasons,not a month.

It all comes down to personal opinion I guess.

What I think is the best bar setup may be the next person's worst bar setup.

There is almost everytype of bar, depower system, leash attachments, 4 or 5 line setup you can think of on the market nowdays.

I'd like to winge about my control systems but the pros and cons of every arguement are different with each designers intentions in mind.

I guess the lessons to learn here are test out your control systems before you buy. If you dont like them and still want that particular kite then there is probably a bar setup on the market that does suit you.

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walshd said...

I reckon its time for Cabrinha to start copying slingshot and airush with their bar setups.

What use a frayed piece of rope out of the bag for a de-power line.

Mine hasnt held up too bad but is definately fraying.

If kite brands used quality spectra then there would be next to nil wear. Try using a cheap brand of braided fishing line on your fishing reels compared to an expensive brand. Fireline from berkley lasts about a year of punishing use, but premium spiderwire will last you all your life.

But the kite brands may need to use a softer spectra for their cleats to work properly. I doubt that though. You make more money selling depower ropes.

pfr, are you not concerned a little that learners with no idea are hooking their leashes onto point 23 in the diagram. What if they hit another kites lines or snapped one of the centre lines, the kite would go into a deathloop even if the bar was pushed fully forward all the way? Then when they eventually hit the QR, they are still connected by their leash and the kite doesnt flag. Then they hit the leash QR, goodbye kite, and watchout beach users?

In hindsight learners should always attach their leash to the flagging line but if you give them an option they will almost certainly make the wrong one.

you can buy the best spectra,wax it up and you'll still have the same problem.I know from experience.Without the plastic coating around the depower rope you'll be forever stuffing around changing ropes,worrying if this is the session that you'll be swimming back to the beach. I have also seen a guy hit another kite,the cab was through the lines of the other kite and the friction snapped one of the center lines of the cab.All the guy did was let go of the bar while still hooked in and it dropped out of the sky with no deathloops.The guy with other kite pulled safety and all was good. I have also seen a crossbow snap a bridle,and the kite would still fly. I had an experience while learning to ride a surfboard with no footstraps.While waveriding unhooked i stuffed up,nosedived and had my legrope wrapped around my body aswell as the safety,pretty scary!! The kite didn't power up,it just sat at the edge of the window waiting for me to untangle myself and grab the bar again.I highly recommend cab's for learning.

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pfr said...

The way you attach your safety leash is where number 23 is on the diagram.

Was clear as mud until i read this, cheers!

put the leash on the center lines on the black plastic rope below the bar.
because of the override system it will fully depower if you pull the safety. or you can just unhook and let go of the bar. the kite will not twist at all and you will be able to easily relaunch it after . you just pull in on you safety leash and relaunch like normal.

ewan