Bicep fatigue in rope walking

[Treeaddict]

I’m a part time amateur arborist who’s been engaged in the trade for a year. Over the past 6 months, I’ve switched to SRT and rope walking. During a 90’ ascent I’ll stop usually twice- once at 50’ and once at 70’ (of course there’s the stop at 90’). I’ll rest my biceps for about 30 seconds each stop. As much as I try to focus on form and leg power only this still happens. Do /have you guys experienced this? Trying to figure out if it’s normal, need adjustments, or just bigger biceps.

 

[chiselbit]

I think it was @oceans ? That put up a video of using his hands just for balance. Or maybe he was just talking about it,,either way form has a LOT to do with it.

 

[Dan Cobb]

I like using a chest roller so my hands are free to navigate around obstacles, etc. No bicep fatigue either.

 

[oceans]

I think it was @oceans ? That put up a video of using his hands just for balance. Or maybe he was just talking about it,,either way form has a LOT to do with it.

Yes, it is very possible to use your hands for balance only. I wish I had a whole day with unlimited gear selection to try with every climber I’ve ever worked with at trainings and workshops. As you said, everyone is built differently, and often times a really minute adjustment can make their whole system come together and flow. It just takes time and attention to the details.

 

[Stumpsprouts]

I’m a part time amateur arborist who’s been engaged in the trade for a year. Over the past 6 months, I’ve switched to SRT and rope walking. During a 90’ ascent I’ll stop usually twice- once at 50’ and once at 70’ (of course there’s the stop at 90’). I’ll rest my biceps for about 30 seconds each stop. As much as I try to focus on form and leg power only this still happens. Do /have you guys experienced this? Trying to figure out if it’s normal, need adjustments, or just bigger biceps.

I pause often on long ascents. Most production climbers I see do this as well.. much to do up in the tree and usually the climber is waiting for the ground crew by the time they get up there so what’s the rush.

 

[Neill]

I can’t even climb a single set of stairs without taking a break.

 

[Treeaddict]

Yeah, it’s like a meditation on legs. Naturally I’ll want to pull myself up with my arms. I think I do well with form and leg engagement but it makes me feel better that I’m not the only one who can’t just race to the top in one swoop.

That chest roller is AWESOME! Will certainly look into it deeper. I almost wish I hadn’t seen it because now it will most likely be purchased in the next month.

 

[moss]

I pause often on long ascents. Most production climbers I see do this as well.. much to do up in the tree and usually the climber is waiting for the ground crew by the time they get up there so what’s the rush.

Yep yep yep. Pausing is excellent to study the tree, always new information as you go up. If you feel forced to stop and rest it means for wherever you're at with your system configuration and climbing mechanics you're going too fast. It takes practice/experience to determine what is a sustainable pace for a given height ascent.

Climbing "arms free" is a great demonstration of a well-tuned system however... integrating all of your body including arms during "open" ascent (not climbing through obstacles) is the bomb. I think the emphasis has generally shifted to the legs because most male climbers tend to depend on their upper body strength in their climbing. Thinking of climbing as vertical swimming is very helpful to go towards balancing load through all your major muscle groups. Or watch skilled women climb and get inspired.
-AJ

 

[Treeaddict]

I know what you mean about the speed. It took me a while to get where I’m at now regarding optimal speed, step length, rhythm, and hand placement. Still dialing it in though. I thought maybe an adjustable bridge may help but that chest ascender has really piqued my interest

 

[moss]

I know what you mean about the speed. It took me a while to get where I’m at now regarding optimal speed, step length, rhythm, and hand placement. Still dialing it in though. I thought maybe an adjustable bridge may help but that chest ascender has really piqued my interest

What? Chest ascender? That’s cheating!

Nothing is cheating. A good SRT chest harness will do the trick as well. Chest roller is super cool but requires some additional modifications to your overall setup to fit it in.
-AJ

 

[southsoundtree]

Pacing.

I don't closer my hands on the rope.

Stay as upright as possible.

Short, steady strides.

 

[Friedrich]

some time ago @Tom Dunlap said something alon the lines of "don't raise your hand higher than your eyebrows" that helped me immensly.

 

[pete3d]

Speaking as a misshapen human, congenitally unsuited to tree climbing (but with a spirit that craves the branches and boughs), I can assure you for some of us the use of the arms to climb is not optional.

At 6 feet tall with a 30” inseam (thank goodness my wife likes hemming pants) and a 6’-5” arm span (and a mouth breather too, but devilishly handsome ), there’s no saddle adjustment that will keep me anything but inverted, heading earthward with my feet pointing at the sky, unless I use my arms proactively, at all times but particularly while ascending, so bicep burn is very familiar to me.

Thanks to @Dan Cobb and his “no hands” proselytization I’ve recently sewn up a chest harness using 1” nylon webbing, a mini biner, and little pulley that makes a huge difference for assent, but must of course come off at the top, so I’m still “hanging on”up there.

 

[oceans]

Stationary systems have truly come a long way…and for everyone.

Earlier this year, I volunteered to facilitate the NEC-ISA Climbing Comp. I was the in-tree tech for the ascent event. This was the very first year that every single climber physically made it through the challenge. Some faster than others, and some incomplete due to technicalities, but all climbers rang the hand bell, made the change over, and rang again.

Now that’s proof in the pudding. Could some of them really dial in their systems for more performance? Yes. But at least they’re somewhat on track. The best overall times come from the combination of foot & knee ascenders, multiscender, with hand over hand above. That was probably the most common system in play as well.

The system described above is also what I would likely use, and to reduce fatigue, gloves make a huge difference. There is also a different body motion you can use while rope walking with a dual handled ascender. Sort of pause after each leg stroke and advance the ascender.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

My Unicender is on my adjustable bridge

With a bungee neck lanyard I can position the Uni like you would a chest ascender. My preference is to have the top eye right where my ribs come together. The CPR target

My hands either balance on the rope or I’ll use them for climbing

There’s no reason not to stop on the way up. Surveying the canopy in layers as you ascend pays off. You might see bad structure or worse …stinging insect nests. Nothing gained by arriving at the top of the tree exhausted.

 

[JeffGu]

...arriving at the top of the tree exhausted.

I usually arrive at the bottom of the tree exhausted.

 

[Treeaddict]

I think an adjustable bridge will be the next upgrade. It should keep my Akimbo lower so my hands will be lower as a result. May forgo the ally ring and clip directly on the rope bridge to loose a couple inches and see how it works

 

[oldoakman]

Recently here I have developed issues in my right shoulder and have had some nagging pain. Friday I did a demo climb with just my chest harness that irritated that shoulder. Yesterday doing some work I opted for the chest roller. Big difference! I guess I will just have to use the roller more often.

 

[Treeaddict]

This thread introduced me to the chest roller- never seen it before. So many questions! How is your device/ Prusik tended when your chest tether goes away to make room for the roller? Neck tether or lanyard over the shoulder trick? Can you tend your device from the roller?
I know a lot of folks use a neck tether to tend but I feel strange putting a rope around my neck. If I did, the rope would need to be fairly week to ease the fear of a short fall with the rope caught on a branch.

 

[islandarb]

Eric @oceans, built me a frog walker setup when I started SRT in summer of 2012 when I visited him. What a feeling. Shortly afterward knee ascenders came out with a HASS. I then built a chest harness, which I sold many many many. I had tried the Petzl Voltaige but too bulky. Hand over hand became a thing. I have spent 10 years dialing everything together to what I use today. It is perfect and flawless. I could ascend any height smoothly without breaking a sweat. It is my favourite time of the day, ascending. Pace and move up. OP you will be fine, no chest roller is needed. Save that for the redwoods. I use a wrench setup very compact and a SAKA mini dialed for my stride length and a ninja by harken for a footy. Never kickout. All KISS in my opinion. Walking rope single line is all setup and technique. Keep dialing. Keep upright. If you are falling backwards or fowards something needs correcting.