How do you sort your lines out?

If you have a 4 line kite I've read that you bundle the 4 lines together and then do figure 8's around both handles. When I do this I end up spending a bit of time trying to sort it out the next time I'm out.

I've done two lines on each handle and found it to be much better. But still not perfect.

I've seen no talk about tangles so I'm assuming I have "line management issues" and need to see a specialist!

Whats the best way to do things?

EDIT: And YES that is a birds nest I am currently deconstructing! Feels like fly fishing but with 4 rods!!!!

The secret to winding the lines around the handles is to have them striaght and untwisted when you start to wind them on to the handles. Do this in a figure of 8 motion and try not to twist the lines at all form the figure of 8 around your hand and don't let go until you have wond the lines up completely. Also make it as neat as possible as well. When it comes under doing them repeat this process in reverse, you have to unwind them and don't let the lines fall of the handles.

I also find the method a bit of a hit and miss but i have seen heaps of people do it well and have no problems at all i think practice is the key. I tend to use and para pack method and find this is a quicker set up i.e. handles staked and kite is flying in under a minute. Though it takes you longer to pack away at the end. This method is a little trickier and also take a bit of practice but i love how fast the set up is. and is best describe on this website http://www.kitesbuggiesandboards.com/?p=2866

And don't try to get to down hearted with this we all have had many hours in front of the TV untangling lines my wife and i spent the best part of 2 evening untangling a Peter Lynn Peel with the cross over bridle.

The big rule is hold the handle in one hand ( right hand )and always use the other to do the figure 8 above and below holding fingers(right hand), the trick is when you unwind use the same hand ( right hand ) to hold the handles.

In your case ,you are holding the handles with the left hand and winding with the right
I should have told you that, sorry

Most important bit is to unwind them the same way that you wound them up. Which ever way you prefer to do it. I figure 8 my bars and simply wrap around the handles. Though I do make sure the leaders and any tackle is tidy and out of the way so it does not catch when winding or unwinding.

Soon get the hang. Untangling is a right of passage for kiting and you soon find a hand in it. Worse of it you keep a spare and take a tangle home to undo with a beer while watching a game. Kids are good for earning a gold coin to do the untangling too!

Haha. Thanks for all the replies! Helpful. You could have told me all of this before I went out but I still would have ended up with the mess I'm untangling now cause I was just so excited and hasty!

Also, to save posting a new topic: If you build a quiver of say 3 fixed bridal kites. Would you generally buy each kite complete with lines and handles OR would you get 1 or two sets of lines and handles and then just buy the foils?

Thanks again.

If you bought all the same kite then you could use 1 set of lines for all kites. If you mix and match this might not work as well as different kites will have different flying characteristics and you may not be able to tune the kite on the same handles and lines as another kite. The best kites to fly on 1 set of lines and handles are the kites like flexifoil make with the long brakeline leader on the kite, as you can tune the kite using these knots and just have to remember which knots on which kites.

This system has the advantage of cost saving but can be take time to set up especially if you have a 3.5m on the lines and its a 6m wind in this case guys will take all kites off the lines and just wind up the lines when you pack up. I generally buy the kite with lines anyway as its often cheaper to buy the kite and lines than buy the kite now and the lines later when you need a new set. If you do use lines on all your kites its easier to change kites especially if the wind picks up, as you are not trying to untie and re-tie larkshead in the wind.

Personally I would have them complete. Setups is a little different between kites and once you get the hang of a routine there is less tangle before setting up. Especially when it is really windy.

However it can be good to have two sets on some kites ie. longer for dunes and shorter for flat beach or racing.

in the first place i diddnt have enough lines to go round the kites and had tangle problems untill i started figour eighting the lines round the handles as said above...
then as i aquired more lines and handles i never had to take the lines off the kites...this was an unbaleevable timesaver and i now never remove the lines unless im in my back yard and am changing stuff around.
each kite has its own set of lines and handles...cheapest way i found to get more handles was by sawing old mountain bike riser bars in half .
good luck.