Bicep fatigue in rope walking

[Dan Cobb]

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.

I have an over the shoulder bungee for tending a rope runner pro when using the chest roller. I don't always use it. My knee ascender tends to push the RRP up the rope and I can always manually tend it as needed.

With my setup (RRP between the chest roller and knee ascender), it's either the roller or the RRP; i can't load both of them at the same time. If I used an extra long bridge or a 10-12" extender to let the RRP ride above the chest roller, the chest roller would push it up the rope. But I don't like the RRP that high. Maybe an adjustable bridge would be a good option.

 

[oldoakman]

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.

I used to set my roller above my rope wrench/hitch climber combo but a few years ago at Geezers one of the techs set me without the hitchclimber and it is flawless. When I reach height I have to take a minute to install the hitch climber but that is a good non issue. I will have to play with the RRP above the roller to push it up and connect in at height.

 

[Dan Cobb]

I'd leave the RRP off and attach it once I'm at working height if (a) I didn't have such a strong preference for threading the RRP onto the rope, rather than midline attaching it, (b) I was willing to give up the option of easily swapping to the RRP on ascent and (c) I was willing to give up rapid descent capability.

If somehow you're stuck free hanging on ascent, attaching the RRP (or other device) will be difficult when the rope is under tension.

I want my system to be able to handle a chest roller failure without major incident. Without a device attached to your bridge, you could invert. The knee ascender stirrup is going to come off your foot if it doesn't have a load bearing, positive attachment. So now your only attachment is the foot ascender. Does it get ripped off your boot or come off the rope? Does it break your ankle when you fall into the inverted position and leave you hanging by your broken ankle? I don't know and don't want to find out. A safety tether from the knee ascender to the bridge is better than nothing, but can leave you in an awkward position if you load your bridge and your foot stays in the stirrup.

 

[oceans]

I have an over the shoulder bungee for tending a rope runner pro when using the chest roller. I don't always use it. My knee ascender tends to push the RRP up the rope and I can always manually tend it as needed.

With my setup (RRP between the chest roller and knee ascender), it's either the roller or the RRP; i can't load both of them at the same time. If I used an extra long bridge or a 10-12" extender to let the RRP ride above the chest roller, the chest roller would push it up the rope. But I don't like the RRP that high. Maybe an adjustable bridge would be a good option.

I used to run an adjustable bridge, but eventually settled on the TM evo with two bridges. I adjusted one short and one longer. Sort of what @moss calls a binary setup.

 

[oceans]

All these ideas are good. Every situation is different. What I settled on for my tree height, and the fact that I almost always do work on my way up, is a R foot ascender, Multiscender, and a dual handled ascender. I usually want one foot free to fend against the trunk. So many different ways, but like I said, I’m usually tagging work on my ascent. Zero change over required, and super fast between hanging plumb or working off angle.

 

[oldoakman]

All these ideas are good. Every situation is different. What I settled on for my tree height, and the fact that I almost always do work on my way up, is a R foot ascender, Multiscender, and a dual handled ascender. I usually want one foot free to fend against the trunk. So many different ways, but like I said, I’m usually tagging work on my ascent. Zero change over required, and super fast between hanging plumb or working off angle.

At my age I am just thankful I can still get up a tree.

 

[oceans]

At my age I am just thankful I can still get up a tree.

And the trees are likely thankful that someone like you is working on them.

 

[LBF]

I feel like I need to make some changes to my setup, my arms get tired climbing and I thought going with just one foot ascender would be fine, but I’m really starting to think I’d be better off with a knee ascender too and doing it as a full rope walking. Originally I thought a footie on my right would be best since I have a bad left hip, but now I’m not sure it would really hurt my left to be doing some of the work because it would be a more natural motion climbing right-left-right-left than right-right-right. Kinda wish I could get to kinda rec climb a bit with some of you all and see your gear setups and all. I’ve done a lot of research and watched a lot of vids, but I’ve always been better with hands on. I’m no pro tree climber, but some rec climbing and tending to the trees around here on my own is nice.

 

[Treeaddict]

LBF, I’m in Harford county Maryland if you’d want to stop by to climb. Not sure how far you are. I agree that a knee ascender will do wonders for you.

 

[LBF]

LBF, I’m in Harford county Maryland if you’d want to stop by to climb. Not sure how far you are. I agree that a knee ascender will do wonders for you.

I’m near Butler, PA, so a bit of a hoof. I’m still kinda restricted with driving yet and I wouldn’t want to be driving and climbing just yet, hopefully by nice weather next year I might be able to take you up on that. Only able to venture about an hour from home on my own with a long rest before coming back. That gets me to the GF’s and back after a few days, lol. She’s over in Ohio though.

 

[Mark Chisholm]

Definitely recommend a rock exotica chest roller for long ascents that won't burn the biceps too much. It was my first ascent system that got me into my first redwood. 262' with no breaks. Without it, no chance.

 

[SoftBankHawks]

@Tom Dunlap I like that, pausing to view the tree in sections as you ascend. Basal anchored ascent often positions climber away from the tree, but the initial 'connection' (safety, heart etc) is stepped over. Climbing closer to the trunk allows you to position the toes against it as you ascend, and even a little of this gives great relief. That is my favorite, toes and hands touching the trunk as I (try to) flow up the rope, passing here and there to take in the view and drum up ideas.
I view my primary device more as a 'hand ascender' than a 'chest ascender'. Sitting further away from my bridge allows a chest roller to clip in underneath it, getting the body close and upright.

Experiment with bungee rigging. Run it from the knee ascender through a small pulley at chest height, then back down and clip it to your foot ascender. Best saved for really long climbs, just lovely to engage both legs with energy saving rubber recoil.

SRS ascent is cool.

 

[climbingmonkey24]

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.

For what it’s worth coming from me,

As a bodybuilder I would suggest training your upper body and lower body (strength). Nothing crazy, not like you have to bulk up to win a bodybuilding competition. I would suggest a good solid weight training routine that would hit all parts of your upper body plus lower body and core to help strengthen those muscles.

I’m into bodybuilding, so naturally I’m gonna be inclined to suggest weight training etc. But really what matters Is building strength with your arms, shoulder, chest, and core. Also legs though. Don’t underestimate the power of legs. If you use a foot ascender for most of your ascents, you’ll be glad you trained your leg muscles

 

[CutHighnLetFly]

@Treeaddict the main things to focus on are your length of bridge and how hight
your system is when attached to what you use to advance it. I use my lanyard over the should. With an adjustable.bridge and using the lanyard over the shoulder, it's all very adjustable. Having my system sit higher than my belly button is around the height I need to not need to hold myself up with my biceps during ascents