jitterjepp Posted September 20, 2004 Posted September 20, 2004 I'm going to be in an adventure race in a week. There will be a ropes section. On the gear list Tiblocs are listed as an acceptable device for ascending ropes. I'm not real keen on getting on a rope where a bunch of people have been using Tiblocs. What do people here think? Quote
Dru Posted September 20, 2004 Posted September 20, 2004 "adventure races" are silly. that's what I think Quote
jitterjepp Posted September 20, 2004 Author Posted September 20, 2004 Carolyn seems to think I have fun at them. Quote
jitterjepp Posted September 20, 2004 Author Posted September 20, 2004 Really, what do people think about the tiblocs? Quote
Dru Posted September 20, 2004 Posted September 20, 2004 Maybe climbing a rope frayed by dozens of gapers with Tiblocs will actually inject some "adventure" into your fixed-rope marked-course race. You could always use a prusik. Quote
jitterjepp Posted September 20, 2004 Author Posted September 20, 2004 I would rather use a prusik. Unfortunately that is listed as "unacceptable". Apparently they are good enough for climbing but not good enough for "adventure". Actually I'm kind of pissed about the whole thing. I don't own a pair of ascenders. I already paid for the entry fee and I find out later I have to spend $100 to go buy a freaking pair of ascenders to go up some stupid section that is probably a 50ft. 5.6 climb. I'm like...why? Quote
Dru Posted September 20, 2004 Posted September 20, 2004 Just hand over hand it or free solo that'll show them Quote
fern Posted September 20, 2004 Posted September 20, 2004 I think that you should run fast so you can get to the ropes first. And if you get there later and the ropes are sketch then you should drop brown coils on the organizers for being unsafe dumbasses. But tiblocs don't HAVE TO wreck ropes if they are used carefully. Quote
EWolfe Posted September 20, 2004 Posted September 20, 2004 I love my Tiblocs, but I don't trust them completely. I tie back up knots occasionally, but am getting more trustworthy, as I have not had a whit of trouble w/them  Quote
sk Posted September 20, 2004 Posted September 20, 2004 dumb ass muffy question: Â why would someone use a tiblock to "back up" a belay from the top on a multi pitch climb?? i saw some one do that and i can't figure out why. I have not climbed alot of multi, and when i have the people I climbed with just used an ATC. often they rapped with a prusick back up.... Quote
snoboy Posted September 20, 2004 Posted September 20, 2004 I can't really imagine what you are referring to... Quote
larrythellama Posted September 20, 2004 Posted September 20, 2004 cuz they are idiots.  jitter  use the wild country ropeman. way better then the tibloc. Quote
sk Posted September 20, 2004 Posted September 20, 2004 I can't really imagine what you are referring to... thats why I am asking, I can not figure out why he was using a tiblock along with an ATC while belaying someone form the top of a climb Quote
gearho Posted September 20, 2004 Posted September 20, 2004 If you're worried about Tibloc and their teeth, then you are worried about Petzl ascenders - and their teeth. If you look inside them they are the same teeth. Need to change brands to get rid of the teeth. They are pretty much the standard though. From Petzl: "Precautions The TIBLOC is an emergency rope clamp/grab for occasional use. Always check that the device jams immediately. The rope must always be under tension. This device is not designed to stop severe falls. Absorption: remember that the energy of a fall is absorbed by the rope." Â You could use a Gri-Gri, but you'll get your ass kicked on speed. If it is vertical they should be belaying you anyhoo. Not that you need it, liability would say to tie-in and climb as fast as you can - with a belay. Check that shiznit out... Â -B Quote
Dru Posted September 20, 2004 Posted September 20, 2004 I can't really imagine what you are referring to... thats why I am asking, I can not figure out why he was using a tiblock along with an ATC while belaying someone form the top of a climb  cause he was SKETCH!!!!!!! Quote
Rad Posted September 20, 2004 Posted September 20, 2004 Tiblocs work just fine, and since it's not your rope, I wouldn't stress about damage to it, particularly if they have you on belay. They are cheap and super light. Â Anyway, if you die then you can sue. That's the american way. Quote
cj001f Posted September 20, 2004 Posted September 20, 2004 Anyway, if you die then you can sue. That's the american way. Cheating Death Quote
Bill_Simpkins Posted September 20, 2004 Posted September 20, 2004 I sold my Tiblocs, but they worked just fine for Ascending. I would practice a few times first with them. Go for it! Quote
Alpinfox Posted September 20, 2004 Posted September 20, 2004 If you're worried about Tibloc and their teeth, then you are worried about Petzl ascenders - and their teeth. Â I disagree. Due to the housing of the cam, the ascender does not tend to partially engage and slide (ripping the hell out of the sheath in the process) whereas the tibloc can do that if it's not fully engaged or a less than ideal carabiner (nor round cross-section) is used. I've seen tiblocs rip up ropes, but have never seen a petzl ascender do that. I would think that a bunch of inexperienced folks trying to jug ropes with tiblocs in a hurry would be a recipe for fuzzed ropes. Fuzzed ropes are still plenty strong though. Â You would go a lot faster and more confidently with real ascenders, but tiblocs weigh nothing. Â Muffy, I have heard of people putting tiblocs on intermediate pieces while simulclimbing to prevent a second's fall from pulling the leader off. Perhaps the guy you saw was using that principle. Quote
sk Posted September 20, 2004 Posted September 20, 2004 perhaps he was practicing for such an event, but this was at the collums on a huge ledge. no silmu climbing invilved. Quote
Figger_Eight Posted September 20, 2004 Posted September 20, 2004 Tiblocs can be tricky to use because of their design...not their teeth (like Alpinfox said). You gotta be pretty slow and deliberate with their use if you don't want them to slide. You'd go faster if you use an ascender like the Ropeman even though it's just a bit heavier. Quote
Lambone Posted September 20, 2004 Posted September 20, 2004 a Ti-Block chewed a core shot in my rope...but it was user error. Quote
specialed Posted September 20, 2004 Posted September 20, 2004 I would rather use a prusik. Unfortunately that is listed as "unacceptable". Apparently they are good enough for climbing but not good enough for "adventure". Actually I'm kind of pissed about the whole thing. I don't own a pair of ascenders. I already paid for the entry fee and I find out later I have to spend $100 to go buy a freaking pair of ascenders to go up some stupid section that is probably a 50ft. 5.6 climb. I'm like...why? Â If only 50 ft, 5.6 who fucking cares anyway? I've used Triblocs to ascend skinny ropes. They worked just fine. Quote
EWolfe Posted September 20, 2004 Posted September 20, 2004 Figger 8 makes a really good point. Tibloc's need to be loaded more carefully than ascenders, making them slower. Quote
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