New advanced Rev tutorial video...

[John Barresi]

I agree with you last statement 100%... Kite choice and technique outweigh handle length, IMHO.

Just to share, I've been flying on the 13" handles so long... When I use the Blast handles, I'm actually bothered by the added thickness of the carbon wrapping, and the slightly more open bend in the handle... But again, that's primarily because I am so attuned and tied into the 13" non-carbon handles.

[nckiter]

John,

I guess I should add that initially I also flew on the 13" SUL handles until I inadvertently left them on the flying field one evening in the dark. When I replaced them, my "local" shop only had the blast handles and since I did have a Blast I got them.

I fly with a very loose / relaxed grip on the handles,my hands seldom completely close around the grips. Most of the time the top lines are resting on top of my index fingers with my ring and pinkie fingers lightly against the grips, tapping and adjusting the brakes as required. Oh, and I have fairly large hands, so thickness of the handle has not been an issue.

Really, I think it boils down to flyer preference and what the individual feels comfortable working with.

Looking forward to seeing whatever you put together on tutorial videos. I also vote for split screens that show the kite and the hands together.

Hope we can run into each other someday on a flying field! Keep up the good work, and I will be sending in a subscription soon.

[REVflyer]

Quad handle selection is like choosing a putter in golf,

you don't need the latest technology, whatever knocks it into the hole is perfectly sufficient.

Handle length is pretty closely related to local conditions. I can't remember the last time I use handles less than 15 inches across the gap. But if we get 5 mph breeze (that's steady!) the schools will be closed for a week due to the storm!

If you fly in no wind, you certainly need specialized equipment and techniques, but the cheapest, easiest fix is to add length to the bottoms on your handles. 17 inch gaps in no wind is about as effortless as is possible without additional kites or parts.

Almost anyone can fly a routine for a few minutes in demanding conditions, but try to put on a show for a few hours and you'll quickly see the advantages of longer throw handles, particularly if you perform in tough locations. We do a gig at a winery in the fall, it might as well be a telephone booth on fire! It's side-hill lie, up against huge trees, with the folks walking thru our area constantly. They don't cut the grass either, it's not even smoothly angled downhill!

Tricks come easier on long throws, but technique is the key and it's vastly more difficult to grasp that proper technique if the handles are short. I give lessons and folks are flickin' the kite around during the first hour. Without big handle movements no wind flying is just a throw and a glide, not smooth and controllable at all!

My grip is a very light touch with index finger and thumb almost exclusively. Held very high on the handles,... try this:

"how fast can you flick your fingers, as opposed to a wrist rotation of equal motion?"

You'll find those little finger-flicks are all that's necessary for effective flight, if you have the proper kite and line lengths.

Everybody looks good in steady 8 mph off of the ocean. Show me what you've got in that blazin' phone booth!

most folks that fly one of my kites comment on how much easier it is than their own,... that's because I've tuned it for no stinkin' wind. I prefer the dead calm of early mornings, actually cheering at competitions when folks ask for a wind reading.

Welcome to my world! At least six months out of the year it's SULs & Indoor kites in the DC Metro area or you are watching from the sidelines.

Do you need long throws? I guess not. Will you appreciate them?, I'm bettin' lunch you do!!!

[ant man]

John,

I guess I should add that initially I also flew on the 13" SUL handles until I inadvertently left them on the flying field one evening in the dark. When I replaced them, my "local" shop only had the blast handles and since I did have a Blast I got them.

I fly with a very loose / relaxed grip on the handles,my hands seldom completely close around the grips. Most of the time the top lines are resting on top of my index fingers with my ring and pinkie fingers lightly against the grips, tapping and adjusting the brakes as required. Oh, and I have fairly large hands, so thickness of the handle has not been an issue.

Really, I think it boils down to flyer preference and what the individual feels comfortable working with.

Looking forward to seeing whatever you put together on tutorial videos. I also vote for split screens that show the kite and the hands together.

Hope we can run into each other someday on a flying field! Keep up the good work, and I will be sending in a subscription soon.

the blast handles are the same size 13 inches only the blast handles have bigger grips and carbon wrap they wotk on any rev kite but the 1.5 handles i like better

[Jim Foster]

Only thing I can say is THANKS I will try to alter one of my existing sets for the longer throw and see how I get on with them.

That is supposed to read as a big thanks in case it looks wrong in the post.

Regards,

Chris.

Baloo

My wife and I both fly Revs. We started with EXPs which came with 11" handles. Three years in Long Beach Washington we bought a set of 13" handles. Liked them so well that I modified the old 11" sets. Very simple. 1/4 inch rod from the hardware store fits perfectly into the stainless tube. I forced them in as far as I could, drilled an 1/8" hole through where the "hog ring" was removed and used a 1/8" pop rivet. I then cut the rod 2 1/4" longer than the stainless and drilled a hole about 1/4" from the end for the lower pig tail. I then cut a hole in the end of the vinyl cap and slid it over the new rod to it's original position on the stainless, covering the pop rivet. Looks good and works very well.

Go fly, Jim

[Baloo]

Thanks for the info Jim.

[John Barresi]

the blast handles are the same size 13 inches only the blast handles have bigger grips and carbon wrap they wotk on any rev kite but the 1.5 handles i like better

Aha, missed this earlier... I believe that the Blast handles are 13" handles, but have a slightly more open bend to them, essentially making them a hair longer.

Reason this comes to mind, I LOVE the look of carbon wrapped handles, but wasn't comfortable with the different bend.

[ant man]

john after reading your post i went and checked both my 1.5 13 and blast 13 the curve on the blast is slighter steeper i never noticed before

heres a shot of all my handles see what you think bens handles also have the same curve as my 1.5 handles