climbing icons?

[juliet]

It occurred to me in conversation elsewhere that I am sadly lacking a climbing icon. Can anyone suggest where I might find something suitable? While I'm here I'll introduce myself briefly -- I'm a fairly new climber (first time I went anywhere near a climbing wall was last September), based in London, & currently at about 4C with both top-roping and bouldering. With occasional excursions into V0/5A with greater or lesser degrees of success. I am having a huge amount of fun, anyway, which I tell myself is more important than competence :) I tend to do more bouldering atm as I can go up in the afternoons & do that on my own rather than having to make arrangements with someone else & probably go evening/weekend.

Comments

[rydra_wong]

Oh hai fellow London climber! I do not have a source of climbing icons, alas -- I've been making my own so far (and my GIMP skillz are not l33t).

Where in London are you climbing? I reserve the right to panic and hide if we turn out to be frequenting the same wall *g* (though I haven't been able to climb for the last few months owing to illness anyway).

[juliet]

I should prob just remember to take a camera next time I am climbing with someone else & get them to take a photo. Although probably not while they're actively belaying me...

I climb at the Castle -- Mile End would probably be a smidge closer to me (am in Bermondsey), but I like the Castle because they are big fluffy hippies. (And I have a couple of friends who were already climbing there when I started; and they did a cut-price introductory course thingy.)

[rydra_wong]

My icon-making strategy has so far consisted of Googling pictures of my favourite climbers (or screencapping YouTube videos) and then chopping them into 100x100 bits *g*.

If you ever stray from the Castle and like bouldering, I can wholeheartedly rec The Arch near London Bridge -- it's small but the staff are sweethearts and they set really interesting problems at all grades.

[juliet]

Oh wow! I didn't know they were there! That is *so* much nearer to me. I'll give them a go; might be worth moving (especially as I might well get down there more often, since it's all of a 10 min cycle, especially while the Sidney-pup is still settling in), although I do like the scope that the Castle offers. Are they (The Arch) bouldering-only?

[rydra_wong]

Yup, bouldering-only. They're actually in one of the railway arches, so height is limited *g*.

Since they're so central, prices are a bit higher (as their rents are), but it gets much cheaper if you can go at off-peak times.

Mini video tour here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qd5DJ5R0Who

[rydra_wong]

Okay, I finally made it back there today, and had to come back to this post to say GO THERE. They have lovely lovely problems up (they're the only place I know where the V0s can be mindfucky).

And they still have the cheapest espresso in central London.

[juliet]

When you posted this I'd just been up to the Castle for a session, which was also top fun :) But today I am about to go try the Arch! Also means I can go fetch a parcel from the post office & get bread from Borough Market en route. *Efficiency*, oh yes.

I fear that I am still at a stage where I automatically find most V0s (as opposed to V0- & lower) mindfucky, in the rather straightforward sense in which I look at them & go "I DO NOT EVEN KNOW WHERE TO START". (At the bottom, usually.) I spent 10 min on Wednesday working out the first 3 moves on a V0 & was quite pleased with myself.

[rydra_wong]

At the moment, the Arch seem to be using "V0" to stand for "V0 and under"; they have been through various phases of labelling, which at one point included "V :)".

But they've got a nice and varied range of problems in that general range right now.

Anyway, I hope you have a lovely time!

[juliet]

I did! Indeed, I climbed several of their V1 (on-sight in a couple of cases) & worked out half of a V2, & was generally a bit surprised by being unusually competent. It was pleasingly unbusy & the folk who were there were nice & friendly. Will definitely be going back! Thanks again for the tip :)

[rydra_wong]

\o/ Go you!

It was pleasingly unbusy

Yes, apparently it gets jammed in the evenings, but if you hit the right off-peak times (and there isn't a school party in), you can often have a whole wall to yourself.

And both staff and clientele seem to be very nice and chilled out.

[rydra_wong]

Oh! I forgot to mention -- when the tag on a problem gives the setter's name as "Johnny", they do mean this guy *g*.

[silveronthetree]

I couldn't find anyone who makes climbing icons last time I looked, but I do make icons myself. I'd be happy to make something if you give me an idea of what you would like or point me in the direction of some pictures.

I'm an ex-London climber (I moved away last year) and I'm all about the fun. There are some great walls there, The Castle was my favourite for bouldering. They had such a great range of problems at the lower grades.

[juliet]

Ooh, thank you for the offer! ATM I have really no idea what I am after, so probably I should get back to you when I do or when I come across a neat picture :) (Graphics brain, I do not have it.)

I really like the bouldering at the Castle, as well. Also the chocolate tiffin they do in the cafe....

[silveronthetree]

No probs. I'll make some general climbing icons anyway soon. I was looking for something new to icon and your post came at exactly the right time.

Ooh, yes! The chocolate tiffin was lovely. Makes me hungry just thinking about it.