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This rod was in a friends kite when we caught a gust. I have old RRs, he had new RRs. His broke and mine did not..doubt it means a thing ...but happened.

Today was hot, 118 F with 5-7 mph gusts. Phone survived 10 minutes of recording. First solo session with this Rev. This whole week will be 115F. Wear wet clothing if you fly in these conditions. Kite: 2002 Rev 1.5M standard vent (Aqua, Raspberry, Blue, Mylar, Black, White) http://bit.ly/28Iw5ae

I've never heard of a " spine " either. Seems to me if the rods were meant to go in a certain orientation or direction, they'd be labeled as such.

Got to believe something is wrapped or tangled. Something not easily seen at a glance. Common is a line pigtail getting wrapped - either around itself or twisted in the bridle somehow and knotted funny. That or a really off bridle! Never had one though, myself! And I've flown a bunch of Revs! Pigtails can get wrapped as you put things away. Anyway - it's a place to start. Just make sure everything is coming off the sail/frame "cleanly". Caps are not oriented to have the bridle under one bunjii and over the other. Symmetrical.

I'm starting to think, the next kite I sell I'll make sure I send those rods with the kite instead of even trying to fly them at all.

Flying to Jerry Lee Lewis is probably what initiated most of the walks. Insane music to try flying a kite to, so I guess I'll have to try it. Crash and burn . . . . great balls of fire!

Below is my to-do list for things to practice during windy days (expect it to last for several occasions when ever the opportunities actually do show up): * The 2-line foil. Bought a department stores own brand (Biltema) foil kite (dimensions: 183cm by 71cm)) several years ago, partly because I hadn't tried this type of kite. Unfortunately that kite/me got a problem with foil folding. Therefore try out the suggested hints in a bit harder winds as kindly suggested in the Home > Site Topics > New Member Introductions > Newbie topic: http://kitelife.com/forum/topic/7102-newbie/ * The Fazer XL (marketed as a maneuverable speed and power kite). Do slack line tricks by aggressively running and flinging arms forward or by performing them at the edge of the wind window. Be prepared to pull seriously at the exit of the trick. No this kite doesn't magically provide any slack in heavy wind, but I'm absolutely convinced that it can take more wind than I can and therefore I'm free to attempt to do tricks also in heavier winds. Perfect the square turns, do push turns and at the exit pull both lines. If there is a trailing wing side due to oversteer, pull that to get it back in action. Really figure out what happens when turning this kite. Try returning the bridles upper outhaul to its original position now that I have got used to the kite to some degree. I keep the upper outhaul a bit shorter than original setting to reduce pull, but haven't experienced any (adverse/large?) effects on turning radius or (in lighter wind) stalling. At the end of the session try out the strength of the reinforced LE by tip stabbing the left wing. The lower leading edge has been reinforced by glueing a 1dm long carbon fibre rod in the inside of the 8mm tube just where the lower spreader connects. Also it is advisable here to soft cover the wing nocks. Practice the hard wind parking/start where the kite is on its belly with the lines going up and around the trailing edge and then slowly rolled in launch position (is there a term for this launch?). This is not really practice in the success or fail manner, since it is hard to fail with this launch. However there are few things that with practice can't be made to look fluent/easy/efficient. * The Atrax (small speed kite). The pure speed kite was another kite type that I was curious about. Although the Fazer XL is large and robust and will not break from high wind alone, as speed kite it is not that extreme. Got any warning from the kite store's text about the Atrax: "Schnell und giftig im Flugverhalten sucht er einen erfahrenen Piloten, der ihn bändigen kann"? No, the words "fast", "poisonous", "experienced" and "tame-it" did not seem to be words suggesting that perhaps one should start out with another speed kite model (In the manufacturers site you can now also read "the Atrax is still difficult to launch and extremely touchy. It is only recommended for experts". I really thought this kite must be calling my name. Besides this is a kite by Christoph Fokken and I like other kites he designed. My main issue here with this kite is to get the flights to last (and to get some time for training sessions here at all). It kind of falls out of the sky - probably should try out gentler inputs and keep out of the wind window edge? Also going to a field where I could use longer lines than 25m could perhaps help? Yes feeling like a beginner again. Even more so after seeing (two Atrax kites being flown at the same time by one person): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMUZZBsk7eo In a way I probably deserve it, previously I've never thought about speed kites or at most thought it must be for those that are easily amused and can't do any tricks (pardon, to anyone offended). In a way I suppose it is somewhat similar to when informing a non-kiter what my hobby is - they are likely to silently think that I'm easily amused to and should use the time in a wiser way. The start of this kite is another issue. The way I have done it is to bring a sharpened stick that is driven into the ground so that it is slightly angled towards me. At the top of the stick there is a strip of gaffer tape wound so that most of the sticky side is pointing outwards (when finished for the day - rewind with the sticky side in). Now attach the back side of the spine close to the nose to the tape and mount the kite somewhat tilted towards you. When you start the kite the pull the lines will release it from the tape. I guess this (the sticky "start stick" i.e.) shouldn't be needed - this is something to learn to do without by using the method where you let the kite fall/tip towards you and pull in just the right moment.

I think I broke them both on a full sail 1.5 in about 10-15 mph winds. (I was using at least one GT 3-wrap rod). I was extra surprised that, both times, it was a vertical shaft that broke. I haven't been flying that long -- but I've definitely flown the older 3-wrap rods in much stronger winds without damage.

Goes without saying, it isn't a good idea to mix late model GT rods with the other stiffer rods, otherwise one wing can / will distort more than the other. Sent from my iPhone using KiteLife mobile app