The next big advancement in bars

[rtz]

Whether the bar is made of wood, metal, plastic, or composite; running the line through the middle of it is always an issue. Either drilling a hole through the material or inserting a fitting.

How about a fitting that routes the line to the outside of the bar? Then the bar could remain solid or undrilled. I don't think having a bump on one side of the bar and the line being either on the top or bottom side of the bar would be an issue?

A short length of schedule 40 PVC is stout. Schedule 80 is really stout stuff.

Some PVC elbows for the bar ends??

This site is real interesting: https://flexpvc.com/

I had to build up a PVC buggy because I knew it could be done. Thought about even upsizing all the hardware big enough that strength wouldn't be an issue and use PVC bolts!(they do make them). Could make, have made, or mold PVC wheels even. I'm sure a "seat" made out of PVC material could be fashioned up if I was totally mental about it.



And if anyone decides to build one to ride; just go ahead and build the whole thing out of schedule 80. I broke and repaired/fixed/changed mine about 5 times. And don't bother with that Y fitting for the twin downtube. And don't ride it in cold weather.

Built it for the novelty. The ride is fun because it's springy and bouncy. Rides really smooth and you can feel the contour of the ground. Also thought about using these for tandem buggy use.

If anyone has questions about PVC such as about the myriad types(colors) of solvents and the "cleaner" and the "primer" and cutting PVC, etc, I've spent some time playing with the stuff.

But the main question is about that little fitting to route the line beside the bar instead of through it.

[Craz Z]

This was actually done many many many years ago. with the center lines to the outside of the bar. Although the bar takes some stress most of it is on the outter ends with composites and the quality of bars these days along with the centerline safety i think it would be going backwards in terms of streamlining and simplifing the bar. I've seen over the years bars break have no idea how and its pretty rare as all of your weight is on the centerlines not the steering lines.

[or6]

I'm afraid you're trying to solve a nonexistent problem.

Your buggy looks col, good on ya for building it!

[dragnfly]

You mean like this one from Cabrinha in 2007?
Omega HD

[sflinux]

Or you can just use a pulleybar.
Early kite bars had the depowerloopline go on the outside of the bar. I believe most people prefer the "feel" of a line going through the bar as it is less obtrusive. Some Peter Lynn flyers did not have the depowerloopline attached to the bar at all, called the Free Bar. Hard to find a bar without a hole in it these days, they work better for pulleybars. Lots of options out there, use the one that suits your own style.
IMO the advancement in bars has been the quick release system, as the early ones failed to release under load. We just had a drowning due to bar customized with a shackle system. A good QR system should never deploy accidentally, and should always deploy when needed.

[rtz]

Interesting about that Cab bar. Never knew about it and didn't know the external line had been done commercially.

[trickcoach]

the next BIG advancement in Bars = WIFI !!!

[effisk]

Last summer I have seen a prototype bar with a button where you would place your thumb, right next to the middle hole. Click it and push the bar: it shortens the back lines. Click it and pull the bar: it lengthens the back lines. There's some clever engineering behind it. You can click with one hand on the bar, no need to reach the bar end, no need to rotate a lever. It's not commercialised yet. The name is ABS Kitesurfing. facebook.com/ABSkitesurfing/

[stefarius]

the next BIG advancement in Bars = WIFI !!!

Smart bar

[Regis-de-giens]

Interesting about that Cab bar. Never knew about it and didn't know the external line had been done commercially.

I have an old concept'air bar (classic smart) which has no holes in the middle but a similar half-pipe in the middle to route the depower rope like cabrinha 2007 bar; It works but I prefer the standard center hole system ; Main draw back is that the bar is not balanced in Z rotation ; so if the half-pipe is "under" the bar, when you let the bar go without hands on it it turns 180 degree to put the half-pipe upward. maybe it could be a good option if you revert it.
If anyone is interested I can sell it for cheap, no use anymore.