New to climbing

[scoi]

Anyone know of a good place to start climbing in Buckinghamshire. Indoor walls/clubs etc or even better does anyone fancy teacing someone and getting a few beers in return.

[Ollie]

You can always try 'The Climb' in Amersham - http://www.theclimb.co.uk/. It's probably the best indoor climbing centre in Bucks (though to be fair I'm not aware of any others :D)

The best climbing wall is at green park - it's synthetic rock which is a lot more fun to climb on than 'holds'.

Can I ask what sparked your interest in climbing? Have you done anything at all similar before eg scrambling or bouldering?

PS Have removed your email address from your post - spiders love to search the net for email addresses and send them lots of spam!

Ollie

[wandering_fox]

Most sports centres have a climbing wall somewhere - try phoning up a few of your local ones (numbers often on the council website) and see if they do. They aren't always advertised on the web themselves! They may then run courses to help you get started.

I disagree with Ollie about synthetic rock - it is more "real" but as a beginner its very difficult - the holds at least give you some idea of where to put your hands and feet.

One good exercise to begin with is to "traverse" keep your feet no more than 50cm to 1m off the floor do not climb any higher - and see how far around the wall you can go. this is best done when there are few other people about! but has the advantage that you don't need to bother with ropes and having someone belay you.

[Ollie]

True - didn't think about it that way!

At The Climb there is a huge bouldering area (bigger than the climbing area) with a padded mat at the bottom - you can just 'climb' it without ropes and then if you fall off you just land on the mat (which is very chalky but about the thickness of 2 or 3 matresses, so it doesn't hurt!)

There's also an area for traversing, with holds just stuck to the wall.

Ollie

[Marmot]

The climb is good, although i do find that theres usually too much testosterone flowing about the place but it is still a good place to mess about.
oxford brookes ive been told is alot better - although i havent yet checked it out http://climb.ukhosting.org.uk/

here's quite a useful link

http://www.thebmc.co.uk/indoor/walls/wall_res.asp?area_drop=L&search_term=&submit=Find+Walls

[MariaD]

I find that there's usually far too much testosterone wherever I climb. Men!

If you can find a friendly climbing club near to where you live, you might be able to find someone who'll teach you on real rock. I learnt that way with my uni climbing club, and it meant that I didn't have to faff around with any of that stupid fake rock stuff.

[scoi]

Cheers for advice everyone, does look like amersham or oxford is the best.

Ollie, i tried many years ago and liked it but with no car or money couldnt really get into in properly. Now i've moved from the coast i'm lacking any adrenaline rush so thought why not give it a go.

Anyway use amersham or OB regularly?

[Ollie]

Hmm, not as regularly as I should! :p

Might start going a bit more as i've got nothing to do this year!

Ollie

[Marmot]

Moved away from the coat to start climbing?! what about all those cliffs?

[scoi]

I prefered to be in the water than above it, think cliffs may be out of reach for a while yet, and i'm sure a trip to a good bit of rock is a lot quicker than a good wave

[MariaD]

The west coast of Scotland is the place to be - I love the fact that you can spend a day climbing on the Cuillin ridge and then go for a paddle in the sea on the way back to your car....

Best of both worlds!

[scoi]

Paddle in scotland! I thought wales was chilly all suited up, that just sounds foolish

[MariaD]

In September (at the end of the summer, when the sea's had a chance to warm up) the water's lovely!

Totall off-topic, but on that same trip to Skye I also attended an EXCELLENT midnight hike / art installation at the Storr. This is the link (http://www.nva.org.uk/storr/home.html). The installation's over now but the NVA do similar installations in other natural landscapes as well, so it's worth keeping an eye out. It was all done in a very eco-friendly way and the experience was something I certainly won't forget in a hurry...

This (http://www.nva.org.uk/) is the NVA's main website - it's worth keeping an eye on.

[scoi]

managed an hour session in croyde without a wetsuit at august bank holiday, never been in north of pembroke so no idea how cold it would be, but doesnt tickle my fancy

[MariaD]

I don't know, you soft southerners.....! ;)

[scoi]

Southern by residence, Welsh by the grace of God.

[Ollie]

Anyway use amersham or OB regularly?

Not really :( Might try and get over there for a while some time next week - would be the first time in ages! but will have to see what time and energy i have :D

[scoi]

Booking a group taster session with people from work at the climb, is it reccomended that i do the 4 session training course after or just find someone to teach me the basics

[Ollie]

Last I checked the climb had a 'card' system in place so you have to 'show' your ability (though i think it's just the basics eg tying in and being safe) before they let you loose on the wall. Don't know if they'd let 'someone' show you anything without you first going through a session with them anyway to be honest - you'd probably have to ask them that, although nick may know?!

[Marmot]

yer, they have a three card system which supposedly limits what u can do, level 1 is just bouldering, level 2 im not sure - im guessing belaying and climbing on top ropes, level 3 leading -

i think the problem would be is that someone with level 1 cant belay for a level 3 leading so a level 3 couldnt teach a level 1 how to lead climb cause he doesnt alsready know ... if u see what i mean?

[MariaD]

Aaagh, you're making my head hurt!

[Ollie]

Yeah, I think level 2 is top roping and belaying.

It does get a bit complicated ;) All this beurocratic health and safety stuff, eh? ;)