Moderator: Tim White
driggs wrote:I'm considering purchasing a large J-rack for large drops (TAG, bridge day... not El Cap!) and I'm confused by the two options for rack eyes. Available are:
- "straight" eye, where the eye itself is parallel to the brake bars
- 90deg rotated eye, where the eye itself is perpendicular to the brake bars
So, for larger drops, is it preferable to rappel with the brake bars horizontal (looking at the bars with the rope over/under) or vertical (looking at the side of the rack with the rope feeding side to side)? On Rope implies that the vertical positioning aids in adding/removing bars.
Is it preferable to attach a J-rack directly to the harness D-ring, or is it recommended to use an intermediate 'biner/screwlink between the rack and D-ring? I like being able to remove a rack after changeover, but don't look forward to making changeovers even more difficult with added length.
It seems that both of these questions would affect which eye style to purchase.
Scott McCrea wrote:Proper rack orientation is perpendicular to your body (looking at the side of the rack).
Your harness determines which style of rack (straight or twisted) you need. Assuming you have link (biner, screwlink, etc) between your harness and rack, caving harnesses with a D-link flat against your belly require a twisted rack. Each link added or taken away between your harness and rack will change the orientation. So, you have to determine the number of links and imagine how the rack will ride. Then, buy the appropriate rack.
If you are using a ropewalker, you should put a biner/link between your rack and D-ring. The extra 'slop' created by the link is sometimes necessary when changing over with a RW. It's difficult to explain quickly, so just trust me for now. Being able to leave it on is still an option with a link.
cob wrote:...I am a firm believer in the KISS principle
hank moon wrote:cob wrote:the KISS principle: Keep It Simple Stupid.
isn't "keep it super simple" a more powerful statement?
Scott McCrea wrote:Proper rack orientation is perpendicular to your body (looking at the side of the rack).
cob wrote:The fewer links you have between you and the rack... the fewer things to break.
mgmills wrote:hank moon wrote:cob wrote:the KISS principle: Keep It Simple Stupid.
isn't "keep it super simple" a more powerful statement?
Hank, I like your acronym better . . . I've always heard it the way "cob" posted it but your's is nicer.
cob wrote:Scott, I have done... probably between a hundred and a hundred and fifty changeovers (or variations thereof)(maybe more) both in cave and without (25-75% I would say) and I have never run into the difficulty you mention. Is it because I do not use a "D-ring" at all? I am honestly puzzled...
cob wrote:PERSONALLY... I just feel that this is one more link in the chain, one more link to break.
Scott McCrea wrote:I have only seen it happen with a caving type harness that uses a D-ring (mallion) that sits flat against your belly. If you have a harness that allows you to clip directly into some webbing or something, this would probably allow enough 'play' or 'slop' to avoid the problem.
It's kind of tough to explain and even tougher to explain to someone hanging 40' of the deck why they are stuck and how to get out of it. I've seen this happen four times now. The first time, I was the stuck one.
Rastus wrote:What do folks think about attaching the rack directly to a second maillon located beneath the first? On Rope suggests that it may keep things a bit neater as the ascending and descending rigs attachments are separate.
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