Zip-Gear - Zipline Help

Steps to zipline installation and material checklist

noemail@noemail.org (Stephan Bernier) — Sun, 18 May 2014 20:24:00 -0400

Use the following table as a rule of thumb to determine the size of your cable according to it's length and the rider's weight you want to put on the zipline. Then, choose the turnbuckle and the amount of wire clips accordingly.

Length	Max Rider Weight	Cable	Turnbuckle	# Clips
up to 100'	100 lbs	1/4"	1/2"	3
up to 500'	250 lbs	5/16"	5/8"	3
500' and up	350 lbs	3/8"	3/4"	3

*Certain short zipline can generate more tension than others much longer. Ask us for a free catenary and tension study and avoid a bad surprise. We do not make ourselves responsible for an overloaded cable or for any other aspect of your backyard zipline. Seek professional help to install your zipline

CABLE: First you need to purchase a cable. Size should be determine using the preceding chart.

TREE WRAP:Wrap a cable sling around you first tree (always use same size sling or bigger than your zipline cable)

TURNBUCKLE: Open your turnbuckle completely and attach it to your cable sling
BACK-UP: (coming soon) Add an optional turnbuckle back-up cable for your peace of mind (you will need 3 more wire clips)

WIRE CLIPS: Attach you cable to the other end of the turnbuckle. If you purchase the cable with us, you will already have an eye termination built in your cable. If you don't, you will need at least 3 forged wire clips and a thimble. CAUTION: Do not use malleable wire clips for zipline cables; this is a dangerous practice. You need a quality forged wire clip for this purpose.

TENSION KIT: Pull you cable to the other tree and tension it. If your zipline has a low clearance, you may need a tension kit. Once you cable is under tension, you will need, again, a minimum of 3 wire clips to securely attach it around the tree.

ZIPLINE BRAKE: In most cases, you will need to install a zipline brake because to hit a tree is not a very good way to stop. You can use a brake block with a rope you will manually control or a brake block with a bungee cords attached to an anchor.

ZIPLINE PULLEY: You are now ready to zip down! Choose a trolley that will meet your goals and respect your budget.

ZIPLINE SEAT: Use a zipline seat for more comfort and enhanced safety

HARNESS: Use a harness if you zipline travel over 10 ft at any point of the span

LANYARDS: If you use a harness, you will also need a 30 cm lanyard to attach to the pulley... and you may consider a 45 cm back up for your peace of mind.

CARABINERS: Add 1 carabiner for the short lanyard, and another one for the back-up if they are not included in an harness kit

HELMET: Finally, if you care about safety, wear a helmet and keep your ideas intact.

Landing on a small platform with a bungee brake

noemail@noemail.org (Stephan Bernier) — Wed, 14 May 2014 22:21:00 -0400

Here is a question I received from Jason Devine in Kentucky, USA

"Hello, I'm currently using a bungee brake on our commercial zip line, but as we are trying to accommodate a wide range of weight (70-250 lb), it is somewhat difficult to manage. While our speeds are only around 25-30mph, we are trying to stop on a platform and it can be difficult. I'm wondering if the Counterweight Progressive Brake would be an option for us? We need to keep it economical so the zip stop is out of our range. I appreciate any help you can provide.

Thanks! Jason"

What you need to know about zipline kits

noemail@noemail.org (Stephan Bernier) — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 19:02:29 -0400

A lot of people love to go zip lining, but simply can’t keep up with the expensive costs of travelling around the country and staying at hotels. These people often end up frustrated, as they are separated from an activity which brings them great pleasure and enjoyment. But, fear not my friends…as there is a solution.

Buy it online

You are now able to purchase your own zip line home kits from an online retailer and complete the installation yourself, leaving you with an amazing zip line, up to 500 feet, in your own backyard. This is an amazing thing, that was previously unavailable to homeowners, and now supplies them with the ability to engage in adrenaline rushing activities right at their own home.

Install it yourself

There has never been a better time to be a homeowner in this society, with all of the amazing benefits that come along with that status. Hooking up your own backyard zip line can be fun and can be a nice bonding experience with your son or daughter, if they are old enough to understand basic hand tools and other connecting hardware. The installation itself is not too difficult, and only requires some basic knowledge and experience with everyday hand tools like a come along, ladder, nylon sling, and others. You will be using the aircraft cable, turnbuckle, slings, and cable clamps to secure the zip line to two trees. Once that is accomplished, you simply attach the trolley and the harness (or seat) to the zip line cable and away you go.

Don't forget the brake

You also may want to look into getting a zip line brake block kit if your ride is over 150 feet in length. The brake block is a plastic block that gets fitted onto the zip line cable with the other end attached to a bungee cord that gets anchored into the ground. When the zip line trolley comes moving down the cable it hits the brake block, which slides on the cable and the bungee cord is activated, thus bringing the trolley to a stop on the zip line cable. This is a must have for any zip line which is going to have kids riding on it, as they may become slightly overwhelmed by the fast speeds without any ability to stop. Alternatively, there is a trigger braking system available that you can use to stop yourself, this is actually installed right onto the zip line trolley and is activated by your finger as you are moving down the zip line. There is a small trigger which when pressed, activates a brake pad that slows the trolley down. These brake pads do wear out over time so it is recommended that you buy several of them when you are first setting up your zip line, to avoid complicated maintenance down the road.

Keep it safe

Another thing that you may want to keep in mind when installing a backyard zip line, is to keep other neighborhood kids off of the ride when they are not being supervised by an adult. We have heard some horror stories about parents being sued because some kids decided to go onto their property when they weren’t home to use their zip line and sustained an injury. While this isn’t fair, it is a reality and could easily happen. This is why we suggest to purchase a removable trolley, so that you can take it down off of the zip line cable when you know that you will be away from the house for a little while. You can also buy a lock and lock the trolley on one end of the zip line cable, that way nobody can use it without the key. This is extremely effective against keeping kids from simply wandering onto your property and using the zip line without your permission. When you are home, however, you can let other kids from the neighborhood use the ride….just make sure that they are wearing proper safety equipment such as helmets and long sleeve clothes such as jeans.

Supervise it

Another important reason to have parental supervision when the kids are playing on the zip line is to keep them from horsing around and getting hurt. We all know how kids will usually take things way too far and fight with each other over whose turn it is and everything else that they can find a reason to argue about. This is why it’s important to have an adult there who can mediate the situation and tell them whose turn it is to go on the zip line, as well as keep them in line and give them warnings about their bad behavior. We like kids, and think that they deserve every chance to act within the guidelines given to them, but they must be disciplined when they don’t act within those specific parameters. There is a child’s world and an adult’s world, and they must be respectful to our world just as we must be respectful towards theirs.

Copyrights: Zipline Guru

A Zipline Professional Designer

noemail@noemail.org (Stephan Bernier) — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 18:36:00 -0400

By Jonathan Green - May 2010

Info@ziprush.com

It is easy to get lost in all the zipline designs and designers offered online. Most of zipline companies have their own specialties and some offer a wider range of zipline designs and alternative products. In this case, the zipline do not seems to be a straight line but a maze of twists and turns. The key asset of all major zipline design company is the professional zipline designer.

To the inexperienced eye, ziplines might appear to be a relatively simple activity. After all, they are basically just long metal cables, securely fastened and hanging between two trees, or two man-made anchors. Therefore you might assume that designing, building, and operating a zipline course would be relatively simple and straightforward. The truth is, all the aspects in the professional zipline business are surprising complex. Building a zipline is 50% engineering and experience based knowledge, and 50% art. It requires an understanding of many factors.

Economic Feasibility Study
Ziplines are a hot new adventure activity, and so you might think they would be popular and profitable just about anywhere you build them. The truth is, that in order to produce a respectable return on investment, your zipline needs to be located in what we can call a sweet spot. A professional zipline designer can help you to choose and evaluate a zipline site. The zipline site is ideally conveniently located along a major tourist route, or near a major population center where the socioeconomic level and age of the citizens is compatible with adventure sports. If your zipline is located near a port-of-call where cruise ships dock, or you can build it inside a popular ski resort, then you are well on your way to having a profitable business.

Occasionally, a professional zipline designer will be contacted by prospective builders who have found a location they like, in the middle of the woods, hours from any major city. He may tell these potential clients that it is unlikely they will have enough customers to justify the costs involved in building a zipline but on the other hand, tourists are willing to travel quite far if a zipline has developed a reputation as a must-see and must-do activity. In fact there are tourists who traveled half-way around the world to take vacations in Costa Rica just to try out the ziplines!

During a recession, where most tourists have a decreased budget for discretionary entertainment and thrill rides, it is more important than ever to find a professional zipline designer who can design and install your course at a reasonable price. It is often shocking to see the price that some zipline companies charge; especially with the American business scheme where overheads are much higher insurance are heavy on the shoulders and, well let’s face it, the capitalism of the American way.

Some company’s prices are often 50- 75% less than these American companies for the exact and often better end results. This reduction in cost is not due to cutting corners or decreasing quality materials. Rather it comes from the will and ability to manage projects with an economical approach instead of large profit oriented goals. Small and efficiently-run company keeping low overheads can keep prices at very reasonable levels.

Site Evaluation Visits
Finding a site is just the first step in the process! During the initial consultation it is imperative to see photos, topographical maps, or GPS
coordinates of the proposed site. This can help form an initial impression of your desired site. In the end, the zipline designer needs to visit the site in person to evaluate the feasibility of the zipline as well as address any other concerns regarding zipline design. There are many factors to consider based on the characteristics of the zipline site site. Will you build a course in trees, using poles or steel towers? What permits will be necessary? Will road access be difficult? We can provide you with knowledge and information that can help you make some important decisions.

Tour Logistics Data
How long will it take to run a group through my canopy tour? How many people should I hire to staff my zipline tour? How many tours per day should my staff run? Transportation challenges? These are all important questions that a professional can help you answer. A zipline professional will have data from zipline tour operations to draw from, and he can help you with some of the most important planning for the logistics of your operation.

Environmental Impact and Sustainability
One of the main attractions of ziplines is that they provide a thrilling adventure, without having a negative impact on the environment. Keeping this in mind, there are many techniques that will minimize the impact of your zipline tour on the environment, and decrease the carbon footprint created by the zipline participants. Helping protect the environment is more than just a morally sound philosophy; it is a business essential as many clients may reject your business if they feel your commitment to the environment is not sincere.

Successful Marketing Techniques and Strategies
Zipline Tours are the hottest new rage, but how will people find you? What works best in your location? Do you have access to cruise ship visitors or perhaps a year round ski area? How can the online market drive customers to your site? A zipline professional designer will have plenty of experience in these areas, and he can share his knowledge with you so that you make informed decisions. One recent trend is to feature zipline courses as team-building and group bonding experiences. Both corporations and youth groups find that people can interact more efficiently and more healthfully once they have successfully participated in activities that require trust and encouragement as a group.

Insurance & Liability Issues
What are typical insurance rates for Zipline/Canopy Tours? How do I find the appropriate insurance providers? A professional zipline designer can provide you with the criteria and resources that you should consider when making these very important decisions.

Guidance and Assistance for Obtaining Permits
In a first-world country like Canada, the United States, or most of Europe, one of the most important and time-consuming tasks is obtaining the required legal permits to build the zipline. Failing to secure the necessary permission can lead to major headaches. Who do you need to meet with or get approval from before you break ground? A professional zipline designer went through it all, and he can help you identify these needs in advance so you don't have any surprises along the way.

Plus, even if you can obtain permits, there is still the issue of land ownership. Will you buy the land where your zipline will lie? Depending on the cost of land, and the size of your zipline, this may be a logical option. Other times, it is necessary to lease the land or arrive at some other form of agreement with the landowner.

Staffing a successful team
There are a number of personality traits, and physical attributes, that are common in successful zipline managers and guides. A professional zipline designer will advise you on what makes a great employee at a zipline course, and what makes a group of zipline employees into a cohesive and efficient team.

Ongoing Assistance and Tech Support
Your zipline or ziplines have been built, and your team has received their initial training. They still need practice, and you are not feeling ready to run public groups through your zipline or ziplines yet. What do you do? A professional zipline designer can be there for this critical transition to help you iron out all the kinks. He can also advise regarding where you can cut back and improve efficiency on your tours. Perhaps you would like an outside organization to come in and evaluate your operation to provide insight for improvement. Maybe there is a unique marketing strategy that you are missing, or a new concept that could be added to make your tour more unique. A professional zipline designer has seen Zipline and Canopy Tours around the world, and he has plenty of creative ideas to share.

Additional Sources of Revenue
A successful zipline course will be profitable simply from the revenue generated by the daily use of the ziplines. But in order to maximize the profitability of your zipline course, there are many ways to get more incomes. A professional zipline designer will advise you on ways to improve your return of investment and help guarantee you zipline tour will be a successful business for years to come.

Build a bungee brake

noemail@noemail.org (Stephan Bernier) — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 16:55:30 -0400

Why do I need a brake

Unless you have designed your zipline to be very slow, thus taking away the fun of it, you need a zipline brake.

A short zipline, and especially in your backyard, should have more than 3-5% slope. Meaning that for every 100 feet, not more than 3-5 feet of elevation loss is needed.

How to build my bungee brake

Most of the time, a bungee brake is enough but it has the disadvantage of sling shot the rider back to the bottom part of the catenary, the belly if you may.

To avoid this situation, there are ways to set it up with an anti-return system.

You will need:

Brake Block (1)
Petzl OK (5)
Petzl Fixe (1)
Petzl Mini-Traxion (1)
Petzl Rescue 8 mm Ropes (according to design)
Bungee Cord (half the length between the main tree and the anchor pulley)
Two anchor points on your main tree
One forward anchor point where braking starts

You need is to build a rope close circuit using 3 points of anchors: the brake block, the brake anchor (typically a tree or a ground anchor where a pulley will be attached) and the main tree (or post) where you will attached a one way pulley.

Your rope should run from the brake block, through the anchor pulley, through the one way pulley and back to your brake block.

To be continued...