Boulder Gear Swapmeet! We need one!

Between the two of us, Erik and I have a bunch of gear we want to unload. Our condo isn't huge, and all the extra stuff just creates clutter. We have enough stuff (and good quality) to have a very nice garage sale, but here's the rub: we don't have a garage, yard, or driveway! So how do we unload this stuff?

The stuff we want to get rid of:
-vintage road bike (needs some love to be ridable)
-road bike helmet
-women's snowboard with bindings (good condition)
-a couple of mens snowboards (good condition)
-some extra bindings
-a variety of alpine and cross country skis
-miscillaneous outdoor clothing, snowboard jackets, goggles, etc.

I know I could sell it all on craigslist, but that would mean writing many a CL post, and having to be home and available for a lot of people to stop by. I just don't want to deal with all the back and forth. I would rather sell the stuff for less money if it meant less hassel. So I came up with an idea. I want to have an informal Boulder gear sale/swap! The seasons are changing and many people need to suit up for winter, or might want to unload some summer excess. A gear swap would be the perfect solution!

It would go like this, I would talk to all my friends about it, post it on facebook, craigslist, a bunch of forums etc. and name a date, time and location. Then everyone interested would bring all the gear they don't want to this location at the specified time and date, and sell or trade it to all interested parties who show up. I think it would be an excellent solution! The only problem is I don't really have a place to do it. I was thinking the park by my place would be a good spot (Scott Carpenter park, with the skate park). I'm not sure what the rules are in Boulder about having this kind of thing at a city park or something. I tried to look up holding an event at Scott Carpenter but came up empty handed. Maybe there is a warehouse or events center somewhere? The other issue would be weather. Now that it is getting cold and with rain and snow on the menu for the rest of this week, it makes an outdoor event like this a little tough. I would like to have it on a nice sunny day where people would be inclined to browse, etc. The weather here is pretty unpredictable, so my guess is there will be more warm weather coming up before winter really settles in.

I think an event like this would also help build community. People could come and hang out, talk gear, and help each other out. I don't know if I will get it together to organize something like this, but it would be cool....

Maybe I will just sell it all on craigslist.

Climbing: Totally and ridiculously fun!

So last week the boyfriend and I finally took the plunge.... We joined a climbing gym (were you expecting something else?). We joined the Boulder Rock Club, witch is a totally sweet climbing gym in Boulder with free massage and yoga classes (yes free!) and unlimited climbing during the length of your membership.

Climbing indoors has become a popular way to keep in excellent climbing shape during the off-season of the cold winter months . Some people climb indoors year-round to practice technique and stay in the best shape possible. The stronger and more skilled the climber, the safer the sport. Now I am not in any particular climbing shape as I am just getting into the sport, but man is it an intense workout! I have never experienced anything that is quite so full body and complete. A climbing gym allows you to tackle this dangerous sport in a relatively safe controlled environment.

Traditional climbing requires a multitude of expensive protective gear, ropes, anchors and devices. To climb in the gym, all you need is a harness and belay device. It helps to have climbing shoes, but they are not necessary. A harness and belay device can be rented at the gym if you don't have your own. Every climber in the gym is required to pass a belay test before they can climb. Belaying is the act of holding on to the other end of the rope that keeps the climber secure. The rope is run through a belay device, or ATC, and the belayer if able to use the device to create friction and control the speed of the rope running through it. With this technique the belayer can catch the climber if he falls. It is very important that your belayer knows what they are doing and is trustworthy and attentive, as they are the only thing keeping you from falling to injury or possibly death (hence the test!).

A climbing gym is set with routes, which are hand and foot holds you use to climb the walls. These routes are marked with colored tape and the difficulty is posted. These routes include everything from easy vertical routes to cracks, overhangs and extremely difficult sport routes.

Another option that does not need much protective gear or ropes is bouldering. Bouldering is like climbing, but the routes undertaken by boulderers generally keep you closer to the ground and are often incredibly difficult. A boulder "problem" as they are called, can take many attempts to solve. Often boulderes will use crash-pads in case of a fall. This is a thick mat placed under the climber that they can fall on to prevent injury. For even more control in a fall, there may be a spotter that can guide the climber's fall. Bouldering can be undertaken anywhere. There are often bouldering areas in a climbing gym. It is normally undertaken on any big rock or rough surface. I have seen people boulder on the sides of stonework buildings!

So far we have climbed at the gym a number of times, and it is crazy fun! I have this amazing ability to completely trust technology, and I am naturally comfortable with heights, so I think I am on my way to becoming a good climber!

I bought a new harness yesterday (pictured above), and I am so stoked about it! It's a Black Diamond Iris women's harness. It's contoured to fit, and very lightweight and comfortable with auto-locking buckles. It was a little more expensive, but so comfortable I couldn't say no. This harness will be supporting me in a life or death situation, so I think it justifies spending a little more money. I also got a new belay device, so I will no longer have to swap back and forth with the boyfriend. I can't wait to get back to the gym!

Climbing works out every muscle in you body, but the big ones are the forearms, shoulders, upper back, and grip strength. The day after my first big climb I could barely cut things with a serrated knife! In climbing when your forearms are totally worked, it's called being pumped, and man were my arms pumped! I also felt some nice muscle soreness in my shoulders and arms. As the weak links in you climbing get stronger (usually forearms and fingers) you start to feel the burn in other areas, like your core. Have you seen climbers? They are almost always totally ripped (men and women) with those perfect, lean, yoga-bodies. I'm totally hooked!

This is a good example of how getting fit is so much easier if you have an activity that you enjoy and are passionate about. Going to the gym and spending two hours on the elliptical in tortuous boredom will not help you get as amped about fitness as spending a couple of hours mountain biking or playing sports with your friends. Find something you enjoy, start small, and keep with it! It's amazing how much it will improve you mood, health, and general well being. I find that getting started is the hardest part. Once you are going, momentum can see you through. And if your fitness activity is something you look forward to, that's the best! I can't wait to

Till next time, I'll see you on the wall!