Any Fetchie (rock) climbers out there?

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DuncanG Sep 2010 12:38pm, 9 Sep 2010 396 posts	0 DuncanG I have always wanted to give this a try, at least the indoor climbing wall variety, and I have just discovered that Reading is about to get a new indoor centre! Questions I have: how easy is it to pick up? will I have to get shed loads of kit? will everyone laugh at my rubbish upper body strength? Local link for anyone interested >>> getreading.co.uk
Sparkly Bridget Sep 2010 12:42pm, 9 Sep 2010 8,861 posts	0 Sparkly Bridget Talk to eLBee or VR, they're always going to their local walls
Cuddy Sep 2010 12:44pm, 9 Sep 2010 1,774 posts	0 Cuddy You can get it any more than I do. I haven't been climbing for a while but on a general basis I'm very plump and very weak in the hands. But I still give it ago here and then. I just do indoors, not outdoors. I took a course which included belaying, all the ropes and such but found afterwards that I would have been better off doing a bouldering course as I just wanted to be able to go on my own without a partner, to an indoor wall, and it was more fun and free. You just need comfortable clothes, capri length trousers and you can rent your shoes. Usually the climbing wall will lend you kit for belaying. There are some guys who make it look really easy, climbing like monkies, I find it quite painful. Ow. Hard work. There are others who climb here, outdoors, and can give you more tips.
Cuddy Sep 2010 12:44pm, 9 Sep 2010 1,775 posts	0 Cuddy That should say you can't get it any more wrong than I do...lol
Ripcurl Running Sep 2010 3:00pm, 9 Sep 2010 2,471 posts	0 Ripcurl Running Go with a friend to an indoor wall, you can hire the gear and there are usually other climbers around who wqould belay you or some have devices that do it for you all you really need is the harness and some karibiners.
Lizzie W Sep 2010 3:07pm, 9 Sep 2010 13,445 posts	0 Lizzie W It's easy to pick up the basics. You don't need shedloads of kit, just like running (ha ha), at some point your own shoes & harness, as they'll be more comfortable than the ones you hire. It's about the legs, the arms are to stabilise you (until you start trying to clamber over overhangs, & suchlike). Do it - Sign up for an introductory course If you climb outside, FFS wear a helmet. Thank you.
eL Bee! Sep 2010 3:28pm, 9 Sep 2010 14,189 posts	0 eL Bee! DuncanG - like most things - it's pretty easy to do not-very-well. Most folk can grunt and heave their way up a few climbs at indoor walls. There is plenty of technique involved in climbing well - and the activity-specific strength for it comes mostly from doing lots of climbing. I'd advise you to go along with someone who's an experienced climber to show you the basics - and to belay you - MOST climbing centres now will expect you to do a Belay test to cover them for insurance purposes - especially if you are a beginner - so that you can return the favour to your experienced climbing partner. Most centres also have a bouldering area - low level stuff that you don't need ropes and harnesses for - you just go and either follow the colour coded 'problems' or just monkey about a bit It's well worth having a session or two with one of their instructors too. If you find that you like it - then the BEST purchase you can make is a pair of properly fitting rock climbing shoes. They will make it SO much easier! Get lots of advice though - most people buy their first rock shoes way too big! Unlike running shoes where you need space for your feet to spread out - in climbing shoes you need quite the opposite!!
hammerite Sep 2010 3:39pm, 9 Sep 2010 11,607 posts	0 hammerite We have one opening near us too in a week or two.... bigrockclimbing.co.uk
CumbriAndy Sep 2010 3:40pm, 9 Sep 2010 340 posts	0 CumbriAndy Any kit you need will almost certainly be available for hire the first few times you go and the centre may well establish its own beginners/improvers club that you can go along to if you find yourself in need of a climbing partner. The centre staff will probably 'supervise' novices and offer whatever advice may be needed. Nobody will laugh at you - except possibly any mates you take along - in fact, its quite likely that most people won't even notice you're there.
Velociraptor Sep 2010 3:40pm, 9 Sep 2010 12,670 posts	0 Velociraptor Welcome to the world of indoor climbing, DuncanG. It's a fantastic sport - and when you get into climbing, it's SO much more satisfyingly expensive than running. Go to the little kit-shop that's attached to the climbing wall, and wonder at how such a little piece of twisted metal can cost quite so much Nobody will laugh at you, and upper body strength is relatively unimportant when you're first learning. The most difficult part is learning the ropework and how to trust your belayer. To begin with, DON'T just rock up with a few mates and expect other wall-users to belay you and lend you their kit! Sign up for an introductory course, have some sessions with an instructor, get signed off as safe to belay, and then move on to climbing independently. It's completely different from running, but most of the best climbers supplement their climbing by doing some running or cycling