158 replies to this topic

[Watty]

I haven't done that, but today the wind here was so light, I could do 360's!

[St.Even]

Latest test results!!       Flew Sunday at Graylands beach, Wa , the wind got up to 20+ and we lost a race rod. It finally broke in the center of the middle leading edge  spar. So now I know they are not indescructable!!  Replaced the leading edge with a SLE and kept flying till it started raining. WET w/ sand   Yuck!    Memories  of WSIKF.               see ya @ up your wind this weekend and Whidbey later in the month.   Steven

[RAWVEEDA]

@St.Even
Was that with a Standard or Vent flying?

[ilh]

I flew Race Rods in my vented last weekend with FortFlyer in 12-18ish. I think by the time it gets to be 15+ I prefer 4-wraps to the Race Rods. I find it useful to have more weight in the kite in those kinds of winds plus the 4-wraps are stiffer and tougher. There is no way I'd want to fly the Race Rods in 20+, even if they could take it. I suppose I could leave the Race Rods in the verticals and just go with the 4-wrap leading edge too since the leading edge seems to take the brunt of the force.

I think FortFlyer agreed we were starting to hit the upper range for the Race Rods in terms of precision.

--Lee

[RAWVEEDA]

I flew Race Rods in my vented last weekend with FortFlyer in 12-18ish. I think by the time it gets to be 15+ I prefer 4-wraps to the Race Rods. I find it useful to have more weight in the kite in those kinds of winds plus the 4-wraps are stiffer and tougher. There is no way I'd want to fly the Race Rods in 20+, even if they could take it. I suppose I could leave the Race Rods in the verticals and just go with the 4-wrap leading edge too since the leading edge seems to take the brunt of the force.

I think FortFlyer agreed we were starting to hit the upper range for the Race Rods in terms of precision.

--Lee

That is just the info I was looking for. Thank you

[FortFlyer]

I flew Race Rods in my vented last weekend with FortFlyer in 12-18ish. I think by the time it gets to be 15+ I prefer 4-wraps to the Race Rods. I find it useful to have more weight in the kite in those kinds of winds plus the 4-wraps are stiffer and tougher. There is no way I'd want to fly the Race Rods in 20+, even if they could take it. I suppose I could leave the Race Rods in the verticals and just go with the 4-wrap leading edge too since the leading edge seems to take the brunt of the force.

I think FortFlyer agreed we were starting to hit the upper range for the Race Rods in terms of precision.

--Lee

Hit the nail right on the head, when the wing tips seem like they will be touching soon its time to upgrade lol

At 15+ the kite just seems bow a bit too much making it want to roll a bit to easy therefor making it more difficult to keep steady, like the SLE being too stiff there is also a point when its also too limber.

Sweet Rods Though, the day before Lee came down we had very little wind and I was flying the same vented with Race Rods along side of SUL's in 2-5 mph and keeping up very easy.

Maybe Ben can come up with a Turbo Race Rod for 15+ lighter than a 3 with the stiffness of a 4 that would be sweet for just the response alone.

[antman]

i dont see the need to use them in winds highr then 8 mph myself but thats me

[FortFlyer]

i dont see the need to use them in winds highr then 8 mph myself but thats me

Ant the snapback response of the Race Rod is amazing as you know up to 10 mph to me there is no comparison, from 5-12 mph it becomes the vented dream frame, but as with all of the frames it comes to a point where they get too noodley I'm sure they would make it to 20 but I'm not going to sacrifice a set to see I'm just thinking the possibilities of Race's Big Brother

I asked a million questions about these things and it took me getting a set to get my answers, I'm thinking thats probably going to be the case for most, defiantly worth getting where you take them to will have to be personal preference.

[Watty]

I have learned that they can break even in light wind! If a dog gets a hold of them, it's all over!!

[Kitelife]

We use the race spars in more than 8mph... In our vented kites, up to about 16 mph.

[MrDenny]

Race spars swim fine but they don't surf well at all.

[Kitelife]

I beg to differ, I was submerging my B-Series with Race Rods inside of waves last weekend, then walking back quickly to keep it upright while the waves broke... Launching out of the water when it cleared the surface.

They're tough, and surf just fine.

[MrDenny]

I beg to differ, I was submerging my B-Series with Race Rods inside of waves last weekend, then walking back quickly to keep it upright while the waves broke... Launching out of the water when it cleared the surface.

They're tough, and surf just fine.

I am sure YOU could do that all day long. Now for the mortals out there who just might, sometimes let the wave catch your kite, there is still not a spar that will stand up to it. I did, it broke, I replaced it. Lesson learned.
John I hope you know this is a total compliment to your skills

[Kitelife]

In an upcoming video, there will be footage of the one time I accidentally landed my kite in front of the wave, instead of on top and into it.

CRUNCH! Looks horribly fatal, although nothing actually broke. <grin>

[AldenMiler]

What's the video called? John Barresi Bloopers? I don't know that anyone will believe it. I for one will think it's all staged.

-Alden

[Watty]

I'd like to see a rev team, iQuad, or John B. bloopers video! Even the pro's make mistakes

[Kitelife]

That'd be pretty funny... We'll keep it on the "to do" list.

[Watty]

Is there any more news on this? Have race rods been made for any kite other than the Rev 1.5 & the Rev Indoor???

[RevWizard]

Is there any more news on this? Have race rods been made for any kite other than the Rev 1.5 & the Rev Indoor???

There has been no mention yet about a REV II version.
Ben mentioned somewhere on this forum that a REV I version is NOT in the planning.

[antman]

i would like to see a rev 2 set that would be real nice.. a rev 2 for lighter winds