UKBouldering.com
the shizzle => shootin' the shit => Topic started by: abarro81 on April 05, 2021, 05:13:43 pm
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Anyone got any good inspiration?
- Preferably something that won't just make me want to live somewhere else even more (i.e. not skiing, snowboarding, surfing!).
- Not running (historic injuries).
- Not anything that's bad if you have a bad back.
I realise I'm leaving limited things to work with here...
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I know its the obvious one but mountain biking is great fun and has been my go to to hobby when ive had finger injuries. I found getting a full suspension bike massively more fun and kinder on my back.
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Racing pigeons
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Mountain bikes, enduro motorbikes, music production (not specific to sheffield but you just need a laptop to start).
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Patioing
Cleaning off esoterica
Luck based scrittle
RC cars
Toy soldiers
Trying to make the slightest sense of DCC's peak parking plans
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Snooker
Fishing
Brewing beer
Allotment life
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Is this due to injury? I’ve had chronically low levels of motivation for climbing the last year, not for the first time in my life, so been musing similar things. Last time I gave up I went full throttle for MTB.
What do/did you like most about climbing? My impression is partly it was the training/pain/suffering/ pushing yourself to the limit for you?
Road biking would be the obvious one to get stuck into. Plenty of suffering to be had on a bike and it takes you nice places similar to climbing. And easier on the legs than running.
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Less obvious stuff
Volunteering - scouting, charities, Samaritans, BMC
Dancing
Local politics
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To help us narrow this down, I think it's safe to say that the following are likely to fall into the "not for me" camp:
RC cars
Toy soldiers
Racing pigeons
Fishing
Brewing beer
Allotment life
Bikes of some kind seems like the obvious. Road biking looks like no fun to me, but I did used to like MTB when I was in my early teens so that's probably worth a look.
music production (not specific to sheffield but you just need a laptop to start).
Interesting one, I could imagine that being fun
Is this due to injury?
Yeah, injury. Motivation definitely not the issue for me, at least for sport climbing (but maybe is for bouldering). I think I need to take 12-18 months of putting my energy into something other than climbing. Then if I found something else I like just as much it's all good, and if not then maybe my finger will have enjoyed a year of pottering. Smashing my head against the brick wall of injury isn't fun anymore, is breaking me mentally, and no matter how much I want it I can't currently have "it" back any time soon.
Last time I gave up I went full throttle for MTB.
What do/did you like most about climbing? My impression is partly it was the training/pain/suffering/ pushing yourself to the limit for you?
I like having something to go all-in on. Trying my hardest in all aspects, not just at the time, if that makes sense? Not very good at dabbling in lots of stuff.
Too many things to list what I liked, I guess it had/has it all for me. I think I need something that's outdoor-focused and something that involves pushing myself physically. One thing climbing had that I liked was that it also had a fear/excitement aspect, but without speed (never been v good at the speed aspects for mtb, skiing etc). Problem solving aspect too, esp for redpointing. And social scene... And movement... And... :'(
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I'd be tempted to have a proper look at the various 'martial' arts - it's a big city and there'll be a huge choice.
One will suit you for sure, all will condition you and enable you to have a real focus. Not all are full contact, some are hardly any contact at all. There are even gradings 😉
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Off-width climbing.
Glad you're not dismissing snooker at least.
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Parkour? (depends how shit your knees are).
Trials biking? (lots of tinkering with machines in between the actual activity). Skill/problem solving of MTB without the speed aspect. Motorised and non options available.
Both could get you into the outdoors. You could do some parkour along the base of the tor for everyone to enjoy.
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music production (not specific to sheffield but you just need a laptop to start).
Interesting one, I could imagine that being fun
Message me if you'd like to know anything about getting started. I came to it from a background of playing guitar and singing in bands as a teenager, started using software to record demos, discovered synthesisers, ditched the guitars and microphones and now I'm well down the rabbit hole of making weird stuff that barely resembles music anymore, but I really enjoy it! I find it compliments an active hobby like climbing/mountain bikes nicely.
Another suggestion for active hobbies that includes pushing yourself, fear and excitement and problem solving is jiu-jitsu. Obviously not until the gyms open again though.
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You could do some parkour along the base of the tor for everyone to enjoy.
This would definitely lighten everyone's inter-redpoint mood! :lol:
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Another vote for snooker! Better than climbing!
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Get on a road bike Barrows. You'll be good at it, you'll also love how sorted the training is compared to climbing.
MTBing seems prime for semi serious injury whereas road biking the injury risk seems to be dictated to a certain extent by the conduct of others (in 1000kg+ vehicles).
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If it's injury that's sucking the joy out of it then why not do some trad? You still get to climb, you'll go to a load of crags you probably haven't been to or haven't been to in ages. If you do a bit of headpointing/ground upping you'll find it challenging but not in a tendon mangling sort of way and it doesn't have to be death defying.
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Bikes of some kind seems like the obvious. Road biking looks like no fun to me, but I did used to like MTB when I was in my early teens so that's probably worth a look.
I've pretty much stopped climbing in the last two months, partly a niggly shoulder injury I've been working around for a year but mostly not enjoying being out at the moment with the crowds and rule bending.
Started mountain biking a lot again and really quite enjoying it.
Been doing a combination of working the local trails around Blackamoor, Lady Cannings and Totley Moor, getting them wired trying to improve times, pretty much redpointing, become a bit of a Strava twat.
Also going out on rides from up on the moors around Castleton and Hope. Great to be up high on a nice day, grinding out climbs then enjoying nice swoopy flowy descents, and some shaky rocky stuff as well.
Having used a 2002 model bike for, well 19 years, buying a new one was an absolute revelation, they just handle so much better. I've never been that fast, too scaredy-cat downhills, but the new bike just soaks it all up and is giving me the confidence to push it.
Been having an absolute blast.
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If it's injury that's sucking the joy out of it then why not do some trad? You still get to climb, you'll go to a load of crags you probably haven't been to or haven't been to in ages. If you do a bit of headpointing/ground upping you'll find it challenging but not in a tendon mangling sort of way and it doesn't have to be death defying.
I'd agree with that, can also add in long enduro solo linkups at crags you may not have been to. I did a mix of trad anf solo linkups when I was coming back from injury in the past
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Get on a road bike Barrows. You'll be good at it, you'll also love how sorted the training is compared to climbing.
:agree:
It’s the obvious choice, especially at this time of year. You clearly love the forearm burn, just move that feeling to your thighs. Get hooked up on Strava and unleash your competitive spirit without apology.
(P.S. let me know if you want to buy a Cannondale Synapse with 105 groupset ;))
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MTB and road bike seem very obvious choices. I’ve dabbled very lightly with MTB for a few years after my son got into it and really enjoy it. Road biking was something I thought would be shit, but is actually great fun. I’m about a year in.
Both have the potential to be horrendously expensive...
I know that you have ruled out running but perhaps worth looking at trail/fell running. Road running is horrible, dull, repetitive, injury causing misery. Trail running is ace adventures, arms waving, running like a kid. Just putting it out there in case you are seeing running as purely road based torture.
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Wait a bloody minute. Why has no-one suggested golf yet?!
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Popping out a kid seems to keep most people busy for a year or two ;)
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Maybe longer term (and travel dependent) but what about mountaineering?
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Jules recommends cross-stitch.
Lots of cash but what about flying in some form?
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Jules recommends cross-stitch.
Lots of cash but what about flying in some form?
Isn't there a gliding club just outside Hathersage. Probably one of the cheapest ways into flying I'd imagine.
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I'd forgotten all about paragliding
Still on my to do list
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I have given up climbing twice, first time late twenties having moved to Hull :o for work got in to cycling. Did time trials, road racing and cyclocross, was reasonably successful at TT at a local level. Career change and working shifts meant it was hard to race as often as I liked. Did triathlons for a couple of years at good local level. Before getting back in to climbing late thirties, got injured early forties. Back to cycling started mountain biking, did ok in x country races although lacking skills due to still living in the Dull area.
Started road racing and was fairly successful before starting climbing again at 46ish because my daughter was keen. Still ride and climb which these days is easier time wise as I’m retired.
As someone said above if you like structured training a road bike is the way to go.
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There's always other types of weight training Barrows, weightlifting, crossfit etc. The opposite potentially of your sport climbing exploits!
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Rowing - club at Ewden I think.
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An authentically Sheffield pursuit? Surely ironmongery is the only choice? I look forward to the Barrows-brand range of bespoke metal-ware, from cutlery to claymore swords.
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Rowing - club at Ewden I think.
Ooh yeah!
I rowed for a bit when I was at Durham Uni. Very motivating. The best team experience I've had.
(strength and power combined with skill and team work)
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Open water swimming is what I've been doing following a pulley injury. It takes you to some nice places around the peak district.
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Caving innit.
Loads to go at. Super adventurous. Largely non conditions dependent. Evenings, nights, daytime. Just need a good team to get involved with.
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Thanks everyone. Imagining Barrows doing a lot of these suggestions is bringing a smile to my face. I can just picture him introducing his brutal training regime to the local caving club. Doing ‘tight squeeze’ repeaters through smaller and smaller pipes in his cellar.
Not to mention what he’d bring to the table at the Embroiderer’s Guild.
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ANother vote for not dismissing running. There's loads you can do to injury proof yourself in terms of strength work, as well as not doing much on roads. Plus a massive variety of stuff to aim for, from fast flat 5k's to Bob Graham type challenges. If you're worried about injury, get a bike and do some of that on the side as cross training.
I spend most my time being completely torn between climbing and running. I sometimes wish I would get a proper injury that would rule one of them out for a while so I can actually focus on one. I'm sure I'd eat my words if it actually happened.
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Tinder
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I've pretty much stopped climbing over this winter as well, been largely mixing running and cycling. maybe comprising on the MTB road issue and get a gravel bike? Road biking is more fun than it looks, incidentally
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MTB and road bike seem very obvious choices. I’ve dabbled very lightly with MTB for a few years after my son got into it and really enjoy it. Road biking was something I thought would be shit, but is actually great fun. I’m about a year in.
They do actually complement each other quite well, my MTB days became a lot more enjoyable when I had a bit of hill fitness from road biking, and doing steep fast descents on a roadbike seem quite east after doing gnarly roots stuff on a MTB. I got a cyclocross bike on the RTW scheme when my thumb was so fucked I couldn't even change gears on a MTB let alone climb. I even actually used it to go to work occasionally.
White water kayaking? Logistically a chore, and very conditions dependant, but what I've done has been great fun.
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Thanks for the input all
Trad - yes, clearly will do some trad pottering. Bear in mind that trying hard on anything vert and edgy is likely to injure my finger as much as climbing 8c in a roof, so can't do much hard apart from the odd specific grit headpoint. Not like I can just go Pembroke and try hard or I'd obviously do that. Off width is a viable option though!
Road bike - looks so unfun when driving past!
MTB seems more and more like a good one to try properly.
Skydiving, paragliding etc sound fun too so will definitely see if I can try them a bit.
Hill running would be obvious as well but like I said I don't back my legs. Ran a bunch as a teenager but injured my ankles, knees, shins and stress fractured my tibia. In climbing I'm bombproof by comparison! Even a 30min jog makes my shins sore.
Caving could be interesting.
Weights not so sure due to back issues (caused by deadlift)
Kayaking sounds great but is there much in the peak?
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Wait a bloody minute. Why has no-one suggested golf yet?!
Clay pigeon shooting?
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Trouble with some of these suggestions (kayaking, flying of any kind) is they're so conditions dependent they'd realistically have to be combined with something else to fill your time. At least with MTB or road bike there's rarely a day summer or winter that you couldn't do it. And even then you could do some turbo training indoors to get your fix.
I often wish I could be a bit 'jack of all trades' and have several things on the go depending on conditions instead of all or nothing in one sport, but I just don't seem able to. Sounds like you're similar.
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I often wish I could be a bit 'jack of all trades' and have several things on the go depending on conditions instead of all or nothing in one sport, but I just don't seem able to. Sounds like you're similar.
You don't. It's very expensive, makes for a lot of room taken up with kit, and is frustrating as hell when you do something for the first time in ages that you love and realise how much you have regressed. And it means you need a large van for holidays. Never get frustrated for something to do though.
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Kayaking sounds great but is there much in the peak?
https://www.nwscnotts.com/nwsc/water-sports/ Notts. Might be closer.
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I am so unsporty. I kayaked and skateboarded before I found climbing at 14 but have had zero interest in trying any other sport since then and still feel the same way. But I've always loved to walk and if I lived in Sheffield and couldn't climb that's what I'd be doing.
I thought about suggesting yoga - but I don't know Alex and have no idea if that would be a non-starter.
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In spite of the things I do, I don't see myself as "sporty". I always think that term refers to the more traditional "school" sports which I avoided like the plague when at school. I still struggle to class climbing as a sport, more an activity.
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Hill running would be obvious as well but like I said I don't back my legs. Ran a bunch as a teenager but injured my ankles, knees, shins and stress fractured my tibia. In climbing I'm bombproof by comparison! Even a 30min jog makes my shins sore.
Obviously you need to do something that interests or inspires you in the same or similar way as climbing does and if that isn’t running then fair enough. However, I wouldn’t write it off on the basis of the above as you need to build up slowly. You’ll have the aerobic fitness to run for 30 mins easily, but not the relevant conditioning. For most (general population), the aerobic system will be the limiting factor, whereas I’m guessing it won’t be for you. My nephew had a similar issue coming to running from biking at a reasonably high level - he could run up hills without any issue, but ended up with a stress fracture because he jumped in with both feet and didn’t give his conditioning chance to catch up with aerobic system. For most I’d say this can be avoided/fixed but obviously you’ve got to want it enough to go through the period where it doesn’t feel like exercise.
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Hill running would be obvious as well but like I said I don't back my legs. Ran a bunch as a teenager but injured my ankles, knees, shins and stress fractured my tibia. In climbing I'm bombproof by comparison! Even a 30min jog makes my shins sore.
Obviously you need to do something that interests or inspires you in the same or similar way as climbing does and if that isn’t running then fair enough. However, I wouldn’t write it off on the basis of the above as you need to build up slowly. You’ll have the aerobic fitness to run for 30 mins easily, but not the relevant conditioning. For most (general population), the aerobic system will be the limiting factor, whereas I’m guessing it won’t be for you. My nephew had a similar issue coming to running from biking at a reasonably high level - he could run up hills without any issue, but ended up with a stress fracture because he jumped in with both feet and didn’t give his conditioning chance to catch up with aerobic system. For most I’d say this can be avoided/fixed but obviously you’ve got to want it enough to go through the period where it doesn’t feel like exercise.
Running on the sort of terrain local to you is a hell of a lot less likely to result in shin splints/soreness than pounding the pavements. Trot through some semi boggy country for 20 mins a few times a week and build it up from there. Some targetted glute medius exercises, squats and single leg calf raises will see you right.
You'll also find it should strengthen your lower back given proper form. That's coming from me with Spondy.
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Rowing - club at Ewden I think.
Ooh yeah!
I rowed for a bit when I was at Durham Uni. Very motivating. The best team experience I've had.
(strength and power combined with skill and team work)
I rowed in my first term at uni. Breakfast at 6, on the river at 7. It was rubbish.
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I rowed a little in sixth form. The school didn't know what to do with me when most people were playing team sports (or taking rowing seriously), so they let me take a single scull out by myself once a week. Gently sculling my way up the Wye a bit and then back down was an incredibly pleasant way to spend a couple of hours.
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Swine to get back into if you catch a crab and capsize the bastard though! Had one out once at school, stuck to 4s after that.
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Well what a disappointment, Simon Quinlank must be spinning on his swivel chair. Road biking will clearly suit you, it requires no skill, a good power-to-weight ratio and an obsession with training and numbers. Get into mountain biking and a finger injury will sound like a holiday.
I've also enjoyed rowing (mostly coxing tbh) and kayaking, but the Peak District has next to no water that's not banned.
My Dad went full-on for gliding at Abney about ten years ago. It's mostly retired older guys, a few ex-climbers but not many under 50 and somewhat budget-limited for the competitive type.
If you actually want a hobby here are some real hobbies I have enjoyed:
Photography. The gateway drug. Unfortunately rather debased from a true hobby now that we have smartphones and instagram, but you can start by buying a proper camera and opening a flickr account. Spend a year or two learning to take pictures that reliably garner 'likes', then realise the hollow vacuity of chasing mainstream approval. Buy a film camera and start taking pictures of things like uncared for allotments and dilapidated barns. With proper application by the time your finger has healed you could be developing film in the cellar, running a drum scanner in your spare room and producing three or four dull photos a year that nobody gets.
Birdwatching. You like being outdoors, you like numbers and competition? You're not afraid to clock up 100's of miles for your next tick? With proper twitching you can skip the years of learning bird plumages and calls and instead sign up to a subscription rare bird news service and then dash over to stand in line, get your tick and beat your rivals in a species/year list that makes 8a.nu look like peer-reviewed science.
These is ideally placed to lead you into the next hobby, Pyschogeography. This is basically high-minded rambling. Go on long walks, preferably alone, to furtively visit obscure historical sites of no interest to anyone, now overgrown but mentioned in some old paperback you found in a skip. Make some notes for a book you'll never write. Can be augmented by taking some of the aforementioned dull photos and ideally with a (next hobby):
Field recording. Nobody bats an eyelid when you take a photo. Why does everyone think it so weird to pull out a microphone and record the ambience? At first you can tell people you are recording bird calls, after which they usually lose interest, but once properly combined with the previous hobby there shouldn't be anyone around anyway. A good field recording is meditative to make and transportative later in a way that vulgar visual recordings can't match.
Headphones on? Good. You may now drink your weak lemon drink.
Limited time in the day? TV hogged by your partner watching box sets you don't like and are already two seasons behind? Just think, you could be sat in your cold, quiet backyard looking back into immensity of deep time and growing your piles. If you spend too much time in front of a computer already get a manual reflector and start ticking double stars of ever increasing difficulty. If you love tech and spending money you can get into astrophotography and spend all night hovering over a computer while your remote-controlled scope gathers hours of subs for yet more pc time post processing. Or, perturb you neighbours by emerging into your backyard with a dob the size of a teenager which you cobbled together in the cellar. Both of these options will extend your hobby time onto daylight and fill those pesky cloudy nights.
Love staring into optics but find the universe a little static and, well, lifeless? Don't like the cold or the clouds? Combine all the fun of astronomy with a boundless world of wriggling nature by buying a microscope. As with telescopes, modern microscopes all run on digital cameras so you can first buy a 1970's classic Zeiss or similar from ebay, then go pond-dipping. The diversity of life in a drop of pondwater is genuinely staggering. Unfortunately the victorians were on to this before smartphones so not only are you very unlikely to find anything new but all the books are ancient. Still, there's some good forums. Buying more microscope parts on ebay is always a good diversion, with the holy grail of DIC ever leading you on. Rotifers are the coolest animals you've never heard of which can make it very hard to wash them down the drain afterwards.
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My school had a rowing club that I was roped into as a cox (pre growth spurt and very skinny). I won loads of tankards by sitting down and not doing a lot while the Ford twins did the hard work (family was massively into rowing. The twins and the younger brother eventually won gold and silver at the 2012 national championships - the gold was taken by the boat with two Fords instead of one; locals fact - if you ever see the Fords of Winsford sticker on the back of a used car in the North West then it's the same family).
On the odd occasion that I got on an ergo or went out in a single scull I realised that it's a brutal sport. Barrows will probably love it because he loves the pump, but as a non-sporty person I just couldn't motivate myself to try harder. The problem with rowing is that if you stop or slow down to rest then you keep going forward, albeit slower. Cycling up hills/climbing up rocks is much easier to try hard at because if you stop trying then you go backwards/fall off which is itself the motivation to keep trying. I think if I wanted to get the same pleasure of floating down a river then I'd go down the kayaking route.
Is there a musical instrument you've ever wished you could play? Might be a bit difficult to take lessons at the moment. I had a couple of years of taking fiddle lessons after uni and really enjoyed playing, but the real joy was playing at pub sessions which I never really had the skill/confidence to enjoy fully.
If I didn't hate aerobic misery and didn't have knees that explode if I so much as run for a bus then I'd want to do fell running. I just love the thought of eating up miles and miles of Lakeland ridge. That's why road biking is fun - it's not the turning of the pedals, it's the feeling of zipping along through a landscape; you experience the geography of a place in a way that you don't when you're in a car. Once you've done a little bit of it then 60 miles with some up and down is just a nice day out.
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Did you make that all JB or is it from somewhere? It's brilliant!
Played guitar as a kid but never really liked it, just did it because I "should" if I'm honest.
Sounds like spending a few months trying to break in the running very slowly might be worth a punt on the side, see if the legs can adapt. Especially since it's free so if my finger gets better and I can go full-bore on climbing again in a year or two I wont have 5k of stuff sitting around taunting me! I did like it a lot in between being broken when I was a teenager, but it definitely wouldn't fulfil the "all in" criteria. I get the feeling I really need to learn to dabble in multiple things for a while given my propensity for injury (climb, run, bike and more) but have always struggled with that in the past!
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You could start by getting some ultra cushioned shoes that look like Neil Armstrong's boots, and drop a few quid on some running school analysis to teach you proper technique so you aren't pounding the shit out of the ground all the time. A bit of strength and conditioning, a few expensive sports massage sessions, some excruciating foam roller sessions and you might find yourself running without pain. It could happen.
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Did you make that all JB or is it from somewhere? It's brilliant!
Played guitar as a kid but never really liked it, just did it because I "should" if I'm honest.
Sounds like spending a few months trying to break in the running very slowly might be worth a punt on the side, see if the legs can adapt. Especially since it's free so if my finger gets better and I can go full-bore on climbing again in a year or two I wont have 5k of stuff sitting around taunting me! I did like it a lot in between being broken when I was a teenager, but it definitely wouldn't fulfil the "all in" criteria. I get the feeling I really need to learn to dabble in multiple things for a while given my propensity for injury (climb, run, bike and more) but have always struggled with that in the past!
Getting injured all the time was why I got a road bike originally, as its satisfyingly aerobic but low impact compared to running. It can be great, there's no obligation to be on Strava and to obsess about VO2 max and power output; I usually just zoom (plod) around as far as I feel like it, you can go to interesting places easily from home and see more things than with running. To be honest I treat running much the same, I'm pretty happy running for 30-60 minutes ideally somewhere nice but if not it's a great way to relax your brain.
I'd second Andy P's comments on walking, I do lots of that at the moment too, despite previously regarding it as a bit boring. It burns off lots of energy and can be combined with several of JB's suggestions ie photography, bird spotting as well as foraging.
You could get a really powerful sports bike, that's popular in the Peak... although then everyone would hate you, and its probably very expensive.
Try going to a good yoga class. Minimal risk of injury, hits the concentration/ movement spot that climbing emphasises. Some crossover benefit to climbing, and a solid ashtanga class is really physically hard.
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Something that Fiend hinted at was climbing activism. There must be loads of rusty bolts on popular routes in the peak that need replacing. Doesn't have to be something that you do all the time but it would be a really useful thing to do a bit of. The problem with being a performance based climber is that the drive to get sessions banked on a project/ticks in the logbook is that there's never any time left for doing the important stuff that keeps everything going. I bet, unless it's a horribly rainy day, that nobody who climbs in the upper 7s will turn up to the Almscliff path building day in May.
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Had a quick look through the thread and didn't spot flying or paragliding.
I have my PPL (fixed wing) which I did in Florida back in 2001. It's a great hobby - geeky, good one for physicists perhaps as there are lots of phenomena to learn about, gets you to amazing places, can maybe combine with climbing. I still have my licence (never 'lose' it) but haven't flown recently so would need to do a check flight to re-gain my type rating. My dream is to rent a light aircraft and fly across to Norway/France/Ireland to go on a climbing trip. Obvs it's not a cheap hobby.. but doable on a half decent wage with some sacrifice elsewhere. Big dream would be to own my own plane, something like a Europa.
Local airfields do intro flights with an instructor. Cheapest option to get the PPL is do it outside the UK - better weather so you an fly every day and get it done in a shorter time period. The US is set up for flying, with large aviation community and not at all an unusual hobby.
Related - paragliding. I'm hoping to learn this year if we're allowed out to play. What I really want to do is to buy a light rig and do long scrambles or long routes in the alps with my rig on and then fly down from the summit instead of walk down. Have spoken to some people who do this and they say it's amazing and quite easy to do. Rigs are so light now - on ly a few kg - that it's easy to do a climb with it in the pack and fly down.
Mtn biking is ace, just got back into it last year and bought a nice full sus. It's nice to discover new areas of the country, and old areas but with new views, just for riding the trails instead of climbing. But it's sketchy as hell. I think I'm more likely to get an injury (that will stop me climbing) from mtn biking than any other activity I do.
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You could start by getting some ultra cushioned shoes that look like Neil Armstrong's boots, and drop a few quid on some running school analysis to teach you proper technique so you aren't pounding the shit out of the ground all the time. A bit of strength and conditioning, a few expensive sports massage sessions, some excruciating foam roller sessions and you might find yourself running without pain. It could happen.
Or go with minimal/barefoot shoes so that it is so excruciating to pound the shit out of the ground, you have to run with proper technique. You will have to build up much more slowly but this is likely to build a proper foundation so you don't end up injured.
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Getting injured all the time was why I got a road bike originally, as its satisfyingly aerobic but low impact compared to running. It can be great, there's no obligation to be on Strava and to obsess about VO2 max and power output; I usually just zoom (plod) around as far as I feel like it, you can go to interesting places easily from home and see more things than with running. To be honest I treat running much the same, I'm pretty happy running for 30-60 minutes ideally somewhere nice but if not it's a great way to relax your brain.
There's also the calorific demand of such a sport which I think will do any climber the world of good (understanding how much fuel your body actually needs).
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On the odd occasion that I got on an ergo or went out in a single scull I realised that it's a brutal sport. Barrows will probably love it because he loves the pump
In it's competitive form, 5-6 minutes of utter brutality - must be the ultimate power endurance sport. I would have thought Barrows would love it.
I found a scull so incomparably more mechanically efficient than a kayak, which I was used to, that there was real pleasure in gliding forward with what seemed like very little effort. Amazingly, given how cackhanded I am, I always managed to stay upright. I know a couple of people who continue to row into late middle age and beyond, so I assume the wear and tear on the body needn't be that bad.
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Watercolour painting
Mixed martial arts
Topiary
Asado
Modular synthesis
Shibari (you dismissed this last time, but I would reconsider)
Base jumping
Amateur entomology
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There's also SUP paddling in its many forms. I love getting out on some of the local lochs or the sea when calm with an extended paddle and giving it a blast for an hour or so, can get a decent speed going and a good upper body work out, surprising tiring on legs too.
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Investing!
I love it - it's a hobby as well as a way to hopefully make my money work for me. The great thing about investing is you can research whatever subjects most interest you and there'll likely also be a business opportunity to invest in. And much of what you learn whilst researching gives insight into interesting parts of the world and how things work. Subjects I particularly enjoy researching and learning about are mining - partly due to the geology and geography, and them often taking place in interesting remote parts of the world; biotechnology; and low-carbon/'green' technology - transport, batteries, power generation etc.
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No-one's mentioned cooking yet. Proper cooking. Learning all the different gastronomique techniques and recipes. The history; foods from around the world; the aha moments when you conjure up something you might have previously considered chef standard; sharing your food with family and friends. People buy cool stuff like knives, appliances and books for your birthday and Christmas too.
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How about writing a semi self deprecating book about the journey taken by a climber with a frustrating finger injury - as he tries out all sorts of mad-cap and different pass times?
Along the lines of 'Tilting at windmills' where the author tries to find a sport he can be an international competitor in (it ends up being crazy golf...)
:)
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Video games certainly won't fit the physical bill, but you can take your pick from a massive selection of experiences from epic storytelling to frustratingly addictive arcade stuff.
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And Forza is a cheaper alternative to blasting round the lake district in an expensive supercar.
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No-one's mentioned cooking yet.
Seconded.
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Investing!
I love it - it's a hobby as well as a way to hopefully make my money work for me. The great thing about investing is you can research whatever subjects most interest you and there'll likely also be a business opportunity to invest in. And much of what you learn whilst researching gives insight into interesting parts of the world and how things work. Subjects I particularly enjoy researching and learning about are mining - partly due to the geology and geography, and them often taking place in interesting remote parts of the world; biotechnology; and low-carbon/'green' technology - transport, batteries, power generation etc.
You could even start your own thread in which you stipulate all discussion must conform to your own extremely narrow definition of investing and come down like a tonne of bricks on anyone who dares to deviate from this. :jab:
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No-one's mentioned cooking yet.
Seconded.
Good one. We've definitely upped the cooking in the last year of lockdown, given all the extra time. Kids have embraced it too, can be done at any level, we've done some complicated / faffy stuff, but also embraced the Iyer The Roasting Tin series, and had some amazing meals from there.
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You could start by getting some ultra cushioned shoes that look like Neil Armstrong's boots, and drop a few quid on some running school analysis to teach you proper technique so you aren't pounding the shit out of the ground all the time.
Not this. Or at least, not necessarily this. I'm not into the barefoot running thing (I'm sure it works for some people), but equally the super-cushioned shoes don't necessarily provide injury protection or might lead to different injuries. Just go to a decent running shop (Front Runner/MyRaceKit on Sharrow Vale, Up and Running in the centre) once they're open and ask their advice. Chat through the issues you've had, give them an idea of the sort of things you want to do and try some stuff on a treadmill. They should be able to look at your running to determine what might or might not work.
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If you actually want a hobby here are some real hobbies I have enjoyed:
Nothing to add except praise for this post.
Oh, actually, i do: have some kids and watch dilemmas about what to do with your free time melt away.
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You could start by getting some ultra cushioned shoes that look like Neil Armstrong's boots, and drop a few quid on some running school analysis to teach you proper technique so you aren't pounding the shit out of the ground all the time.
Not this. Or at least, not necessarily this. I'm not into the barefoot running thing (I'm sure it works for some people), but equally the super-cushioned shoes don't necessarily provide injury protection or might lead to different injuries. Just go to a decent running shop (Front Runner/MyRaceKit on Sharrow Vale, Up and Running in the centre) once they're open and ask their advice. Chat through the issues you've had, give them an idea of the sort of things you want to do and try some stuff on a treadmill. They should be able to look at your running to determine what might or might not work.
True, not intended a panacea, usual caveats apply. I'm guessing thigh overetension due to too many kneebars!
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Has anyone mentioned getting a skateboard yet?
My two youngest have been having a go while I watch for cars. I'm going to end up having a proper go.
I've ordered a cheap surfskate from decathlon...
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Could take up doing all the mantle based problems around as something to pass the time whilst climbing but in a v unconventional style which might not aggrovate fingers? Not sure? But a suggestion maybe worth considering idk
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To help us narrow this down, I think it's safe to say that the following are likely to fall into the "not for me" camp:
RC cars
Toy soldiers
Racing pigeons
Fishing
Brewing beer
Allotment life
Bikes of some kind seems like the obvious. Road biking looks like no fun to me, but I did used to like MTB when I was in my early teens so that's probably worth a look.
music production (not specific to sheffield but you just need a laptop to start).
Interesting one, I could imagine that being fun
Is this due to injury?
Yeah, injury. Motivation definitely not the issue for me, at least for sport climbing (but maybe is for bouldering). I think I need to take 12-18 months of putting my energy into something other than climbing. Then if I found something else I like just as much it's all good, and if not then maybe my finger will have enjoyed a year of pottering. Smashing my head against the brick wall of injury isn't fun anymore, is breaking me mentally, and no matter how much I want it I can't currently have "it" back any time soon.
Last time I gave up I went full throttle for MTB.
What do/did you like most about climbing? My impression is partly it was the training/pain/suffering/ pushing yourself to the limit for you?
I like having something to go all-in on. Trying my hardest in all aspects, not just at the time, if that makes sense? Not very good at dabbling in lots of stuff.
Too many things to list what I liked, I guess it had/has it all for me. I think I need something that's outdoor-focused and something that involves pushing myself physically. One thing climbing had that I liked was that it also had a fear/excitement aspect, but without speed (never been v good at the speed aspects for mtb, skiing etc). Problem solving aspect too, esp for redpointing. And social scene... And movement... And... :'(
Have you ever looked into serious/mixed gas/deep Scuba diving?
If you go beyond the standard PADI type recreational stuff, it’s incredibly demanding physically and mentally. You sit in a very good position for taking that into overhead/cave environments there and I see there are clubs and schools in Sheff.
The travel opportunities for that sort of activity rival climbing and surfing for locations, globally and the equipment is even more expensive than climbing.
Like climbing, it also has the family recreation aspect.
Honestly, hitting 130msw and resting my hand on the hull of the U533 (the second human touch since it sank), thirty miles off the coast of Iran, whilst the support vessels were being harassed by Iranian gun boats and US Navy aircraft simultaneously, is definitely a life highlight of mine.
Much safer and better equipped and organised now than it was 20 years ago, too.
Oh, and the maths/physiology knowledge required is pretty extensive, especially for mixing gases to give optimum partial pressures and deco windows.
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I was down to do a Sheffield Scuba Club introductory session at Ponds Forge in March last year
For obvious reasons it didn't happen but I am keen to try it ASAP.
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You could start by getting some ultra cushioned shoes that look like Neil Armstrong's boots, and drop a few quid on some running school analysis to teach you proper technique so you aren't pounding the shit out of the ground all the time.
Not this. Or at least, not necessarily this. I'm not into the barefoot running thing (I'm sure it works for some people), but equally the super-cushioned shoes don't necessarily provide injury protection or might lead to different injuries. Just go to a decent running shop (Front Runner/MyRaceKit on Sharrow Vale, Up and Running in the centre) once they're open and ask their advice. Chat through the issues you've had, give them an idea of the sort of things you want to do and try some stuff on a treadmill. They should be able to look at your running to determine what might or might not work.
True, not intended a panacea, usual caveats apply. I'm guessing thigh overetension due to too many kneebars!
Unfortunately I do think it takes time to work all this out for yourself and unless you’re really lucky you’re probably going to get injured running! If you’ve got a history of running injuries, you’d be better off on a bike IMO. I run on everything from the roads to really rough fell terrain and I think you can get different types of injuries. Obviously it’s not just about the impact forces. Most people who dabble seem to have issues. And I know plenty of people who are good on a bike who just can’t seem to run and therefore don’t like it.
Another one to try might be Diving? Good scene at Ponds Forge I believe. My kids have lessons there.
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Another vote for road biking from here...
Sheffield and Yorkshire in general is world class, I agree it does seem boring at first but once you're into it it's great! 60mph down hill wearing nothing but lycra certianly pumps up the excitement factor... The added bonus is that you'll also stay lean so once you're back climbing you'll not have to diet or owt like that.
Have you ever skateboarded? Sheffield has a great scence, The House skatepark is ace! Dev Green, Millhouses and a fair few street spots that are mint too! Downside is you'll probably get more injured (4 trips to A&E for me in the last 18 months!!)...
MTB is alright too I guess ;-)
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Just have a kid Barrows. Your life’s practically over then anyway.
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Failing that, why not learn a language? In about 800 to 1000 hours you can get to a high level of fluency in any of the languages closely related to english (German, French or Spanish). In about 3000 hours you can get to a high level even if you go for the ultimate bosses of Arabic, Chinese or Japanese. Thousand hours works out to two hours a day for one and a half year, or two years if you take two days off per week. By that time your finger will be ok and you will be able to argue with idiots on the internet in two languages!
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Ever so slightly off topic, Adorno has some interesting things to say about hobbies and free-time.
http://xenopraxis.net/readings/adorno_freetime.pdf (http://xenopraxis.net/readings/adorno_freetime.pdf)
I like this bit. “ Time and time again, when questioned or interviewed, one is asked about one’s hobbies. When the illustrated weeklies report on the life of one of those giants of the culture indus- try, they rarely forego the opportunity to report, with varying degrees of intimacy, on the hobbies of the person in question. I am shocked by the question when I come up against it. I have no hobby. Not that I am the kind of workaholic, who is incapable of doing anything with his time but applying himself industriously to the required task. But, as far as my activities beyond the bounds of my recognised profession are concerned, I take them all, without exception, very seriously. So much so, that I should be horrified by the very idea that they had anything to do with hobbies – preoccupations with which I had become mind- lessly infatuated merely in order to kill the time – had I not become hardened by experience to such examples of this now widespread, barbarous mentality. Making music, listening to music, reading with all my attention, these activities are part and parcel of my life; to call them hobbies would make a mockery of them.”
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Great thread!
Tinder
When in a similar position in my mid twenties, and having had a chaste and sober youth, I went down the tried and tested route of sex and drugs and rock and roll (and raving). Is it too late to consider these?
Also did depression, voluntary work, and going back to study. Never seriously considered another sport. What, after all, could replace climbing?
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Thanks again all. Plenty to ponder and experiment with
Not sure my wife would be up for tinder being my new hobby :lol:
Scuba - only done a PADI course about 15yrs ago, was fun though I much preferred freediving when I tried that. If I lived elsewhere I imagine freediving would be my go-to.. not convinced from Sheffield though.
Language could be a good shout (and not conditions dependent).
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Shaolin gung fu
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Surprised no one has mentioned gardening...
Plenty of demand for good old fashioned weed rather than super skunk.
Lots of different aspects to think about there :)
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Surprised no one has mentioned gardening...
Plenty of demand for good old fashioned weed rather than super skunk.
Lots of different aspects to think about there :)
I'm all for that - people growing weed keeps me in a job (I'm a fire investigator). My first thought on seeing a burned and collapsed roof at a tenanted property is variably "I bet it's a cannabis farm"... mind you, the risk of electrocution from crappy meter bypasses is something I can live without.
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Weight lifting
I'm sure Sheffield has a load of gyms.
Don't expect to climb hard after going the gym for a year or 2 though
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Fossil hunting? I'm not entirely sure this would be your bag but seeing as literally everything else has been suggested... And seeing as you like limestone.
Think looking for broken needles in solidified haystacks.
As per JB's pond microscopy the victorians mostly got there first and what passes for guidebooks are only a hundred years out of date if you're lucky. You can mostly fill in the gaps though if you have access to scientific journals and a lot of spare time. There is definitely still scope for finding new species though. The crux is identifying the old ones. My thing is Peak trilobites (https://www.instagram.com/carboniferous_fossils/ (https://www.instagram.com/carboniferous_fossils/)) of which I've found at least five new species, possibly two new genera. Which is nice if you like finding and naming things.
Kit is mostly just a sturdy hammer and a jeweler's eyepiece.
All that said, I think I'll eat my kneepads the day I see you crouched behind a drystone wall smashing rocks open looking for novel pygidia.
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Shaolin gung fu
What? Not BJJ?
I thought that was all you Green lids did?
😉
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Video games certainly won't fit the physical bill, but you can take your pick from a massive selection of experiences from epic storytelling to frustratingly addictive arcade stuff.
Depends on the game, over lockdown last year i bought a decent sim racing rig (Paul B will attest to this). a couple hours racing or rallying give a decent workout with the force feedback of the wheel and feel of the pedals.
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Which is nice if you like finding and naming things.
If the names Myfriendthetrilobite, Bonjoyophites or Crusty McCrustaceanface weren't used I'm disappointed.
.
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I think Yossarian mentioned modular synthesis earlier in this thread - a fine and noble way to make bleeps for thousands of pounds. It's a dangerous rabbit hole to crawl down albeit an immensely pleasurable one.
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Yeah! I've found that, of all the possible esoteric subjects to distract yourself when you have an extremely overdue book to finish, modular synthesis is right up there. (Others include small yacht restoration / singlehanded sailing, custom motorcycles, and intercontinental bike tour planning.)
First you watch this - http://idreamofwires.org (http://idreamofwires.org)
There are then a few iPad based apps you can start playing around with.
This is typically followed by watching about 1000hrs of YouTube videos discussing the merits of tidal modulators.
Then, in my case, you go to see a bloke in Hackney Wick who lets you fiddle with his knobs and then you convince yourself you're going to be the next Aphex Twin...
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Underground of this parish has a seriously impressive modular collection.
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If you want to see one of the world's best collections, check out my mate Jon Paul's rigs. He's very talented indeed. Drink The Corpse Vomit on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCimEvR7tH0YNf0_X4P3houg
This is particularly serene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-RbWSqXSy0
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Drink The Corpse Vomit is up there with Nigel Tufnell's Lick my Love Pump.
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I had a lot of fun using the Korg emulator on Nintendo DS (Korg DS-10) connected to a guitar amp. Something about the touch screen interface that just worked.
I see that there is a similar app now available for iPhone
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I had a lot of fun using the Korg emulator on Nintendo DS (Korg DS-10) connected to a guitar amp. Something about the touch screen interface that just worked.
I see that there is a similar app now available for iPhone
Auxy or AuxyPro (subscription req. for Pro) on iPad/Phone isn’t bad for messing around or a quick vid soundtrack.
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https://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/board,43.0.html (https://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/board,43.0.html) :whistle:
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Apologies if I missed someone else saying this, I did read the whole thread but may have missed it.
Have you tried woodwork? It's a very skill based, learnable and fun/mindful way to wile away many hours, turning wood into beautiful....... Piles of chippings and sawdust!
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Apologies if I missed someone else saying this, I did read the whole thread but may have missed it.
Have you tried woodwork? It's a very skill based, learnable and fun/mindful way to wile away many hours, turning wood into beautiful....... Piles of chippings and sawdust!
And then screwing it to a couple of 8’x4’ sheets of ply, inclined at about 45⁰?
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Apologies if I missed someone else saying this, I did read the whole thread but may have missed it.
Have you tried woodwork? It's a very skill based, learnable and fun/mindful way to wile away many hours, turning wood into beautiful....... Piles of chippings and sawdust!
OK Chippy Minton :)
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What about triathlon?
It will eat up your time if you want it to and there is boundless scope for punishing yourself with training.
It’s not weather dependent, you can train on your own or join a club if you want more of a social aspect, and the running and bike will take you to nice bits of countryside.
By mixing it up there’s less chance of getting injured than if you were doing just one of the sub-disciplines.
It lacks the movement and problem solving of climbing though.
Edited to say: this is pure speculation. Personally I fucking hate swimming, so just go running when injured for climbing.
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P.s. for me at least I’ve never found the drop your grade, go trad bumbling option while injured to be a good one.
I can’t stop myself trying hard and re-tweaking stuff. Plus it means I’m still thinking about climbing loads, but performing below my best, which I find frustrating.
I always prefer to focus on something else for a while.
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this thread is brilliant.
I particularly enjoyed Adam's comment.
Have you tried mobility/stretching - ie can you do the middle splits/front splits/pancake/bridge - training for these with weighted mobility/dynamic stretching both makes my body feel really good (he says typing with a gammy shoulder) and I am certain has helped my climbing. Furthermore middle splits exercises have helped with drinking games. If you want some pointers hit me up.
(I'm still not flexible, but am much better than I was)
ps if you want suggestions for this then send me a message.
(honestly its good too see the progression - eg in pancake I could literally sit on the floor bolt upright, now I'm nearly chest to floor)
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Alternatively do a medical degree (bit of a push in a year) and get into something really niche - I particularly enjoy cto angioplasty - its about as anorak as you can get
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What about triathlon?
Triathlons are just a way to spend loads of money on 3 different sports at the same time (I live in a house cluttered by a a former triathlete) and be shit at 3 different things simultaneously. And have a washing machine going non-stop.
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Screw Triathlon.
OCR is the light and the way.
Though slightly dimmer and not quite the true course of load-bearing test marches (Paras 10, Fandance etc).
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If you fancy combining cycling with low grade climbing, and would like to avoid getting sucked into purchasing an enormously expensive MAMIL chariot, you might find these books inspiring.
https://www.isolapress.com/shop/further-adventures-in-rough-stuff (https://www.isolapress.com/shop/further-adventures-in-rough-stuff)
(https://www.merciancycles.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Switzerland-1980.jpg)
(https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/images/bke080119storoughstuff-005-preview-ppi-72-embedmetadata-true-1566833956.jpg?crop=0.891xw:1.00xh;0.0619xw,0&resize=640:*)
(https://ksr-ugc.imgix.net/assets/032/126/013/5746257dd0ece89ab06b159092aa2202_original.jpg?ixlib=rb-2.1.0&w=680&fit=max&v=1611588877&auto=format&frame=1&q=92&s=66dda7272ee4781221bdffef4d45f5f3)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HceppoEVrk&t=31s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HceppoEVrk&t=31s)
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Caving.
Cave diving if that gets a bit tame.
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Cave diving if that gets a bit tame.
Yep - plenty to go at in the peak...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpYfeoSIcvQ
[sound on for top graunching sounds]
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Fuck that for a game of soldiers.
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Cave diving looks like the most horrendously claustrophobic experience imaginable.
On JB’s recommendation of field recording, while driving to climb on the Cornish north coast I once picked up a guy hitching who was on his way to the same crag to spend the day recording the sounds of the sea etc. I don’t think either of our pastimes were inherently more worthwhile than the other’s. However, he was very strange and it was only because I was feeling particularly generous that I pulled over again when I spotted him hitching back at the end of the day. Fortunately he declined the lift. He said this is because he was going a different way, but maybe it was really because the feeling was mutual?
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However, he was very strange and it was only because I was feeling particularly generous that I pulled over again when I spotted him hitching back at the end of the day. Fortunately he declined the lift.
:lol: Definitely a psychogeographer. It's very hard to maintain the necessary intellectual response to the landscape around other people unless they're trying equally hard. Climbers are far too down to earth. Basically unless you're mates with Will Self you're going alone. It's got Barrows' name all over it.
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while driving to climb on the Cornish north coast I once picked up a guy hitching who was on his way to the same crag to spend the day recording the sounds of the sea etc. I don’t think either of our pastimes were inherently more worthwhile than the other’s. However, he was very strange and it was only because I was feeling particularly generous that I pulled over again when I spotted him hitching back at the end of the day. Fortunately he declined the lift.
I got a lift hitching in Wales one morning. First words out of the driver's lips after I'd got in the car were: "Do you realize the Lord Jesus was put in this world to save your soul." It carried on the same for the whole (mercifully short) trip. Hitching back to Beris in the evening the same car pulls over. I tentatively got in. And we had a very pleasant chat about what we'd both been up to for day. He'd obviously given up on me. Maybe Barrows can take up hitching?
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Cave diving if that gets a bit tame.
Yep - plenty to go at in the peak...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpYfeoSIcvQ
[sound on for top graunching sounds]
It is incredibly rewarding though and doesn’t have to be all squeezes.
It’s sister activity, wreck penetration, is my favourite though. Hunting for, finally diving on and then making your way way into an eerie wreck that’s been undisturbed since it’s loss, is truly soulful. I prefer the life that moves in and haunts it.
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Cave diving if that gets a bit tame.
Yep - plenty to go at in the peak...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpYfeoSIcvQ
[sound on for top graunching sounds]
Late one quiet summer evening, when there was just me and a mate climbing on the catwalk, I heard voices beneath me. Looking down from the route I saw a big guy in a wetsuit standing in the beck, with another emerging, dragging air tanks. They were talking about all the line they had laid down. Mental.
You like Malham don’t you Barrows? ;)
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My girlfriend's into exploration and mapping of new caves, mentioned a couple of cave-diver acquaintances who had died doing it during the last couple of years.. Either getting stuck in a squeeze and running out of air, or damaging the gear.. and running out of air.
She also recommended we watch 'The Last Descent' on netflix. Yuck.
Barrow's you could take up winter climbing, no fingers required. And you get to scum your knees on every route.
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Right, I'm going to be bold and suggest sewing.
From personal experience, some basic hand-sewing skills are really useful for climbers or anyone doing outdoor activities: I've patched and modified a huge number of pairs of jeans, moved and added straps on rucksacks, made chalkbags, etc. etc..
Also, soothing if you're stressed, and gives you a sense of achievement from lots of small projects.
I know some people rate knitting very highly for mental health, but some of my best friends are knitters and thus I know that it's also a dangerous path that leads to yarn-hoarding and, ultimately, to crochet. I have fended off all attempts to lure me into knitting because I know there's no coming back once the knitting life has you.
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I know some people rate knitting very highly for mental health, but some of my best friends are knitters and thus I know that it's also a dangerous path that leads to yarn-hoarding and, ultimately, to crochet. I have fended off all attempts to lure me into knitting because I know there's no coming back once the knitting life has you.
I supervised a girl whose Higher Project Qualification (basically a thesis for mid teens) was on knitting and its potential mental health benefits. Many HPQ subjects are more overtly academic but this was outstanding. She had corresponded with two current uni professors and produced a fascinating presentation. It was excellent.
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Right, I'm going to be bold and suggest sewing.
From personal experience, some basic hand-sewing skills are really useful for climbers or anyone doing outdoor activities: I've patched and modified a huge number of pairs of jeans, moved and added straps on rucksacks, made chalkbags, etc. etc..
Kranko's Kuality KneepadsTM
My mother-in-law is brilliant at sewing (she made a foam cover for our Caddy in the VW fabric and it looked OEM quality) but every time either one of us asks to be shown how to do something, things just get fixed or stitched and we don't learn a lot.
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Yeah, there seems to be some decent evidence (and much anecdata) for the mental health benefits of all sorts of craft activities. Not a substitute for meds or therapy if you need those, but definitely useful tools in the toolkit.
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Kranko's Kuality KneepadsTM
Haven't tried making a kneepad yet, but I do have a hoodie which I upgraded with denim reinforcements over the parts of the sleeves which I was shredding in offwidths.
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How's the sewing going Barrows?? Could be a nice thing in those dark evenings to wind down after flashing 8b/+s....
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Imagine all the cute little cowls you could make for the plastic orcs Fiend.
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How's the sewing going Barrows?? Could be a nice thing in those dark evenings to wind down after flashing 8b/+s....
Surely the real question is what does he think of the slash grade?!
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I didn't know sewing had slash grades but maybe I'll give it a dabble too this winter, if it does!
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I heard sewing used to be Very Boring, but the wide availability of podcasts have moved it down to a lowly HB/VB...
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I don't know about it being a long term hobby, but everyone in Sheffield should explore the Megatron culvert as least once...Its amazing!!
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I don't know about it being a long term hobby, but everyone in Sheffield should explore the Megatron culvert as least once...Its amazing!!
I'd advocate not doing this.
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I'd advocate not doing this.
Why out of interest. As an (ex-ish) caver, its been on my list for years and not got round to it.
Flood risk at the moment is a valid reason.
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I don't know the particulars about this culvert but I'd guess that, apart from the obvious risks of drowning/getting lost/injuring yourself on some rusty discarded shopping trolley, there's a risk of encountering some fairly lethal gasses.
But the Megatron might be different. There are guided tours.
https://www.sheafportertrust.org/guided-tours
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The tunnels are pretty large and seemingly well ventilated so I wouldn't worry about build up of gasses too much. It's a decent evening out in the summer after a dry spell. Probably best avoided after any sort of rain though, as I imagine a few sewers overflow into it. A mate of mine fell over and got a mouth full of water and was pretty ill for a week :sick:
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Why out of interest. As an (ex-ish) caver, its been on my list for years and not got round to it.
Flood risk at the moment is a valid reason.
Simply because I think people are being blasé about risks they can't see/are unaware of and can't control.
I imagine a few sewers overflow into it. A mate of mine fell over and got a mouth full of water and was pretty ill for a week :sick:
Everyone is now acutely aware after the events of the past few weeks that the UK operates a combined storm/foul network.