Ok- I'll probably get a little flaming but i might get some help too...

going to the SC in two wks, my spotter and I both, while experienced rock hounds have little to no experience with straps.

you've got the obvious...

Quick release clevis, 20-30 ft, knots in the line every few feet for grip, wear gloves, attach to 4 corners of frame rail for ascent & descent, cage top for off camber, if sh&t happens let go, try to get good footing/position and adjust rope rather than just hanging on to very end no matter where it puts you, watch out for cones and other boundaries, complete obstacles with zero penalties.

So am I confused or flat out wrong about anything? Any tips I'm not thinking of? I respect that some may prefer not to share their ideas as we'll be competing but you don't know unless you ask.:D

Ken, I use rock climbing type rope, which tends to stretch less than say, water ski rope. My rope is about 20' long (will have to make a new one for next year's RCAA) and I use a quick release rock climbing/clevis thingy. I made a handle out of 3/4" tubing and then put heater hose on the outside of it. If I want the rope to be shorter I loop it back through the rollcage and connect the clevis the the "Y" in the handle. Make sense?

You seem to have it all covered. It's just a rope, not rocket science :D

I like twisted rope because it stretches less than most braided ropes I've found.

Lance- yea, makes sense. The handle is allowed like that? I thought the rulemakers didn't want anything with a loop that any body parts could go thru?? Is your handle like a ski rope in length (10-12") in that you can get two hands on it or is it made for one hand only?

I've got a 5' trick wakeboard handle too (watersports is my other vice) which i may use. for what it's worth the wakeboard ropes are designed to have no stretch vs the waterski ropes.

so is 20' the prefered length or 25'?

PS, I've made a note to do the provider thing today.

i just aquired some rock climbing rope for my rig......... seems to be the best shiat for this.....

If you are buying climbing rope for this appication be aware that there are two types of climbing rope (and various diameters). Most climbing rope is made to stretch to remove some of the shock loading placed on gear during a fall. I think you may be after "Static" line that a repeller would typically use. Static rope doesn't really stretch all that much and it's use should be great as a spotting rope.

Just bringing up a point so you can walk into a climbing shop and get what you are after.

Also, the lightweight aluminum caribiners may not be what you are after for rigging the setup. You can buy steel caribiners for industrial applications that would hold up great in this environment. After all, the rope and hardware will see some abuse.

It's been a while since I climbed, and never did get into it very much, but I think the most common climbing rope has about an 8% stretch ratio. At that rate a 25' section would stretch 2', but probably less with knots in it.

From an observer's perspective, I say leave the knots out. The spotter is gonna be all around the rig all day draging the rope through and around everything. The knots are gonna hang up and slow you down. Too long and you'll spen too much time dealing with the un-needed rope. Too short and you won't have enough leverage. Maybe make the length adjustable on the rig side. That way you could choose per course.

Just an uninformed observer's perspective. Good Luck :cool:

Timmy (spot's for Durham in the east) has one of these slide and lock mechanism things for the climbing rope he uses. It just slides with the push of a trigger and then locks in at whatever length he likes (by letting go of the trigger). Has a pretty slick handle to hold on to also. Much better than knots IMO.

To this day I have not been able to track one down. If someone can fid one on the internet please post up. He said he got it at a climbing shop (we don't have those down here :D )

speaking of straps, i saw that guy from gravity straps handing those things out to competitors on friday. how many of you actually used em and what did you think. they looked a little long and clumsy to me. I liked watchin lance start to rip apart the stitching too :flipoff2:

for those that dont know what i'm talkin about they look like a 20' dog leash with loop handles every 5' after 10'.

Dallas

I was going to say wakeboard rope and handle, but I see you thought of that, you could use the sections to add or reduce the line length. It would be easy to manage, no stretch, and plenty strong.

-Jeremy

Originally posted by bigdude
Timmy (spot's for Durham in the east) has one of these slide and lock mechanism things for the climbing rope he uses. It just slides with the push of a trigger and then locks in at whatever length he likes (by letting go of the trigger). Has a pretty slick handle to hold on to also. Much better than knots IMO.

To this day I have not been able to track one down. If someone can fid one on the internet please post up. He said he got it at a climbing shop (we don't have those down here :D )

Sounds like an ascender REI has them

http://a1072.g.akamai.net/f/1072/2062/8h/gallery.rei.com/thumbimages/626625.jpg