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ACLSRN
Jul 13, 2011, 12:25 PM
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I have never been to an indoor gym - yet - and am wondering what the colored tape on the gym walls mean near the holds. Do they represent what the 'grade' is suppose to be - if say - one was to use the 'blue marked' holds for a climb verses say - the red ones? ???
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j_ung
Jul 13, 2011, 12:35 PM
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The answer may vary from gym to gym, but in most cases, no, tape color does not denote difficulty level. It only differentiates routes. That way, the gym can place multiple routes of the same grade right next to each other without confusing the two.
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ACLSRN
Jul 13, 2011, 12:49 PM
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OK - well the pics that I am seeing have diff colors all on the same routes and wall....let me post a pic of what I mean, etc. Here for example - we see yellow, blue and red all on the same 'path' or route? ???
(This post was edited by ACLSRN on Jul 13, 2011, 12:52 PM)
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wrbill
Jul 13, 2011, 1:45 PM
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What you might be talking about is the fact that some of the holds have more than one color of tape on it. Well to answer your question about the tape. If the tape is blue in color you can use any hold that has the blue tape. If the or climb the route with the yellow tape and use just the holds with the yellow tape. If a hold were to have blue and yellow tape next to it you could use it for both routes. Hope this helps. But this might be a TROLL! If not your question has been answered.
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edge
Jul 13, 2011, 1:50 PM
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When climbing a route, say the "blue route," you can only use holds with blue tape on them. These holds may also be part of a different route (say "Yellow") but you may only use holds with blue tape on them. Both routes may overlap in spots, but will take divergent paths to the finish. Usually there is some sort of sign or marker at the base denoting something like: Blue tape, "Dyno-might" 5.8. It may also give additional, specific instructions, as in "the arete is off" or "lead climb only," as well as the route setters name or initials. To begin you can use any holds you want to climb the wall regardless of tape, but eventually you will want to follow specific taped routes to guage your climbing level and to push yourself. Of course, like outside, these grades are subjective and you personally may find certain harder rated routes easier than ones that are rated easier.
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j_ung
Jul 13, 2011, 2:18 PM
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ACLSRN wrote: OK - well the pics that I am seeing have diff colors all on the same routes and wall....let me post a pic of what I mean, etc. Here for example - we see yellow, blue and red all on the same 'path' or route? ??? No, not on the same route. In that picture, there are a collection of holds on the wall and several separate routes denoted in turn by various tape colors. If she were climbing, for example, the green route, she would ignore any hold other than those with green tape. Again, this allows the gym to set multiple climbs on one rope line, which is exactly what you're seeing in that picture. You may also be assuming that the girl in the pic is attempting to follow a specific route, but it looks to me like that isn't the case. Judging by her body and foot position, shoe selection and the fact that she's wearing a chalk bag, but has none on her hands (plus several other factors), she's a n00b, so that makes sense. BTW, in most gyms, climbs can share holds as well. In the picture you posted, the hold off her left knee is usable for both the blue climb and the yellow. Edit to insert photo:
(This post was edited by j_ung on Jul 13, 2011, 2:28 PM)
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ACLSRN
Jul 13, 2011, 2:31 PM
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j_ung wrote: ACLSRN wrote: OK - well the pics that I am seeing have diff colors all on the same routes and wall....let me post a pic of what I mean, etc. Here for example - we see yellow, blue and red all on the same 'path' or route? ??? No, not on the same route. In that picture, there are a collection of holds on the wall and several separate routes denoted in turn by various tape colors. If she were climbing, for example, the green route, she would ignore any hold other than those with green tape. Again, this allows the gym to set multiple climbs on one rope line, which is exactly what you're seeing in that picture. You may also be assuming that the girl in the pic is attempting to follow a specific route, but it looks to me like that isn't the case. Judging by her body and foot position, shoe selection and the fact that she's wearing a chalk bag, but has none on her hands (plus several other factors), she's a n00b, so that makes sense. BTW, in most gyms, climbs can share holds as well. In the picture you posted, the hold off her left knee is usable for both the blue climb and the yellow. Edit to insert photo: [image]http://www.rockclimbing.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=5823;[/image] Thanks J_ung - that's what I thought. Very observant of you to notice that she didn't have any chalk on her hands! lol! I didn't even 'catch' that myself! I figured - if say the 'blue' holds say didn't represent perhaps - for example - a 5.5 climb - how in the hell would anyone know WHAT difficulty the route they were attempting to climb WAS? Some Newbie would get on there with maybe being a 5.4 climber and then get 'sandbagged' only to find out the route they were attempting to climb was a 5.7!!!!
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j_ung
Jul 13, 2011, 3:22 PM
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ACLSRN wrote: j_ung wrote: ACLSRN wrote: OK - well the pics that I am seeing have diff colors all on the same routes and wall....let me post a pic of what I mean, etc. Here for example - we see yellow, blue and red all on the same 'path' or route? ??? No, not on the same route. In that picture, there are a collection of holds on the wall and several separate routes denoted in turn by various tape colors. If she were climbing, for example, the green route, she would ignore any hold other than those with green tape. Again, this allows the gym to set multiple climbs on one rope line, which is exactly what you're seeing in that picture. You may also be assuming that the girl in the pic is attempting to follow a specific route, but it looks to me like that isn't the case. Judging by her body and foot position, shoe selection and the fact that she's wearing a chalk bag, but has none on her hands (plus several other factors), she's a n00b, so that makes sense. BTW, in most gyms, climbs can share holds as well. In the picture you posted, the hold off her left knee is usable for both the blue climb and the yellow. Edit to insert photo: [image]http://www.rockclimbing.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=5823;[/image] Thanks J_ung - that's what I thought. Very observant of you to notice that she didn't have any chalk on her hands! lol! I didn't even 'catch' that myself! I figured - if say the 'blue' holds say didn't represent perhaps - for example - a 5.5 climb - how in the hell would anyone know WHAT difficulty the route they were attempting to climb WAS? Some Newbie would get on there with maybe being a 5.4 climber and then get 'sandbagged' only to find out the route they were attempting to climb was a 5.7!!!! Well, like edge said above, typically, there's a label at the bottom of the climb. That label should at minimum tell the climber what the approximate rating of that particular blue climb is. And for the record, some gyms are different. Just ask the staff if it's unclear.
(This post was edited by j_ung on Jul 13, 2011, 3:23 PM)
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ACLSRN
Jul 13, 2011, 3:24 PM
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Ahh OK - that's what I was wondering.... thanks all for the excellent info and replies!
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j_ung
Jul 13, 2011, 3:27 PM
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No problemo.
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edge
Jul 13, 2011, 3:49 PM
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From the pic it looks like you were checking out Albany Indoor Rock Gym. It's been a while since I've been there, but the staff was always super friendly and helpful. If I recall correctly, they did in fact have grades assigned to each route at the starting holds. While it's not a very tall gym, it has a lot of unique features. Even the artificial caving, located in behind the walls, was worth a run through, assuming you are not claustrophobic.
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ACLSRN
Jul 13, 2011, 4:04 PM
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Yes the pic is fro AIR. Yes I saw some of the caving passages....I was once an avid caver so tight spaces don't rattle me...lol. Thanks...need to go up there and check it out soon!
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