[Bonjoy]

Anyone tried it/ done it? I heard an ugly rumour that it's harder than The Beast. That's the red rag, i'm the bull. I also heard a rumour that it may not have been done, that it might be an idea/concept that got written up as having been done. By Dawes was it? Anyone know the facts? I'm all ears (with a pair of triceps dangling off)
 It's the weird/nasty looking slippy rock mantle at the bottom of Janus at Curbar.

[grimer]

I presume this came up at the Works on Sunday. I had a vague memory that Mike Lea had dome a problem below Janus and asked him and he said that it was this, Ramboid, mantelling onto that slippery white triangle. He said V8, english 7a, and described the moves. Travs was there, he might have said he did it too, although he spoke ever so softly. I bet it's nice being Mike Lea-sized.

[Bonjoy]

 It did come up at Works Sunday, then I promptly forgot who'd mentioned it. Cheers. Will be throwing my all at it soon hopefully.

[Houdini]

Ramboid is such a twisted name, isn't it?  It sounds ace.  And there's nowt wrong w/Mike Leas size, Mike Raine maybe, but not Lea.

[Jaspersharpe]

He said V8

Did he actually say that or did he offer a proper grade for it? 

[Houdini]

I couldn't possibly comment on what Grimer said.  

[travs]

OK, so I better clear this up as I was there when Grimer spoke to Mike on Sunday. Mike offered a grade of Font 7a, which is probably right. Mike showed me the problem some 18 years ago and I promptly dispatched it first go thinking it was pretty straight forward. However, I would hasten to add that on subsequent visits the problem felt totally different, not easy and not done first go. So what can I say? If the conditions are good, your tricepes are powered up and you've spent all winter doing crazy mantels on the Poly wall it is probably Font 7a, otherwise who knows? PS Grimer, if I spoke softly on Sunday and offended you any way I am truly sorry, it was only because I was in awe of being in your presence. I promise to speak up in future.

[Bonjoy]

 I tell you what, you go try/do the Beast and i'll try/do Ramboid and then we can figure out once and for all which is the Peak's sickest mantel (other than Victorian Overmantle which i'm told isn't actually a mantle, but have never really tried).

[Houdini]

So, Victorian Overmantle is no mantle?


Perhaps that could explain why mantelling it seem ferocious to me.  2/3rds there . . .

Beta?

[Fiend]

Beta? Don't mantel it, obviously  ???

Where does A Little Perculiar fit into this?? Apart from being a little too highball too.

[Houdini]

So do you have any non-mantle beta Feind or is today State the Obvious Day?   (Really must sort my calender out. . . )

[Fiend]

Sorry, just the latter 

[Bonjoy]

could be the sickest mantel in the Peak, but it's on a route. Any other boulder prob contenders i've forgotten? Come to think of it I can't do Raw Power at Rowtor, although others seem to find it ok.
Rumour has it that  A Little Perculiar has never had a full ascent, Paul Higginson opting to bail out after the mantle rather than man up and do Elegy!

[fatdoc]

there's that V4 (!!!) going up to the right from the 7a traverse on the way to counts buttress (name failure, sorry - the 7a is on wimter sessions) - it desperate!!! - the landing is well dodgy an all...

the line to the right again i reckon is a mantle.
failed dismally on both recently

[Bonjoy]

By 7a trav might you mean Poundland (a left to right 7b+), which is next to a rockover/mantle called Surprise direct.

[travs]

OK so where is 'The Beast' and what grade is it, are you going to make me look silly by not knowing this?

[Bonjoy]

 It's in Ru's bouldering guide and new BMC Stanage Guide. Up near High Neb. Follow High Neb path, continue along it past High Neb, you will pass a millstone with a smiley face scratched on it, not far past this up on the right, visible from the path on a block just right of a triangular slab (Beauty 6c+). From break under roof gain lip and mantle it, aretes are out of bounds (obviously). As far as I know only me and Andy Harris have done it despite quite a few notables attempting. Given 7b. Flexible rotatable shoulders are useful.

[Johnny Brown]

Flexible rotatable shoulders are useful

aka 'clac-clac elbows'

[travs]

Excellent, I will venture up, now doubt with the company the said Mr Lea to have a look and will report back.

[Bonjoy]

A formidable mantelling team indeed! Can it hold out? 

Flexible rotatable shoulders are useful

Yes. If you can break an egg between your elbows with hands in your trouser pockets then your in!

[grimer]

Mike offered a grade of Font 7a, which is probably right.

Just to prove you only hear what you want to hear, not only had I thought he said V8, but I also thought he meant English 7a.

PS Grimer, if I spoke softly on Sunday and offended you any way I am truly sorry, it was only because I was in awe of being in your presence. I promise to speak up in future.

Not at all. I'm all for quiet. And my ears were bunged from having a cold. Even Mike seemed quiet that day

[Andy Harris]

Travs, My elbows aren't clack clack although they do make some alarming clicks at times. Think you will have to opt for my sequence which was quite strenuous. I have a vid on my phone so give me a shout the next time we meet up. Took me 20 seconds of scuttling and grunting to press out the move.

It really is very good.

[Fiend]

Flexible rotatable shoulders are useful

aka 'clac-clac elbows'

Bonjoy has crab genes AS WELL? Blimey what a mish-mash. Shouldn't bee surprised though.

[dobbin]

Took me 20 seconds of scuttling and grunting to press out the move.

Some years ago (might have been Roy's stag) Mr Heap asserted that you had outgrown the 'Crimping' Andy Harris moniker. I would like to propose 'Scuttling' Andy Harris as its replacement.

[Bonjoy]

Any man who eats as many crabs as Mr Harris does is bound to be adept at scuttling