Indoor climbing
- Thread starter adey
- Start date
Soldato
I've been climbing for 3 years now and I intend to climb for the rest of my life. I love the sport! I live in London so mainly do indoor stuff at rope walls or bouldering walls. Whenever possible I try to get outdoors on real rock as that's what it is all about!
Climbing is definitely addictive but it might not be for everyone, particularly if you don't like heights too much. It's worth trying both disciplines before you decide if you like it or not.
There is bouldering where you don't need anything but rock shoes and some chalk. You climb relatively low height walls (maybe 5m max above thick crash mats) and the "problems" you climb are solved by a particular sequence of moves that are usually more powerful or technical in nature compared to those you find on a longer rope climb.
Rope climbing is the other discipline where you require a rope, harness and a climbing partner to belay you. You can rent all the equipment at the wall until you decide you want to buy your own. The routes you climb with a rope indoors are typically over 10m and can be above 15m depending on the size of the climbing centre. You can either "lead climb" where you clip the rope into carabiners yourself as you climb or "top rope" where you are always hanging from the rope so can't properly fall (unless your climbing partner drops you!). Top roping is usually the place to start until you get experienced enough to try leading. Rope climbing, until you get to the higher difficulty levels, is more endurance focused compared to bouldering. I like to do both to try and be a balanced climber, but personally I prefer bouldering.
Besides the physical benefits of climbing, I'd say it is a really great sport for socialising. Compared to the gym where everyone listens to music and ignores everyone else, at the bouldering wall you can chat with others about how to do a problem and compliment females on their "form" without sounding creepy.
Obligatory photo of me:
Climbing is definitely addictive but it might not be for everyone, particularly if you don't like heights too much. It's worth trying both disciplines before you decide if you like it or not.
There is bouldering where you don't need anything but rock shoes and some chalk. You climb relatively low height walls (maybe 5m max above thick crash mats) and the "problems" you climb are solved by a particular sequence of moves that are usually more powerful or technical in nature compared to those you find on a longer rope climb.
Rope climbing is the other discipline where you require a rope, harness and a climbing partner to belay you. You can rent all the equipment at the wall until you decide you want to buy your own. The routes you climb with a rope indoors are typically over 10m and can be above 15m depending on the size of the climbing centre. You can either "lead climb" where you clip the rope into carabiners yourself as you climb or "top rope" where you are always hanging from the rope so can't properly fall (unless your climbing partner drops you!). Top roping is usually the place to start until you get experienced enough to try leading. Rope climbing, until you get to the higher difficulty levels, is more endurance focused compared to bouldering. I like to do both to try and be a balanced climber, but personally I prefer bouldering.
Besides the physical benefits of climbing, I'd say it is a really great sport for socialising. Compared to the gym where everyone listens to music and ignores everyone else, at the bouldering wall you can chat with others about how to do a problem and compliment females on their "form" without sounding creepy.
Obligatory photo of me:
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Man of Honour
I used to climb quite regularly with mates before I moved to London but since then I've only been once or twice, it was a bit of a trek to get to the nearest climbing wall last time I looked.
It's great fun though and I don't think it's something you're likely to get bored with easily, even on indoor climbs you can do the same route dozens of times and find there's little ways to improve while a subtle difference in positioning or weight distribution can be the difference between success and failure.
It's great fun though and I don't think it's something you're likely to get bored with easily, even on indoor climbs you can do the same route dozens of times and find there's little ways to improve while a subtle difference in positioning or weight distribution can be the difference between success and failure.
Big climber here, mainly bouldering. Love it its mint. Get strong as an ox, and you meet loads of cool minded people! I am lucky to live in north wales with tons of outdoor stuff to hit near me, but i try and hit the indoor wall a few times a week to for training purposes! its great fun so go do it 
Soldato
very good fun. Did it for a while but injury laid me off and haven't been brave enough to go back to it lol.
I used to go to The Climbing Academy in Bristol which was very good.
I used to go to The Climbing Academy in Bristol which was very good.
Another bouldering fan here 
Also do all my climbing in Bristol so just in case you've not found them yet the 4 centres I use are:
The Climbing Academy (TCA) - bouldering only but great selection, fairly frequent re-sets of the routes and is my primary choice.
Undercover Rock (UCR) - Top roping/lead climbing, tiny bit of 'meh' bouldering, but still ok.
Redpoint - Similar to UCR, but better facilities all around really, much newer centre
Bloc Climbing - Only been once, pure bouldering like TCA but higher walls and some interesting problems, It's good but still prefer TCA but couldn't say exactly why
Also do all my climbing in Bristol so just in case you've not found them yet the 4 centres I use are:
The Climbing Academy (TCA) - bouldering only but great selection, fairly frequent re-sets of the routes and is my primary choice.
Undercover Rock (UCR) - Top roping/lead climbing, tiny bit of 'meh' bouldering, but still ok.
Redpoint - Similar to UCR, but better facilities all around really, much newer centre
Bloc Climbing - Only been once, pure bouldering like TCA but higher walls and some interesting problems, It's good but still prefer TCA but couldn't say exactly why
Associate
I used to do a lot of climbing in uni and would thouraghly recommend it, its how I met my wife Sadly I've all but given up as she busted her shoulder and was advised by the physio to stop and I have ran out of the time to focus on it as I got more in to mountain bikes.
Sadly I've all but given up as she busted her shoulder and was advised by the physio to stop and I have ran out of the time to focus on it as I got more in to mountain bikes.
Associate
- Joined
- 25 Jun 2005
- Posts
- 1,092
Novelty wears off? Not likely! If anything you have quite the potential for obsession! Especially moving on from bouldering to trad and sport (and if you're a sucker for suffering Scottish winter) these will really push you. We've got a tread here with pics and what not which is worth finding.
Soldato
Recently got into climbing with people from work, usually go straight from work and stay till closing once a week.
I'm around 6a on the walls, done a bit of lead climbing and had a go at bouldering but I'm not too good at overhangs. I need to practice more and build on my strength. Really enjoy it.
I'm around 6a on the walls, done a bit of lead climbing and had a go at bouldering but I'm not too good at overhangs. I need to practice more and build on my strength. Really enjoy it.
Caporegime
Do it, its great fun and I have met very few people who don't enjoy it and keep going if they can. Its great for your fitness and apart from the fact it attracts some people who like to dress a little weirdly, pretty much everyone is nice, helpful and wants to see you do well.
