Hello,
Any climbers here? Just started out as a "its my birthday and need to conquer my fears" kinda thing.
Anyone know of a good populated forum for climbing, much like this one I might add.
If not well here is a thread to start it off!

I climb indoors twice a week and outside as often as possible.

http://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/ is a pretty good place to start.

It is by far and away the best exercise I've ever done. And nothing beats the rush you get when you nail that climb you've been working on for a while.

If you've got any specific questions you'd like answered just let me know.

Having a look on there now, found a video of Plym so I've got some ideas for a bit of bouldering.

Bouldering's fun but not as fun as holding on for dear life 300m up a cliff trying to get over a crux on trad gear.

It's all about the exposure!

Can I ask you a favour, on the UKclimbing forum there is a Wildcat harness for sale, sound worth it?

Unless the harness is brand new, unused and still has shop tags still attached, I'd not use it. Same with ropes, slings etc.

Bouldering is great to improve strength and technique but at the start its best to do routes. Where abouts in the country are you? As long as you have a good climbing wall nearby you should have no problem improving nice and quickly.

As mentioned, general rule of buying secondhand climbing gear is to only trust equipment that is unused with a receipt.

I'm right down in Plym, there are a few walls within a 30ish minute drive from me.

Righto in that case cos I can't see it I'll give it a miss and save to buy one directly from a store.

Have a look on rockrun and needlesports for a harness, rockrun usually have some offers on harness'.

I'm really tempted to hit the credit card for a harness now. Any of you guys in the southwest?

Andy100 thanks for the link; never knew there was a climbing wall in Stoke!

Pretty much settled on a DMM Renegrade Pro harness, once I've had some feed back from peeps who use it on the UK Climber forum that is in case I've missed any other options.

Got it now, big up to Rockrun for very quick service, now just need to wait til Thurs to get it out.

I've been climbing for the last 18 years. Trad, sport, winter mixed and more recently bouldering. I love it, the thrill just doesn't go away. I don't climb as hard as I used to when I was a student but I'm definately stronger these days!

I only climbed a little before I moved to Sydney 5 years ago but now I can't get enough.

The number of crags here is amazing and I've got a climbing gym 5 minutes from my house!

Absolutely love climbing, sadly nowhere around here to do it so I haven't done it regularly in a while. Will be doing some climbing in Thailand this Christmas .

A little bit of inspirational music for you

Brilliant, ab-so-lutely brilliant.

Love that Kirk!

Worth posting up a few climbing photos? I reckon so!

Here's a shot from the Ben last year looking across to Indicator Wall, taken from low down on Tower Ridge:



Here's me leading Great Western (HVS 5A) at Almscliff. Amazing route.



At spot of Climbing photography on the Pinnacle in Troutdale:



My attempt at the direct finish to The Pocket (V8) at the Langdale Boulders



Crazy smearing problem at Fontainebleau:



Topping out at Burbage:

is that along the first section of burbage north? the first section is awesome for some cheeky soloing

Yeah, just under the bridge

nice, think i've got the first dozen or more routes ticked along there in my guidebook for solos. Reminds me that I need to get back up to the peaks soon!

Noticed the OP is down in Plymouth so plenty close enough to Dartmoor where there is quite a bit of nice climbing to be had. I remember a particular route at Dewerstone, Central Groove being particularly nice. Worth getting out there if you know someone that can lead and take you up it!

He also needs to get himself across to Portland for a spot of Sport (although it's a bit of a sandbagger for newbies) and Swanage for some class sea-cliff trad. It's worth it for the tea room at Worth Matravers alone

I've heard of that place in passing, and I've prob driven past cos I do like a yomp across Dartmoor.
Now to find someone who fancies going!

Portland is fantastic at the right time of year. Feels like spain when the sun is shining and the cliff are fantastic.

Which place? Burbage? That's in the Peak District. Swanage or Portland? They're on the south coast between Weymouth and Bournemouth.

Went to Dartrock last night at Buckfastleigh, made it up a couple of 5+ routes, although I might have used one hold of a different colour!

Good man, keep going and keep learning. Have a bash at bouldering once you've done a few sport sessions indoors. Bouldering is initially quite difficult to get into but it's fabulous for technique, power and visualising how to do moves. The great thing about bouldering is it pushes your technical abilty to the limits without much of the danger of trad (and in some cases some necky sport) climbing.

Your best bet is to find some like-minded mates who are all up for going as much as possible. I climb far harder and far better with a couple of friends when bouldering because I watch and learn how they attempt problems. No two people will try something the same way and sometimes that's the key to unlocking a problem.

Well went and had a ply on rocks down on the Hoe today, outside bouldering is a darn sight harder than indoor rooms!
So much harder to find/confirm holds. My arms have massive pump despite being back for an hours or so!

Get yourself a decent mat and some spotters. bouldering might be safer than trad but you can still mess yourself up if you land on your head or deck onto a carp landing. make sure you warm your fingers up before pulling anything hard as well - it's very easy to pop a tendon (voe) when bouldering.

Yeah was very aware of the concrete below me, as such wasn't more than 3 foot and mostly vertical for the session,
Bumped into a couple of climbers out going up a good 10ft with only a mat at the bottom. Think thats a bit above me yet.
Judging by the amount of time I'm spent thinking about it and the ratio of free evenings spent climbing I appear to have found a new obsession!

Climbing is awesome mate, bouldering is just climbing for the real men

You will get used to going way above the mats. Its all about learning to fall in a controlled way.

Hey I'm orginally from Plymouth and used to do a lot of climbing down there when I was younger. Get yourself this guidebook: South Devon & Dartmoor: A Climbers Guide

Dartmoor is a great place to go, both for bouldering and some nice easy starter climbs. When you have more experience there are some fantastic sea cliff climbs in North Devon and Cornwall as well. Join a local club and they will *excuse the pun* show you the ropes!

I've found a group of people to join, we're planning on top roping Sheep's Tor at some point. Which should be a nice first challenge.