Which is a relief as getting outside has been tough this year with constant rain from June onwards. Any route fitness I’d gained drained away even faster than my enthusiasm. The news of a training venue for route climbers comes as a bitter blow for the boulderers who have enjoyed pure power problems for a while and don’t see the point in getting pumped. However, the now famous circuit board at The Works has seen beanies and chalk buckets replaced by old skool lycra tights and even chalk bags worn during climbing!

 

Being perhaps the worlds weakest apparent strong person and anti boulderer I need to train hard to get up any routes. The circuit board at The Works is probably the best place I have ever trained for power endurance. The climbing style is perfect for routes, particularly in the British style with the holds being very fingery and the movement continuous. Most importantly the moves themselves are fairly static, they involve holding powerful body positions which is exactly like outdoors. Many PE circuits at other walls have a load of dynamic slaps on big holds and are climbed like a monkey swinging around in a tree, pumpy maybe, but not much use for gutting up any real routes. Also the board is big, both high and wide enough to pack in a serious amount of climbing.

 

Shame there is no rock dry enough to go out and hang onto!