Gym Climbing Ropes - Safety First

Gym Climbing ropes make for a challengingrope hoist with a lock box.  Basically the way it
workout for people of all ages and abilities. works is you attach a pulley to the wall high up
Utilizing your bodies own weight and gravity tonear the ceiling then you can attach the ends of
provide resistance climbing ropes make for a funup to two climbing ropes to this hoist rope that
and challenging experience.runs through the pulley and down into a metal
Today's ropes are made of natural materials andbox mounted at eye height on the wall.  Then
synthetic materials such as manila, polyproyou pull the hoist rope which sends the ends of
(unmanila) and polyplus.  These materials arethe two climbing ropes to the ceiling.  Wrap the
very durable but do require proper inspection forloose hoist rope inside the metal lock box, close
safety.  Manila materials break down from thethe cover and lock the box.  Now no one can
inside out and ropes that are exposed to theuse the ropes unless they have have a key to
elements will rot from the inside out.  Climbingthe lock box.  Sound confusing... here's a picture...
ropes should be inspected carefully and often for 
signs of damage and wear.Sometimes a climber gets overzealous and tries
In addition to frequent inspection there areto reach from the top of the climbing rope to the
several items that can be purchased to increasebeam and go gorilla through the beams of the
safety and reduce the risk of rope malfunctiongymnasium.  Not such a good idea.  Here's how
during use.  Below is a list of items you mightyou prevent that nightmare from taking place.  A
want to consider buying along with your rope.  Alltambourine mounted at the top of your rope
of these items can be purchased at the Gymkeeps climbers from climbing past the top of the
Climbing Rope Store.rope.  Tambourines measure 20" in diameter and
The first item that usually comes to mind formount with a clamp to your rope at a height that
climbing rope enthusiasts is a fat mat or landingyou desire. 
mat.  These thick mats made of soft foam can 
cushion a fall.  While no guarantees can be madeA gym climbing rope safety cable attachment
that they will prevent injury they can't hurt andoffers a back up system to keep ropes from
most schools use them under their ropes.  Thecompletely disconnecting from the ceiling even in
most popular size for this application is a 5 footthe event that your ceiling hardware fails.  The
wide by 10 foot long mat that has a minimumkit comes with cable, clamp and splicers to fit any
thickness of 8 inches.  Whiles these mats aresize beam.
quite expensive they can be used for countless 
activities at a school and are well worth the 
investment.  You can do a search for " UCS 221Now that you have researched how to ensure
Series Folding Fat Pads " in Google to find thesafety when using climbing ropes we're sure you'll
best price online.  Be aware however that thesewant to get started with rope climbing right
mats do ship via truck and freights is usually anaway.  Not only does it provide a great workout
additional cost.but when students get to the top they feel a
 sense of achievement, a sense of pride and a
After you get a mat under your rope you havemindset that they can accomplish their goals.  All
only a few things to guard against.  Un-authorizedit takes is a climbing rope and a few minutes to
use, climbers climbing higher than the rope andset students on a path to success.
trying to hang from ceiling beams, and accidentalRemember though no matter what additional
clamp failure.  Thankfully the folks at the Gymproducts you use for safety nothing takes the
Climbing Rope Store have thought of all theseplace of adult supervision.  Children should never
things for you.  Here's what you'll need.be allowed to use climbing ropes when an adult is
To stop un-authorized use of your ropes get anot present.