for an ad-free Fetcheveryone experience!

Any Fetchie (rock) climbers out there?

33 watchers

halfpint Dec 2013 9:09am, 1 Dec 2013 16,844 posts	0 halfpint I love watching other people bouldering (some more than others ;)) but I feel a bit of a fool doing it myself.
Lorraine Dec 2013 7:06pm, 1 Dec 2013 843 posts	0 Lorraine Only just seen this - my eldest daughter trains at RCC (Reading) every Wednesday and Friday evening with the Academy (elite juniors ) it's a fab place
AngusClydesdale Dec 2013 6:04pm, 2 Dec 2013 6,526 posts	0 AngusClydesdale Bouldering's a great way to build climbing-specific strength. Easy to do solo too.
emmie Dec 2013 10:25am, 31 Dec 2013 2,404 posts	0 emmie Other than climbing/bouldering, what's the best way to improve finger strength? forearm strength? I find I'm slowly getting stronger overall, but I'd like to do more crimpy things and get away from my reliance on jug handholds on overhangs.
Velociraptor Dec 2013 10:29am, 31 Dec 2013 28,540 posts	0 Velociraptor Here you are, Emmie nicros.com Either that, or fingerboard/campus board work. Unfortunately, those cute little squeezy-spring devices for your hands are no better than doing nothing at all.
MudMeanderer Dec 2013 11:42am, 31 Dec 2013 1,226 posts	0 MudMeanderer As VRap says, fingerboards can help, but you have to be careful as it can be a very quick route to injury. Small holds on overhangs are largely about technique and balance though - it's about the ability to move yourself in a stable manner between positions that optimally load the hold. Core strength probably plays as big a part as grip strength. That and being able to read the route more efficiently so you spend less time hanging about in tiring positions. I always found the vertical routes at my limit required the most grip strength - when it got steeper I just couldn't brace my whole body to stay on the holds, irrespective of grip strength.
Velociraptor Dec 2013 11:44am, 31 Dec 2013 28,542 posts	0 Velociraptor Grip strength and raw forearm muscle power are very much my limiters.
MudMeanderer Dec 2013 11:53am, 31 Dec 2013 1,227 posts	0 MudMeanderer I know when I used to boulder a lot, if I'd been focussing on more steep routes, although my forearms would feel it, it was nothing to what I would feel across my core the day after. Pushing out between holds so as to not unweight my feet or hands during moves I found exhausting. I'd only really feel the effects in my forearms the day after on more delicate routes, and invariably they wouldn't have been as steep for a similar difficulty.
jacdaw Dec 2013 12:05pm, 31 Dec 2013 471 posts	0 jacdaw Did somebody mention Carlisle bouldering wall? Is it any good? I was thinking of trying Keswick, but Carlisle might be a bit more convenient...
Velociraptor Dec 2013 12:35pm, 31 Dec 2013 28,543 posts	0 Velociraptor I've never been to Carlisle, it would be handy for us too. But only if it's better than Keswick. When we're looking for a really good session, we'd go to Kendal or Glasgow.