regaining control when using bars and a rack
Posted: Jan 2, 2013 12:46 am
i am certain that it is possible to get too speedy using a six bar rack with all six bars engaged...so, losing speed control with fewer bars is a given......
pushing the bars up tightly may not work...which means gripping the rope and doing leg wraps might only lead to widespread blistering........so...how do we handle when we find ourselves on too few bars and we are now officially out of control?....two ways to handle this, the quick and the sudden.......first..the quick.....
relax .......look down at your rack at the bottom bar..if the rope is on top of the bar lift the moving rope up and with the rack between you and the rope....grip the rope with significant friction; but do not try to hold the rope still, let it continue to slide...with your other hand you ADD A BAR..(always maintain a habit of adding all bars at the lowest point)..immediately after that you will significantly increase your grip on the rope and allow your hand position to shift so that the rope and the grip hand is now between you and the rack.......the object being to position the rope against the bottom of the added bar just as the rope changes from the farthest position to the nearest,......... by relaxing the grip at the right moment while raising the rope gripping hand position upwards the added bar is shoved up into the others incorporating its friction........with the rope hoisted up one can then clip in yet another bar and then change the rope back to its original position in relation to the rack using controllable hand grip and position...thereby incorporating yet another bar .....let the uncontrolled forces assist you..........
part b the quick.....
relax....look at the bottom bar.....if the rope is behind the bottom bar lift the rope with your brake hand using enough friction to bring the rope where it is between you and the rack......ADD A BAR.....increase grip rope position and grip hand rotate to raised position with the rack between it and you with the added bar engaged.....remember when changing rope position to bring the rope between the two bottom rods of the rack at its lowest point each time a bar is added so that the bar is forced upwards towards the other bars by shifting hand grip position.....
the sudden way is to understand the whole meaning behind this smooth and slick steel beast attached to your crotch.....its got this nylon thingy winding its way thru it..........if you was to shove something soft and flexible and big enough into the spot where the nylon hits the metal
it could stop you suddenly if it got sucked up into the bars.....always have this in mind before any rappel, add it to that checklist that you either do deliberately or instinctively at each rappels brink..........think about what you would use....for the brainless.....flesh and hair often isn't tough enough to stop the weight and friction stuff completely so avoid that .........
i have used the quick when doing a deep enough pit several times......and never yet the sudden.......point being, use the sudden when you give up.....it will, at the least distract you in a rather desperate moment......and...i will bet you that it works if done well enough... .....
pushing the bars up tightly may not work...which means gripping the rope and doing leg wraps might only lead to widespread blistering........so...how do we handle when we find ourselves on too few bars and we are now officially out of control?....two ways to handle this, the quick and the sudden.......first..the quick.....
relax .......look down at your rack at the bottom bar..if the rope is on top of the bar lift the moving rope up and with the rack between you and the rope....grip the rope with significant friction; but do not try to hold the rope still, let it continue to slide...with your other hand you ADD A BAR..(always maintain a habit of adding all bars at the lowest point)..immediately after that you will significantly increase your grip on the rope and allow your hand position to shift so that the rope and the grip hand is now between you and the rack.......the object being to position the rope against the bottom of the added bar just as the rope changes from the farthest position to the nearest,......... by relaxing the grip at the right moment while raising the rope gripping hand position upwards the added bar is shoved up into the others incorporating its friction........with the rope hoisted up one can then clip in yet another bar and then change the rope back to its original position in relation to the rack using controllable hand grip and position...thereby incorporating yet another bar .....let the uncontrolled forces assist you..........
part b the quick.....
relax....look at the bottom bar.....if the rope is behind the bottom bar lift the rope with your brake hand using enough friction to bring the rope where it is between you and the rack......ADD A BAR.....increase grip rope position and grip hand rotate to raised position with the rack between it and you with the added bar engaged.....remember when changing rope position to bring the rope between the two bottom rods of the rack at its lowest point each time a bar is added so that the bar is forced upwards towards the other bars by shifting hand grip position.....
the sudden way is to understand the whole meaning behind this smooth and slick steel beast attached to your crotch.....its got this nylon thingy winding its way thru it..........if you was to shove something soft and flexible and big enough into the spot where the nylon hits the metal
it could stop you suddenly if it got sucked up into the bars.....always have this in mind before any rappel, add it to that checklist that you either do deliberately or instinctively at each rappels brink..........think about what you would use....for the brainless.....flesh and hair often isn't tough enough to stop the weight and friction stuff completely so avoid that .........
i have used the quick when doing a deep enough pit several times......and never yet the sudden.......point being, use the sudden when you give up.....it will, at the least distract you in a rather desperate moment......and...i will bet you that it works if done well enough... .....