bought micro rack as my first .question about my weight

[rickster]

I bought the micro rack at the advice of a local caver.After having discovered your lengthy mr vs fr threads./arguments...im very confused now.I hvanet been on rope yet and plan on having cavemud to show me how to use this thing properly.I also got the revised edition of onrope. I am 6' 3" and m y weight averages 210.Was this a poor first choice?

[ek]

So long as you get good instruction before using the device "for real", you'll probably be OK...though some heavier people find it difficult to control their descent with a micro-rack. If you find it difficult, then you should stop using the micro-rack, and use some other device like a full standard rack.

In my experience, people over 200 lbs do much better with the short (8") frame micro-rack than with the long (10") frame micro rack. Which did you purchase?

[MUD]

Ya did alright Rick! You just have to learn the "ropes" now... ...we'll go over all things vertical next weekend at *MUDfest* There will be all kinds of vertical devices there to try out!

[rickster]

its the 8" frame.

[rickster]

Thats Kool Mud.Cant Wait.

[Tim White]

The issue may be that the 8' frame will not allow you the length (space) to spread the bars to reduce friction. You will just have to try it and see. But remember training may not be the same as real world use. Dirty rope, stiff rope, etc. will all change how the rack works.
And don't forget don't feed the micro rack! See NYLON HIGHWAY NO. 48 - 2003 (Electronic Format)

[Chads93GT]

How do you view those electronic issues? there aren't an links on that page, only text saying what articles are in each issue.

[ronsdavis]

Being a 210 pounder myself, the 8" will certainly work. I did 281' on it yesterday. I did have to feed it though. I used the hyperbar, so I had more friction, but much less chance of popping any bars. The 10" rack would certainly make it easier to control, and in some cases make it so you can actually move. There is also a method of running through two bars, the hyperbar, and a braking carabiner. This gives you much more control, but is certainly not a first time on rope technique.

[ljthawk]

Being a 210 pounder myself, the 8" will certainly work. I did 281' on it yesterday. I did have to feed it though. I used the hyperbar, so I had more friction, but much less chance of popping any bars.

Yes, Ron Did. I believe that was on 11mm clean, but not new, rope.

L.J.

[MoonshineR DavE]

Rickster, I am about 210 and have the 10" with dual hyperbars. The second hyperbar never seems to get any use though. I will be at MUDfest, you can give it a try if you want.

[Dwight Livingston]

Rickster

The 8-inch rack will give you less opportunity to reduce friction than a 10-inch rack. It may work fine with clean or thin ropes but give you trouble on a fat dirty rope and force you to feed the rope, which is best to avoid.

You can mount your rack to allow you to reduce friction to a minimum. To do so, attach the rack to your d-ring using a quicklink (or a locking 'biner if you are in that camp.) Attach it so that the tail of the rope enters the bottom of your rack from the far side. If you are right handed, you will probably have to reinstall the hyperbar so that it is on the right side when attached this way.

To reduce friction to a minimum while on rappel, take the tail off the hyperbar and spread the bars as far a possible. Don't place the tail over your hip, but rather let it feed up between your legs. With the setup described above, the tail will not have to curl around the rack frame. This avoids a significant amount of friction. I use this configuration on some of our perminent rigs, and it allows me to get down without feeding.

Recently I described this all to Carroll Bassett. He had not explored this issue, which explains way new racks are assembled as they are.

Dwight

[driggs]

How do you view those electronic issues? there aren't an links on that page, only text saying what articles are in each issue.

Issues #43 and higher are available electronically to members of the NSS Vertical Section (See: free Vertical Section signup) by clicking the unlinkable password-protected JavaScript text "Members' Access to Nylon Highway On-Line" on the Nylon Highway Issues page.

Luckily, author Scott McCrea makes things easy for you by simply putting his excellent article online: DANGER! Don't feed the micro-rack!