When I bought my bicep leash, I was absolutely dumbfounded about how to tie it securely to the leash plug. It mystified me to point that I had to do some research and experimentation.
How do you attach the Slyde bicep leash to your handboard leash plug?
- Lock the string in the velcro strap making sure both ends are even in length
- Feed both ends under the bar of the leash plug to the other side
- Hold both ends of the string together while tying a single knot
- Slide the knot down towards the leash plug
- Pull the string tight
If your handplane does not have a leash plug, you will find my other post on how to attach a leash to your handboard strap more helpful.
My goal in this guide is to make sure you can confidently attach your leash to your leash plug. I will break down the process in more detail throughout the rest of this post.
what you need
Obviously, you need to purchase a bicep leash if you do not already have one. This will be one of the best investments you can make for your handboard and it is pretty cheap! You may also need a fin key or tweezers to help thread the string through your handboard leash plug.
bicep leash components
Before we begin attaching the leash to your bodysurfing handboard, I thought it would be helpful to break down the different parts of the bicep leash to help you follow along.
The leash cuff is the velcro strap that you wrap around your arm. The swivel is attached to the cuff, which allows your board and arm to move about freely. The coil connects the swivel to your handboard via the string. Tying the string to the leash plug on your board is the primary focus of this article.
attaching your leash to the handboard leash plug
Here are 5 steps that you can easily follow for fastening the string correctly to your leash plug.
#1 – lock the string evenly in the velcro strap
You will notice that the string is tied to the velcro strap. You want to untie the string and make sure both ends are even in length. Adjust by pulling one end further through one side of the velcro strap.
If you pull the string all the way out by accident, you will have to undo the velcro strap to re-lock the string in the velcro.
When pulled flush together, both ends of the string should be the same length. Adjust it as needed until even.
#2 – feed string through leash plug
This step will explain where to attach the leash and how to feed it through the leash plug. You may need to use a fin key or tweezers to help feed the string through such a small area.
locate the leash plug – The leash plug is a little circular or square section located on the lower left or right side of your board’s deck. It is the sunken portion of the handplane that has a little bar or pin running horizontally through the center.
feeding the string through the leash plug – You will notice a small bar running from one side to the other in the leash plug opening. You need to tuck both edges of the string underneath this little bar and pull through to the other side.
This feat may prove to be challenging. Finessing both ends under the bar and through to the other side of the leash plug can be pretty annoying if you are not patient.
Using a fin key or pair of tweezers can easily help you push the string through. You may find yourself playing around with it for a little while before you can wiggle both ends through to the other side.
#3 – tie a single knot
Once you manage to get both ends of the string underneath the leash plug pin and through to the other side, create a knot by holding both loose ends of the string together, swing them around, under, and pull tight.
Do you remember learning how to tie a knot as a child? This is exactly the same procedure you want to perform here. Forming a knot should create some excess string protruding from the leash plug, which you will minimize in the next step.
#4 – sliding the knot downward
To minimize the amount of excess string protruding from the knot, slide the knot down towards the board into the leash plug. This will reduce the extra string hanging out. However, make sure the excess string does not get pulled all the way through the knot you just created, or else it will come loose.
I recommend leaving about a ½ inch to 1 inch of excess string hanging from the leash plug. This is just enough length to not be annoying or restrict your wave riding performance.
#5 – pull tight
Lastly, pull the string tight with one hand while holding the knot firmly down into the leash plug with the other. Make sure to give a strong tug. This will prevent your knot from loosening while you ride.
Related Questions:
could the leash plug pin ever break?
I guess in theory nothing is ever guaranteed to work correctly. However, this little bar is very well designed and extremely durable. I tried to manually pull it out of my Slyde handboard to test its durability and could not move it. It is very well intact and should not fail.
leash plug vs handstrap : which is better for attaching your bicep leash?
You can attach your bicep leash to both but if your handboard has a built-in leash plug then use that. It will help to keep the leash out of your way while bodysurfing.