Hi again, Tim. Just want to say another big "thank you!" for uploading such great vids. While going through rehabilitation for my fractured wrist and the impact damage to my hip-joint after my stupid crash last month, in particular, your Gumball adventures have kept a smile on my face, and a desire to get back in my harness as soon as my wrist is strong again - another week or so! (But we've a typhoon coming! 🤣) So, again(!), Thanks, and know that you're an inspiration 🤩 Regards, Simon in Southern Japan
Thanks Simon, I appreciate you kind words! Hopefully it won't be too much longer before you get in the air again... I was lucky I didn't break an ankle - as it is the only thing I've missed these past five weeks is not being able to get out on my paddleboard... I'll be getting onto this year's Gumball videos soon! All the best, Tim
Yeah...ankles!!! When I was first practicing staying up in weak ridge lift, in 1996, I went through a dry-stone wall, feet first, at Edenfield, near Parlick by NOT looking where I was about to fly 🤣🤣🤣 Paragliding gives us so much, but damn! it can hurt sometimes 😵 Keep realistically safe, and I'm looking forwards to seeing your next Gumball vids 🤩
Amazing flight Tim - love the videos - out of curiosity, how playful was it on take off and for the first climb over the take off - the video suggests a bit bouncy..? I had a week in Ager earlier this year and got my arse kicked by really punchy thermals which has knocked my confidence a bit so although I love the idea of getting out and about, am a little wary now of punchy conditions as a lower airtime pilot flying a low B wing....
The climbs were generally pretty smooth during the whole flight, nothing too bumpy. But there again my threshold for turbulence is likely considerably higher than yours! You’ve just got to embrace rough punchy thermals!
Hi, it’s a GoPro 8 on Wide with Hypersmooth = High. It also helps to have the camera mounted at the top of the helmet rather than the front. I also use a cheap foam "windslayer" around it to cut out most of the wind noise.
Bravo Tim! You have what to tell your grandchildren someday . Amazing flight at high cloudbase. I'm really impressed (as an architect) of the view to the bridge at 20.27. Unfortunately I can't find it on the map of your tracklog. Tell me please, where it is.
Hi DHH, thanks for your kind words! The bridge is here at Pontygof over the A465 Heads of Valleys road goo.gl/maps/SXVM4YB7JJr5dNT7A - I agree, it's a fine design!
Amazing flight, must have been a thrill !! 😍 It's def not everyday you can climb this high, thx for sharing I feel as if I'm the only one that immediately noticed your left carabiner was not closed properly. Then I was asking my self for 20 min "when is he going to close it?" Finally, I also noticed it was closed after 23"30' 😄 I'm really curious as to what you did for big ears, did you pull the rear lines ?
Thanks Aurélien, it's definitely not everyday in the UK, that's for sure! A few people noticed the slightly open carabiner, including me eventually! It's happened a few times this year, I don't know why. I've since turned it round so that the gate is facing forwards, and I'm pleased to say it hasn't happened since. Regarding big ears, I take 10-15cms of outer Bs in my hands then rotate my hands to pull the lines down. You need to make sure you don't have your hands through the brake handles when you do this otherwise it can apply brake when your hands are pulling down, resulting in the glider wanting to stall - which happened to me in France last year!
@@TimPentreath oh shoot, interesting insight on the stall with big ears! I have always used A lines to do big ears because otherwise the leading edge isn't closed and it might produce more drag, hence the stall. I've done big ears with my hands through the brakes but I won't anymore. Usually I didn't even have a speed bar while doing big ears. As for the carabiner, I don't know if the change will do something, I just check when connecting. If possible don't disconnect 😉 Have nice flights
@@aurelg3367 Re outer-B big ears, this only works on 2-liners. For other gliders normal A line big ears is the correct method. It’s a good idea to use some speed bar when doing big ears because reducing the surface area will increase your stall speed so pushing some speed bar will give you more safety margin. Re the carabiner, I never disconnect, yet somehow the gate was opening slightly. I don’t understand how it was happening though. It’s been fine since I swapped the opening to the front though.
Incredible day and flight you had there Tim, truly special! What equipment are you using to communicate with ? I spotted something on your right hand. Would appreciate if you would be so kind as to share all the info - thank you and safe flying
Thanks, it certainly was a very memorable day! I was using a standard 2m radio to communicate (I have a Puxing 333) with a Zoot headset and PTT (on left fore finger). Attached to the right brake handle is a Pryme PTT which works with the Zello app. I've not really used it much in the UK as mobile signal isn't that good once you're a few thousand feet up, but it works ok in the alps. Hope that helps... 👍🏻
Thanks for letting us get high with you Tim! Hey wait, you don't live in Boulder, Colorado (different kind of high). I'm glad there wasn't a "Houston, we have a problem" moment during the flight.
Nice nice. Just out of curiosity, what is the highest you can legaly get in the UK? Here we have upper limit FL95, but weather allow it unfortunately maximum once per year :-(
Good question! Generally it's FL100 (unless you have a transponder), however in certain parts of the UK there are areas where gliders can go as high as FL195 - eg. most of Wales and Scotland...
Hey Tim,... sorry, you've probably been asked a 1000times,but I'm wondering what your camera setup is?...I works really well.... presume external battery? Mic?...I'm sure I saw it in a video but can't remember which. Cheers 👍
No probs... it's a GoPro 8 on Wide with Hypersmooth = High. No external mic, just a cheap foam "windslayer" to reduce the wind noise. I keep the internal battery in but generally connect it to a very slim 5000mAH external battery as well (which saved my helmet from crashing to the ground when I forgot to do the chin strap up once 😬😂