Checking line length - what's in a few mm?

This whole thing may entirely not matter, and I suspect that's the case, but I'll ask away! I'm checking line lengths, and inconveniently my lines either end in loops or knots with no easy way to attach all 4 to a single point (unlike, for example, Ozone lines). I'm using small loops to attach to each line, then anchoring those.

For the knot ends I'm just attaching the loops like I would a kite.

For the loop ends (steering lines for me), I can either leave the loop fully open, or use the loop like I would on a kite, which shortens the lines a little.

This doesn't matter when checking steering line to steering line, or front line to front line. But how about checking steering line length vs front line length?

(I realise this is a small matter of adjusting the depower trim on the fly, but how do you do it? Does it even matter?)

Well that's a very handy device Christian.

With north/duotone click bars you have the option of changing the pigtails between 20cm, 25cm, 30cm and 35cm. At the moment my bar seems to want about 27.5cm pigtails for the centre lines, any other option here? Or just close enough is good enough kind of thing?

Well I learned there's a workaround built in: this location for all 4 lines. But it assumes the remainder is unadjusted. fiddly if it needs adjusting.

This means I need to do the RED text in my first post. Use the loop as usual, which shortens it a little, but that has to be done for equal line lengths.

Cignify, this may help you: I saw a video where they put their full weight on individual lines to stretch them out to get equal line length. Perhaps you can do this, or just tie a small knot somewhere to shorten the line.

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SirLancelot said..
Cool thanks folks. If it does matter, i'm still unclear if the goal is:

1. Lines all the same length, with loops extended
2. Lines the same length with loops used as larks head (thus slightly shorter)

(this is compared to the two front lines ending in a knot.)

In this case, it doesn't matter how you connect them!
All modern bars have the same ending (whether it is loops or knots) on both centre lines and the opposite ending on the steering lines.
As long as both centre lines are exactly the same length, both steering lines are the same length, the 40 plus cm of bar throw will make the few millimetres of difference between the front and back lines irrelevant.
Just remember to check them when your trim is fully sheated out (centre lines as long as they can go and all 4 lines equal length)

Hi SirLancelot

What's in a few mm? That was the original question and as per usual it got a little side tracked, but that can be a good thing.
Answer is .... nothing, don't worry about a few millimetres. Remember this: Your kite may not be absolutely perfectly symmetrical. You have usually three attachment points on your steering lines, all varying by more than a few millimetres. ( so obviously the front lines and steering lines do not have to be equal length exactly) . The kite is almost never held stationary and you probably have not got an inbuilt spirit level in your bar or hand so you are probably holding the bar slightly skew anyway.
Now a few centimetres or inches that's a different story.

Thanks for all the info folks, I fixed the lines, very happy with them now. (made some lines myself since buying them can be a rort!)

Here's a pic for those with Cabrinha lines or similar, and also a link to a video that's probably the best I found to explain how to test line length.

-An2lIT3IM63TBYHA&index=2&t=0s

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Fly on da wall said..

Fly on da wall said..
I've used a big screw driver and just put it through the loops that the pig tails are attached too when checking my line's solo. Work's fine.

I said.. As above
Sorry got to cut this short and get back to work. Ha

Bye bye

Yeah takes a little while for the message to get through but seems boobtube fixed it

so it was really rather a rhetorical question in the end sir