Hello everybody! (first post)

[Mic]

Just want to say hello everybody on this forum.

My name is Michele and i'm from Italy.

I started flying with a Rev EXP since last summer and right now i know almost all the basic manuvers.

Now i've some extra money to spend and i'm thinking buying a rev 1.5 SMLE or a SUL.

I was thinking of a SUL, because i've no much time to fly (cause of my job) and when i finish to work during the week (about 6.30 pm) the wind is very very low, almost non existant.

I'm very temptend by the 1.5 SMLE, because i read on many places (and on this forum) that is more precise than the EXP, but i can't buy both the SMLE and the SUL.

Another question.

Actually i've just one set of lines for my EXP, the standard one that come with the kite, but i want to buy another backup set, just for safety. Wich one i have to buy?

How much line's sets should i have to fly in diffrent wind condition?

I use the standard EXP handles, but i saw a lot of Rev fliyers that uses a longer kind of handles, which is the main difference. Should i remove or modify the bridles to use that kind of handles?

I apologize if i was a bit confusing but this is not my main language.

Hello again to everybody,

Mic

[John Barresi]

Language is fine, no worries... I'm glad you're here.

For a 1.5 sized kite, I never need more than 80# and 150# lines... I carry more than two sets, simply because I like having both long (100 ft) and short sets (75 foot).

[nckiter]

With the 1.5 SUL, I frequently use 50# / 25' in light winds 1-3 mph.

[J.J.]

Ciao Michele,

do you visit the Cervia kitefestival next week?

If you do, you can try everything you like to fly, the SUL, the SUL with the

standard framing, or every rev inbetween, several sizes of linelenghts and several types of handles.

We fly with lines from 10 meters (for fun flying) thru 37 meters (for team flying)

Do not hesitate to contact us on the beach. You will find us in the main arena and look for the

"Team4Fun" flag. And if you see 5 quadline flyers with a big smile on their faces, that's Team4Fun

See you

[monkey]

Welcome to the forum, and don't worry about language, I can guarantee you that your english is way better than my italian.

I tend to use either 80 or 100 foot line sets, usually around 90 pounds. It works for nearly any wind.

As for the kite, if the wind in your area is usually that low, I'd say go for the SUL one

[Penny Lingenfelter]

Welcome to the forum.

I'm in agreeance with Monkey- 80 lb or 90 lb works in most conditions. If your lines sing, bring it down.

My daughter and grandkids are in La Maddelana, Italy.

Do you actually have light winds there or is it just about twilight time that it drops down and then picks up again?

You can get a SLE and swap out your exp spars on it in light wind. No adjustments necessary as a general rule.

BB

Penny

[Mic]

Thank you everybody for your replies, i just came back from beach but i can't fly because there was a too strong wind. In this moment i think i should purchase a vented Rev

For J.J.: I hope to be in cervia next week. If i will i'll find you and your team to say hello to everybody.

Thank you again,

Mic

[johnnmitchell]

Thank you everybody for your replies, i just came back from beach but i can't fly because there was a too strong wind. In this moment i think i should purchase a vented Rev

For J.J.: I hope to be in cervia next week. If i will i'll find you and your team to say hello to everybody.

Thank you again,

Mic

Hope to see you in Cervia.

On Thursday and Friday I will be on the main field only flying my single line Geisha Train.

On Saturday and Sunday we will have a competition with at least 7 multiline competitors from around Europe including the European Champion from many years, but not last year.

I am one of the judges.

[Mic]

Hope to see you in Cervia.

On Thursday and Friday I will be on the main field only flying my single line Geisha Train.

On Saturday and Sunday we will have a competition with at least 7 multiline competitors from around Europe including the European Champion from many years, but not last year.

I am one of the judges.

I just reserved my hotel in Cervia, i'll be there from saturday through monday, i'm sorry i can't view your geisha train

Anyway i can't wait to be there... this is my first kite festival!

Is it possible to buy some Revs during the festival?

See you in Cervia.

Mic

[sandman]

Welcome to the forum.

I'm in agreeance with Monkey- 80 lb or 90 lb works in most conditions. If your lines sing, bring it down.

BB

Penny

Uh oh... Broke this rule many times already. I use 90 lb line and it often sings.

[John Barresi]

I love it when my lines sing... As long as they're not belting out ACDC or high acapella.

[Mic]

Please forgive me for the off-topic but i have to say this is a GREAT forum and i want to thank all the members that regulary write something here.

I learned a lot rading this pages and, because i'm lucky to live close to a big and winted beach, i can practice evrything i learn, everyday.

By the way, i flown my SUL in a 13 mph wind, it was a bit unstable, especially in reverse, but contrallable anyway.

What's the max wind speed you flown your SUL in?

There somenthing i can do to make this kite more snappy?

Ciao ciao,

Mic

[Jason Paul]

I would think an SUL in 13 mph wind would be pretty snappy.

If you want to make your 1.5 more snappy:

1) Fly on shorter lines (25' - 50').

2) Use longer handles.

3) For a standard, replace the SLE with something lighter, like a P300 or equivalent.

Those will make a difference in both snappiness and low wind performance.

I've also added quad sticks to mine. It helps keep the frame a little more tight with the P300 LE.

Jason

[Mic]

I would think an SUL in 13 mph wind would be pretty snappy.

Thank you for your answer.

It is very fast on 13 mph wind but it doesn't stop like my standard 1.5 and doesn't flic flac like him

If you want to make your 1.5 more snappy:

1) Fly on shorter lines (25' - 50').

2) Use longer handles.

I use very long home-made handles but maybe i've to make a short line set.

You mean

3) For a standard, replace the SLE with something lighter, like a P300 or equivalent.

You mean for the standard 1.5, not for the SUL... am i right?

Can i replace the LE on the SUL with something stiffer?

Those will make a difference in both snappiness and low wind performance.

I've also added quad sticks to mine. It helps keep the frame a little more tight with the P300 LE.

Jason

What do you use to connect the stick to the vertical spar?

Actually i use a "T" conflex rubber connector but i've to use the same diameter for both sticks and spars because this kind of connector has the same hole size on both sides.

Michele

[Jason Paul]

I would think that the overall lower mass of the SUL would make it more difficult to flic-flac, especially in higher winds.

When I say, "For the standard, replace the SLE", yes I'm talking about the standard 1.5. You can replace the SUL spars with stiffer spars.

For the quad sticks, I used a standoff connector from a dual-line kite. However, last time flying one of them broke, so I'll have to get another one soon. It's been over a year though.

Jason

[Mic]

How do you fix the stand off onto the vertical spar?

Some week ago i bought 3 3PT skyshark spars for my 1.5 SLE thinking was the same think of the P300 spars but, as soon as they arrived at my house, i realized that wasn't the same think because they have a different diametr for each end and i can't ferrule 3 of them together!

Now my question is... what can i do whit this kind of spars?

Can i use as vertical spars or somenthing else? Any tips?

Bye,

Mic

[Jason Paul]

The 3PTs are tapered, so you can't use three of them in the LE. You could try to use two on the ends and a regular P-Series in the middle. However, you might break a 3PT as the outers of the LE.

You can use two 3PTs as downspars (verticals) for lighter wind flying.

You can see some photos of my quad sticks here:

http://community.webshots.com/album/451923825aNoKWm

I just had to put a little scotch tape on the ends of the quad sticks to get them to fit tightly in the standoff connectors.

Jason

[Mic]

Ok, now i finally built up my quad sticks and they works very well

Is it normal that the center of the sail doesn't remain well stretched when quad stick's lines are tensioned?

I'm having a lot of troubles, also, in finding out some rubber washer like the ones used in between the bungies and the sail.

What can i use instead for that pourpose?

Bye bye,

Mic

[Jason Paul]

Yes, that's pretty normal with the quad sticks. When everything is tightened up, they put a slight bow in the LE - this in turn puts a bit of slack in the sail at the center. Just don't tighten the quad sticks up too much.

As for the rubber washers, there are several options:

Some sort of auto hose.

Surgical tubing possibly.

Tie knots in the bungee instead of using washers.

I'm sure there are other simple solutions.

Or, if you want to take it a little further you can do away with the knots altogether. Here's a link to some basic instructions for it:

http://www.thedurants.net/kites/quad/no.knots/index.html

Hope that helps.

Jason

[Mic]

Thank you Jason, i've to try your very nice no-knot system!

I've to buy some special end caps for that?

Bye,

Mic

[Jason Paul]

Hey Nic - not my system, so I can't take credit. Those instructions are by GWTW forum member woodpeckr Rich (?) Durant.

Anyway, I just used regular endcaps, but a hole has to be drilled. It can get crowded with the knot inside the endcap though, but it works on my Rev 2.

However, www.kitebuilder.com makes a cap specifically for this. I think they actually call it a woodpekr endcap.

Jason