During an hour-long soaring flight yesterday I experienced some (but not a lot) of muscular stress in my wrists and forearms. This was strictly while I was thermaling (which was pretty much all the time).
I was completely relaxed during the flight---no "death grip" on the bar or anything like that, so that wasn't the source. (I often let go of the bar and let my arms hang for a few seconds when I could get away with it.) On straight glide, I felt fine---no stress or tension.
I spent a lot of time analyzing what I was doing, trying to figure it out. I'm not weak, so I know that's not the problem. Tex said I might be "doing push-ups" on the bar. That's possible, because I was flying very slowly, just below stall, with bar fairly far out.
The stress seemed mostly in my wrists, and it seemed like it was a result of trying to hold my body at an angle (e.g. weight-shifted angle) during slow circling, often trying to tighten up my circles (all without cross-controlling, which I'm good about avoiding). Then sometimes I'd have to hoss my feet/legs uphill to change turn directions (because I'd get tired of turning one way for 5 minutes and want to relieve the strain on my downhill arm/wrist).
Tex said "You've got to remember to let the harness take your weight---not your arms." Makes sense...and I thought I was doing that, but maybe not enough?
Anyone have any thoughts or comments? Similar experiences? I'm also wondering if my hang height (too low/too high) could have anything to do with this? (I think I'm currently at the usual "one fist" between chute and basetube.)
Scott
PS - I was also thermaling my Eagle with the tail fin. It was suggested flying it without the fin might loosen the turning a bit, make it easier. I plan to aerotow it in calm air next time without the fin, because I don't think I need it (and I don't like the way it looks!).
Possible cause of arm/wrist stress?
Moderator: CHGPA BOD
Weak Wrists
Hmmmm.... weak, limp wrists. Never had that problem myself (not that there's anything wrong with that).
I'd suggest some wrist and forearm exercises. I'm sure you'll come up with something.
Matthew
I'd suggest some wrist and forearm exercises. I'm sure you'll come up with something.
Matthew
Possible cause of arm/wrist stress?
When I had an Eagle, I thought the fin was really cool looking! Only
stopped using it for towing 'cause I needed to learn how to deal with
yaw for the next glider. Never used it in the mountains. Does your
Eagle have the Speedstream bar? (That really cool cranked and
airfoil-shaped piece of sculpture.) If so, I found that I was trying
to keep my hands "flat" - oriented to the flat cross-section of the
bar, which cocked my wrists and caused stress especially in strong
conditions. I found that if I straightened my wrists it felt better,
even though I didn't have as firm a grip as when the wide part of the
bar was flat against my palm. - Hugh
On 14 Aug 2005, at 10:51, Scott wrote:
>
> During an hour-long soaring flight yesterday I experienced some
> (but not a lot) of muscular stress in my wrists and forearms. This
> was strictly while I was thermaling (which was pretty much all the
> time).
>
> I was completely relaxed during the flight---no "death grip" on the
> bar or anything like that, so that wasn't the source. (I often let
> go of the bar and let my arms hang for a few seconds when I could
> get away with it.) On straight glide, I felt fine---no stress or
> tension.
>
> I spent a lot of time analyzing what I was doing, trying to figure
> it out. I'm not weak, so I know that's not the problem. Tex said I
> might be "doing push-ups" on the bar. That's possible, because I
> was flying very slowly, just below stall, with bar fairly far out.
>
> The stress seemed mostly in my wrists, and it seemed like it was a
> result of trying to hold my body at an angle (e.g. weight-shifted
> angle) during slow circling, often trying to tighten up my circles
> (all without cross-controlling, which I'm good about avoiding).
> Then sometimes I'd have to hoss my feet/legs uphill to change turn
> directions (because I'd get tired of turning one way for 5 minutes
> and want to relieve the strain on my downhill arm/wrist).
>
> Tex said "You've got to remember to let the harness take your
> weight---not your arms." Makes sense...and I thought I was doing
> that, but maybe not enough?
>
> Anyone have any thoughts or comments? Similar experiences? I'm also
> wondering if my hang height (too low/too high) could have anything
> to do with this? (I think I'm currently at the usual "one fist"
> between chute and basetube.)
>
> Scott
>
> PS - I was also thermaling my Eagle with the tail fin. It was
> suggested flying it without the fin might loosen the turning a bit,
> make it easier. I plan to aerotow it in calm air next time without
> the fin, because I don't think I need it (and I don't like the way
> it looks!).
>
stopped using it for towing 'cause I needed to learn how to deal with
yaw for the next glider. Never used it in the mountains. Does your
Eagle have the Speedstream bar? (That really cool cranked and
airfoil-shaped piece of sculpture.) If so, I found that I was trying
to keep my hands "flat" - oriented to the flat cross-section of the
bar, which cocked my wrists and caused stress especially in strong
conditions. I found that if I straightened my wrists it felt better,
even though I didn't have as firm a grip as when the wide part of the
bar was flat against my palm. - Hugh
On 14 Aug 2005, at 10:51, Scott wrote:
>
> During an hour-long soaring flight yesterday I experienced some
> (but not a lot) of muscular stress in my wrists and forearms. This
> was strictly while I was thermaling (which was pretty much all the
> time).
>
> I was completely relaxed during the flight---no "death grip" on the
> bar or anything like that, so that wasn't the source. (I often let
> go of the bar and let my arms hang for a few seconds when I could
> get away with it.) On straight glide, I felt fine---no stress or
> tension.
>
> I spent a lot of time analyzing what I was doing, trying to figure
> it out. I'm not weak, so I know that's not the problem. Tex said I
> might be "doing push-ups" on the bar. That's possible, because I
> was flying very slowly, just below stall, with bar fairly far out.
>
> The stress seemed mostly in my wrists, and it seemed like it was a
> result of trying to hold my body at an angle (e.g. weight-shifted
> angle) during slow circling, often trying to tighten up my circles
> (all without cross-controlling, which I'm good about avoiding).
> Then sometimes I'd have to hoss my feet/legs uphill to change turn
> directions (because I'd get tired of turning one way for 5 minutes
> and want to relieve the strain on my downhill arm/wrist).
>
> Tex said "You've got to remember to let the harness take your
> weight---not your arms." Makes sense...and I thought I was doing
> that, but maybe not enough?
>
> Anyone have any thoughts or comments? Similar experiences? I'm also
> wondering if my hang height (too low/too high) could have anything
> to do with this? (I think I'm currently at the usual "one fist"
> between chute and basetube.)
>
> Scott
>
> PS - I was also thermaling my Eagle with the tail fin. It was
> suggested flying it without the fin might loosen the turning a bit,
> make it easier. I plan to aerotow it in calm air next time without
> the fin, because I don't think I need it (and I don't like the way
> it looks!).
>
LOL, yeah---I thought the fin was cool-looking at first...but now I've come to see it as a crutch, and it seems to me to degrade the graceful appearance of the hang glider (but each to their own. 
)
Nope, I just have the garden-variety round speedbar, so wrist angle isn't a problem, I don't think. I'll probably just have to fly more and keep figuring it out...
Scott
)Nope, I just have the garden-variety round speedbar, so wrist angle isn't a problem, I don't think. I'll probably just have to fly more and keep figuring it out...
Scott
-
Richard Hays
- Posts: 315
- Joined: Wed Feb 09, 2005 9:13 am
- Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Possible cause of arm/wrist stress?
Definately lose the fin. You'll be able to use the yaw to your advantage in
turns. However; my experience with my Eagle 180 was that it is not the
lightest handling wing in roll. The Falcon actually turns much easier ( as
one would expect due to the single surface ). Folks looking to move to an
Eagle should weigh out the loss of handling for the minimal amount of glide
increase over the Falcon. The Eagle climbs wonderfully though, doesn't it?
Rich
>From: mcelrah@verizon.net
>Reply-To: hg_forum@chgpa.org
>To: hg_forum@chgpa.org
>Subject: Re: Possible cause of arm/wrist stress?
>Date: Mon, 15 Aug 2005 05:34:28 -0400
>
>When I had an Eagle, I thought the fin was really cool looking! Only
>stopped using it for towing 'cause I needed to learn how to deal with
>yaw for the next glider. Never used it in the mountains. Does your
>Eagle have the Speedstream bar? (That really cool cranked and
>airfoil-shaped piece of sculpture.) If so, I found that I was trying
>to keep my hands "flat" - oriented to the flat cross-section of the
>bar, which cocked my wrists and caused stress especially in strong
>conditions. I found that if I straightened my wrists it felt better,
>even though I didn't have as firm a grip as when the wide part of the
>bar was flat against my palm. - Hugh
>
>On 14 Aug 2005, at 10:51, Scott wrote:
>
> >
> > During an hour-long soaring flight yesterday I experienced some
> > (but not a lot) of muscular stress in my wrists and forearms. This
> > was strictly while I was thermaling (which was pretty much all the
> > time).
> >
> > I was completely relaxed during the flight---no "death grip" on the
> > bar or anything like that, so that wasn't the source. (I often let
> > go of the bar and let my arms hang for a few seconds when I could
> > get away with it.) On straight glide, I felt fine---no stress or
> > tension.
> >
> > I spent a lot of time analyzing what I was doing, trying to figure
> > it out. I'm not weak, so I know that's not the problem. Tex said I
> > might be "doing push-ups" on the bar. That's possible, because I
> > was flying very slowly, just below stall, with bar fairly far out.
> >
> > The stress seemed mostly in my wrists, and it seemed like it was a
> > result of trying to hold my body at an angle (e.g. weight-shifted
> > angle) during slow circling, often trying to tighten up my circles
> > (all without cross-controlling, which I'm good about avoiding).
> > Then sometimes I'd have to hoss my feet/legs uphill to change turn
> > directions (because I'd get tired of turning one way for 5 minutes
> > and want to relieve the strain on my downhill arm/wrist).
> >
> > Tex said "You've got to remember to let the harness take your
> > weight---not your arms." Makes sense...and I thought I was doing
> > that, but maybe not enough?
> >
> > Anyone have any thoughts or comments? Similar experiences? I'm also
> > wondering if my hang height (too low/too high) could have anything
> > to do with this? (I think I'm currently at the usual "one fist"
> > between chute and basetube.)
> >
> > Scott
> >
> > PS - I was also thermaling my Eagle with the tail fin. It was
> > suggested flying it without the fin might loosen the turning a bit,
> > make it easier. I plan to aerotow it in calm air next time without
> > the fin, because I don't think I need it (and I don't like the way
> > it looks!).
> >
>
>
>
turns. However; my experience with my Eagle 180 was that it is not the
lightest handling wing in roll. The Falcon actually turns much easier ( as
one would expect due to the single surface ). Folks looking to move to an
Eagle should weigh out the loss of handling for the minimal amount of glide
increase over the Falcon. The Eagle climbs wonderfully though, doesn't it?
Rich
>From: mcelrah@verizon.net
>Reply-To: hg_forum@chgpa.org
>To: hg_forum@chgpa.org
>Subject: Re: Possible cause of arm/wrist stress?
>Date: Mon, 15 Aug 2005 05:34:28 -0400
>
>When I had an Eagle, I thought the fin was really cool looking! Only
>stopped using it for towing 'cause I needed to learn how to deal with
>yaw for the next glider. Never used it in the mountains. Does your
>Eagle have the Speedstream bar? (That really cool cranked and
>airfoil-shaped piece of sculpture.) If so, I found that I was trying
>to keep my hands "flat" - oriented to the flat cross-section of the
>bar, which cocked my wrists and caused stress especially in strong
>conditions. I found that if I straightened my wrists it felt better,
>even though I didn't have as firm a grip as when the wide part of the
>bar was flat against my palm. - Hugh
>
>On 14 Aug 2005, at 10:51, Scott wrote:
>
> >
> > During an hour-long soaring flight yesterday I experienced some
> > (but not a lot) of muscular stress in my wrists and forearms. This
> > was strictly while I was thermaling (which was pretty much all the
> > time).
> >
> > I was completely relaxed during the flight---no "death grip" on the
> > bar or anything like that, so that wasn't the source. (I often let
> > go of the bar and let my arms hang for a few seconds when I could
> > get away with it.) On straight glide, I felt fine---no stress or
> > tension.
> >
> > I spent a lot of time analyzing what I was doing, trying to figure
> > it out. I'm not weak, so I know that's not the problem. Tex said I
> > might be "doing push-ups" on the bar. That's possible, because I
> > was flying very slowly, just below stall, with bar fairly far out.
> >
> > The stress seemed mostly in my wrists, and it seemed like it was a
> > result of trying to hold my body at an angle (e.g. weight-shifted
> > angle) during slow circling, often trying to tighten up my circles
> > (all without cross-controlling, which I'm good about avoiding).
> > Then sometimes I'd have to hoss my feet/legs uphill to change turn
> > directions (because I'd get tired of turning one way for 5 minutes
> > and want to relieve the strain on my downhill arm/wrist).
> >
> > Tex said "You've got to remember to let the harness take your
> > weight---not your arms." Makes sense...and I thought I was doing
> > that, but maybe not enough?
> >
> > Anyone have any thoughts or comments? Similar experiences? I'm also
> > wondering if my hang height (too low/too high) could have anything
> > to do with this? (I think I'm currently at the usual "one fist"
> > between chute and basetube.)
> >
> > Scott
> >
> > PS - I was also thermaling my Eagle with the tail fin. It was
> > suggested flying it without the fin might loosen the turning a bit,
> > make it easier. I plan to aerotow it in calm air next time without
> > the fin, because I don't think I need it (and I don't like the way
> > it looks!).
> >
>
>
>