Sport Today

I need to buy a new spreader bar for my Visual Ed harness, and I'm
wondering if there is any advantage (or disadvantage) to buying a Reactor.
 Does anyone swear by them?  Hate them?  Do they make a difference?
Please tell!  Thanks.

writes:

Rick C.

Tips: keep an eye on the bolt holding the roller to the bar, they
sometimes work loose. Rarely, but it's a drag when it happens in the
middle of a race!

--
Dave Cheeseman,                    
Milton Keynes, United Kingdom       PGP Key available from websites

Drawbacks:
The post sticks out a bit further, making a crawl onto the board more
difficult. (just be careful)

If your harness lines are adjusted off-centre, you know really fast. (so fix em)

Sailing with no hands at speed is more difficult (the sail moves easier -
that's why you bought the Reactor!)

Recommendation: buy one.  Don't buy one for your wife and expect to get it
back from her in exchange for a narrower bar.  Buy your own now.  (Ling, I
told you I would implicate you in a post!)

Nortel is into communications networks.  They have no opinion on this matter.

I also think the Reactor Bar works great!  I've had mine for about
three or four years now, pretty much since it was available.

Two things to consider though.  Someone already mentioned that you
should be careful when climbing onto your board, because the thing
is metal and the front is a bit more pointy than the rounded hook
of a regular harness.  Likwise, you want to be careful if a gust
pulls you over on top of your sail.  I pushed my Reactor Bar through
one of my sails once, but it might have happened with a regular bar
too -- hard to tell.

Just be careful, and the Reactor is great.
--
Paul Rybarczyk

I chipped my tooth trying to tear a hunk off one and much prefer Power
Bars.

--
Jack Greenbaum -- Research Engineer, Ricoh California Research Center
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: I need to buy a new spreader bar for my Visual Ed harness, and I'm
: wondering if there is any advantage (or disadvantage) to buying a Reactor.
:  Does anyone swear by them?  Hate them?  Do they make a difference?
: Please tell!  Thanks.

I swear by 'em (#%!#%!)  Actually, the only downside is the pin and
bar that the roller is mounted on is slightly less strong than a
standard hook.  I dropped mine once, bending it a slight bit, and it
busted on me out in the channel.  Was very exciting sailing sans harness
on a overpowered 5.0 day with a piece of sharp metal sticking out (I
wanted to save it for the warranty).  I bought an extra, just in case.

Go buy one.

--

     Ed Scott                             ShrEdding SF Bay    

John
--

http://www-dial.jpl.nasa.gov/~john

I have used the Reactor  since they came out.  I noticed a difference in
just 15 minutes.  I was able to point better, easier to unhook, and just
simply smoother.  I do not know how they could make one better. I keep a
new spare on hand just in case it fails, or I leave one behind.
Jim Martin
Call of the Wind

The Only System That Calls
You When It's Windy...

http://www.windcall.com

1-805-658-6699

Hi there!
Ive used my Reactor bar for about four years and one of the best
things is that you can easily use it for waveriding,if the waves are
smooth enough.One other positive thing is that you have really good
control on your sail while your in the air.And one of the best: its
almost catapult proof(if you learn how to handle it).I would say,
buy it,learn it and just be swept away.
                          Enjoy life
                                 Jonas Strangert,Sweden

Darn!
I wrote a brilliant, humorous, insightful, convincing response to the
Reactor bar question a few months ago, but forgot to save it. I ain't got
the time to recreate it, so just accept the bottom line: USE A REACTOR BAR
if you actually DO anything while sailing. If you ever trim your sail for
more speed, maneuver in the slightest, even just change directions --
power steering beats brute force any day, every day, all day. Only if you
sail tie-on teak booms on a plastic mast on a 13 foot 50-pound board in
subplaning conditions on wet mirrors is there any excuse to use the
archaic steel or aluminum grapple hooks we started on in the late 70s.
Naaah, even on that setup a Reactor bar makes life easier: would you drive
a dump truck with the power steering belt disconnected? If you sail only
in perfectly straight lines, in perfectly steady wind, and have your
harness lines set in the wrong position on the mast would a HOOK be
acceptable.
imho.
Mike \m/
Never Leave Wind To Find Wind

John --
Sounds like your straps pass BEHIND your Reactor bar. Put 'em through the
bar from behind, so the strap runs across the FRONT of the bar. Greatly
reduces wear and the possibility of bending the bar if you're an insane
giant.
Mike \m/
Never Leave Wind To Find Wind