Thanks for the write up, I have some Kong gear and rate it very highly.

Rack or bobbin seems to be a generational thing. I go out with a mix of people and the rack devotees are all just a few years older than me and swear by them for a smooth ride and a much easier time on long pitches with a rope of 200' (and several kilos) hanging beneath you.

I was tempted to try a micro rack but this advantage is diminished if it's a short frame design (hence easier in change overs) and you cant spread the bars enough for a smoother ride.

I think your assessment bears that out, so i'll be sticking with my current setup for now.

The Rakong with stainless bars would be a total winner.

Thanks for the write up, I have some Kong gear and rate it very highly.

Rack or bobbin seems to be a generational thing. I go out with a mix of people and the rack devotees are all just a few years older than me and swear by them for a smooth ride and a much easier time on long pitches with a rope of 200' (and several kilos) hanging beneath you.

I was tempted to try a micro rack but this advantage is diminished if it's a short frame design (hence easier in change overs) and you cant spread the bars enough for a smoother ride.

I think your assessment bears that out, so i'll be sticking with my current setup for now.

The Rakong with stainless bars would be a total winner.

Stainless bars are not necessarily a good thing, heat dissipation on duralloys reduces the likelyhood of the rope contact (friction) area becoming hot enough to "glaze" the rope.

How about mild steel?

Er... would less friction on a descending device be a good idea? :confused:

Thanks for the write up, I have some Kong gear and rate it very highly.

Rack or bobbin seems to be a generational thing. I go out with a mix of people and the rack devotees are all just a few years older than me and swear by them for a smooth ride and a much easier time on long pitches with a rope of 200' (and several kilos) hanging beneath you.

I was tempted to try a micro rack but this advantage is diminished if it's a short frame design (hence easier in change overs) and you cant spread the bars enough for a smoother ride.

I think your assessment bears that out, so i'll be sticking with my current setup for now.

The Rakong with stainless bars would be a total winner.

Stainless bars are not necessarily a good thing, heat dissipation on duralloys reduces the likelyhood of the rope contact (friction) area becoming hot enough to "glaze" the rope.

Interesting point.

I reckon the overheating problem can be overcome by using stainless tube rather than solid bar.

My understanding is (and I may well be talking out of my nethers) that ally absorbs heat very well but isn't too great at dumping it - once you get ally hot it stays hot. Conversely whilst stainless isn't the best conductor of heat the greater surface area of stainless tube compared with solid ally bar means that it dumps heat fairly well.

Secondly there is less friction and hence less heat with stainless than with ally.

I seem to recall reading something along these lines in the first edition of On Rope. If I get time I'll hunt it out.

I'd go for 2 tube bars, in my estimation, it's the top one which wears dramatically and the second which gets stupidly hot. I'd be inclined to run a bigger second bar. (What do the yanks do again?-have a look at the storrick website). On a 4 bar rack, bigger bars are likely to run faster!!!!

Also, I'm going to get quotes on importing a pmi chest roller and harness. 2?

If only importing small quantities of anything get them to send it in individual packages, if it is under £120 inc p+p you dont pay import duty