Wife got 4hrs of intro climbing lessons at local centre for my Xmas pressie. Deal was 2 for 1 so she came along to.

First 2 hrs tonight. I’m not great with heights but that seemed to go the first little climb.

Obviously easy stuff for experienced folks but was great fun.

Being closer to 50 than 40 I reckon another pastime may have been found. I also think our 6 year old daughter would give it a bash too.

Just away to practice knots….

Just a friendly warning. You WILL be sore tomorrow 8)

If you think MTBers are kit obsessed, climbers take it to a different level (excuse the pun)

It’s good though – worth the aching!

Just a friendly warning. You WILL be sore tomorrow

Hell yes!

I did an afternoon on a climbing wall with uni. It was fantastic fun and I loved every minute of it….. until I tried to lift my arms the next day

Climbing is muchos fun. Wait until you do your first outdoor climb 🙂

Awesome. Which wall?

If you want to take it to the next level – check out the courses at http://www.pyb.co.uk best place in the UK to learn how to climb safely.

UK to learn how to climb safely.

noooo, that is path to ron hills, buffalos and biffing up diffs, convinced that you are joe simpson because you’ve got your SPA 😆

much more fun to learn like the old boys, trial, error, lots of scares and the true skill of rockcraft through lots of close scrapes.

If you want safe….sport climb 😀

it is fantastic fun at what ever level though!!

2nd PYB, done several courses there on Climbing and Rescue stuff. Best one was Multi-pitch Rescue all done on real climbs – two days of escaping the system and hauling people up / down / sideways across cliffs.

Tazzy, earlier:

jamie, replace the flip flops with 5.10 pink anasazi (still my fave grit rubber) and that’s really rather close!

Who’s Joe Simpson – try Don Whillans or Joe Brown – first harness was a Whillans sit harness ( the leader never falls, well if you did you never had children ) , day before cams and belay plates (belay round the back)

And as for Sport climbing – bolting should be banned, respect the rock and learn how to place trad gear

Jamie – Member
Tazzy, earlier:

Someone’s been on reddit this evening…

And as for Sport climbing – bolting should be banned, respect the rock and learn how to place trad gear

totally agree, even more fun climbing delicate sandstone using knotted cords instead of a trad rack. Some mad Polish buggers taught me that. 😯

Would someone please post a link to the climbing reddit? Thanks!

/r/climbing

And as for Sport climbing – bolting should be banned, respect the rock and learn how to place trad gear

that and suspension 29’s and tubeless tyres 🙂

Sport has it’s place, and it’s a good place.

And as for Sport climbing – bolting should be banned, respect the rock and learn how to place trad gear

Bet your one of those types who thinks trial centres and suspension is the scourge of mountain biking…

sport climbing

trad biffing

😆

Someone’s been on reddit this evening…

?_?

I would also say if you want to do any outdoors, either go to spain and clip bolts or get some good waterproofs 🙂

Failing that a good course with any good MIA is worth it. An SPA is not a leaning to climb badge, it’s an instructing qualification and really should be fore people who know how to climb already.

Jam bo , pay up I love trail centers ( not so sure about trial centres) and love most MTBs ( I draw the line at tandems ) but when people start blotting routes which can be safely lead on trad gear then I draw a line.

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JPpM1nFLAE[/video]

Nothing wrong with biffing

I started year and half ago bouldering with my daughter… Up to then I’d been mountain biking for about 18 odd years. This week I cycled ten miles to work each day and climbed four sessions… I guess what I’m saying is that it’s a bit addictive! You’ve been warned!

Climbing is equal to Mtb these days for me. I’m a fairly old fella but loving it. It’s physical but soon also gets mental as you figure out how to do each route. One thing I would say is after biking so long my legs are strong but with climbing I’ve discovered they aren’t awfully flexible, you’ve been warned! 😉

Edit: and watch out … The youngsters are really very good and will whip you’re as$!

Jam bo , pay up I love trail centers ( not so sure about trial centres) and love most MTBs ( I draw the line at tandems ) but when people start blotting routes which can be safely lead on trad gear then I draw a line.

Have you ever climbed anything hard on limestone? The routes are totally unprotectable without bolts. Bolts have been responsible for the vast majority of progression in the sport since the mid 80s and as such definitely have a very important place in climbing. The hilti was the best bit of climbing gear ever invented. 🙂