My interest in bikes is dwindling ...

[Jayneflakes]

Originally Posted by Blue_SV650S

its a great rush, being near the next clip-in point, hanging on with one hand desperately trying to clip in before you slip/fade...
Screw bikes, I wanna go climbing!!

Ah I know that feeling so well.

I was climbing a 6C+ in Sardinia about four years ago and I got stuck below the last clip. The climb had been consistent 6C up to that point, but the final move was a horror. In the end I just fell off and hung on the rope for a bit.

That feeling of knowing that you are going to deck out if your gear pops trad climbing gets me going too though. Mind you, have you tried any hard routes solo yet? I used to climb a lot of stuff Solo, up to about E2 comfortably. However I messed up one day and nearly fell 70 feet after I dynoed for a hold on an evil E3 6a in the gorge, but missed. Luckily I only fell five feet before scrabbling for a hold on another climb next to mine.

I was a climbing instructor at the time and I had a reputation for being unhinged. Sadly these days, after the amount of damage I have done to my body in the name of sport, I have to take it a little more carefully. Also if I fall off and die, Carol will kill me!

Oh boy, I so desperately want to go climbing... I am sat at home, half an hours walk from my nearest crag and I have no one to climb with. I hate being poor, I can feel Stanage calling to my very bones...

It's quite obvious the whole topic was raised so that he can take the opportunity to find a counter to every single suggestion made. This is what he does. No real meaning, no real reasoning, just an opportunity to counter for the sake of it and for the sole pleasure of himself. Just like 90% of all his posts.

Nothing new there then.

Originally Posted by Jayneflakes

Ah I know that feeling so well.

I was climbing a 6C+ in Sardinia about four years ago and I got stuck below the last clip. The climb had been consistent 6C up to that point, but the final move was a horror. In the end I just fell off and hung on the rope for a bit.

That feeling of knowing that you are going to deck out if your gear pops trad climbing gets me going too though. Mind you, have you tried any hard routes solo yet? I used to climb a lot of stuff Solo, up to about E2 comfortably. However I messed up one day and nearly fell 70 feet after I dynoed for a hold on an evil E3 6a in the gorge, but missed. Luckily I only fell five feet before scrabbling for a hold on another climb next to mine.

I was a climbing instructor at the time and I had a reputation for being unhinged. Sadly these days, after the amount of damage I have done to my body in the name of sport, I have to take it a little more carefully. Also if I fall off and die, Carol will kill me!

Oh boy, I so desperately want to go climbing... I am sat at home, half an hours walk from my nearest crag and I have no one to climb with. I hate being poor, I can feel Stanage calling to my very bones...

I have only ever done deep-water solo, or bouldering ... I like a buzz, I am not insane!!

Again to do soloing to any height (that isn't above deep water) you must be pretty confident in your abilities, else it is just playing with suicide isn't it!?!? Its also nice to sometimes take a rest on the rope ... if you are soloing then you can't do this ... it must be nice to climb without the need for all the paraphernalia mind - I like that when I deep water!! ... but like I said, I like doing climbs I might not be able to do ... I am adventurous, not stupid ... I am only going to do that if I have some safety equipment to hopefully give me a lifeline if it goes pear shaped ... you can still hurt yourself pretty bad bashing into the rock on the way down, but its avoiding the sudden stop at the end that is important

[Jayneflakes]

Originally Posted by Blue_SV650S

I have only ever done deep-water solo, or bouldering ... I like a buzz, I am not insane!! you can still hurt yourself pretty bad bashing into the rock on the way down, but its avoiding the sudden stop at the end that is important

Ahh, that was why I had to give up solo climbing in the end. I realised that I had burned out my fear gland and things were getting stupid, I knew that if I continued I was going to be another note in the books of cliff rescue next to the remarks about the fish slice being needed again.

I agree, nothing more fun than pushing hard on a sport route, when you want to do hard stuff.

What I like about Mountain routes is that you can be pushing up for hours, but the actual route will be quite varied with the occasional hard bit to get the legs going like Elvis.

For me Sport routes link me back to my past and I would rather leave most of that buried, a death wish is a really stupid thing to have. Looking back, I am horrified at some of the stupid stunts I pulled, climbing with an Instructor I trained, while both of us were so drunk, we could barely stand. How we survived I just do not know. Falling of of E numbers while solo, climbing after attending an all night party and turning up to teach a lesson on hard advanced skills reeking of beer and other girls maybe did not look so good!

When you are ready though, feel free to pop over for a spot of trad practice. I have taught so many people to lead on gear, I am almost able to just float up next to them.

Then there is Dry Tooling, now that is silly fun and you really need a top rope for that!

Originally Posted by Jayneflakes

When you are ready though, feel free to pop over for a spot of trad practice. I have taught so many people to lead on gear, I am almost able to just float up next to them.

If you don't mind lending me/us some of your trad gear (the placements, obviously got ropes and harness's etc), I might just take you up on that! ... how far 'west' are you???

[Jayneflakes]

Originally Posted by Blue_SV650S

If you don't mind lending me/us some of your trad gear (the placements, obviously got ropes and harness's etc), I might just take you up on that! ... how far 'west' are you???

At the moment I climb in Bristol, in Avon Gorge usually. I have climbed at Swanage though which is lovely, but due to losing my job I have no cash for travel at the mo. Based in Weston Super Mare currently which is really nice. Even bumped into a few Orgers here!

My gear was purchased because I was a free lance Instructor, so it was with the intention of using it to teach with. These days I teach my Stepson and his friends.

I have enough kit that I can teach two students how to lead on a full mountain wrack with harnesses and even boots (but only in my size!). However I am lacking helmets these days.

Would gladly teach you and your climbing buddy to lead climb if you both needed it. Just as long as you gave me a belay on one after!

Originally Posted by BigApe

It's quite obvious the whole topic was raised so that he can take the opportunity to find a counter to every single suggestion made. This is what he does. No real meaning, no real reasoning, just an opportunity to counter for the sake of it and for the sole pleasure of himself. Just like 90% of all his posts.

Nothing new there then.

Feel the love!

BUT, he's right, you haven't even bothered commenting on my first two extremely good suggestions...

this is a blatant me, me, me thread.

[Jayneflakes]

Originally Posted by Razor

this is a blatant me, me, me thread.

But Razor my Dear, it is nothing at all about You You You!

You did make me smile though

Originally Posted by Jayneflakes

You did make me smile though

*job done, rides to next town*