My spikes, new to climbing and having problems

[jace]

I spent at least the first five five years of my climbing career climbing without spikes,leaving pegs,stubs ect as i went but borrowed a mates set oneday and never looked back! A dismantle becomes a breeze with them but remember you shouldnt use for a reduction ect or in a TPO tree! Sometimes i get a groundsman to send them up once i reach the canopy. oh and be carefull not to spike urself i have holes in my boots/inside leg often!! Just sharpen with a flat file when they start to round off and dnt walk around with them on the ground trying to look cool like some guys do he he!

[egs]

70 degree angle is the key., straight legs, little steps. and sharp spikes

[josharb87]

I hated spiking too. And learnt on a sycamore. It felt totally alien. Having these metal things on my legs and walking up the tree!

 

I still haven't got fully used to them. Hell, I've not climbed properly in months. I've lost so much of it now. Need more climbing jobs, a buddy to climb in my free time with or just free time to go and climb

 

rob, youre avatar pic and comment about not used to spikes promted me to say this, dont spike up the underside of the lean on a tree, it may seem safer in youre head, but you always want to be on the topside of the lean where gravity is then youre friend:thumbup:

 

and ditto huck, definatly legs slightly bent

and ditto woodpicker on the sharpening, inside lowest face only

Edited September 9, 2010 by josharb87

[Jamie]

if they're slipping out you need to lean back, my spikes are rarely razor sharp and they always sink in. the only time i batter them in is when i'm on bendy pole and roping the top out. just to make me feel more secure. experiment with your strop length and eventually it'll all make sense, oh and stay on top.

 

Jamie