Caver Anatomy

[blackshiver]

OK Simon.
I think I totally get the "Caver Anatomy" thing now. I'm just a skinny version - lacking a five stone rucksack and a pair of forty pound breasts. I completely agree, these would make prussiking in Quaking Pot quite a challenge.

 

[Rachel]

Simonsays- I also prefer to have my D ring higher up. Easy way to do it is to just lengthen your leg loops a couple of inches.

For me it's another female anatomy thing ... those childbearing hips. If I wear my harness low, as everyone says you should, then the waist tape is wrapped around the point where my hips are on an inward slope, giving me a constant feeling akin to pants about to fall down. Hitched up a couple of inches higher and the waist tape is where my hips are on an outward slant, which feels so much more secure.

 

[Amy]

Hi blackshiver, that strap round my neck was a petzl torse attached to the back of my harness. I've tried three different types of chest harness, it doesn't matter how hard I crank em down it still doesn't alter the fact that my centre of gravity is *above* the scroll and I'm always going to fall backwards.

Not an issue if you're thin

I weigh in at about 15 stone and am very top heavy. If you fancy a real laugh try your current setup whilst wearing a rucksack with about 5 stone in it... Just don't try it far from the ground :-O


I have high hopes for my modified harness and can't wait to try it out this weekend.

::nods:: see answer #1 in my prior post, I address the bungee vs tape (webbing) traditional chest harness issue as to why I use a bungee (tl/dr, more comfy and actually pulls the croll up, traditional frogging harnesses and even my self-made variations of stiff material just crunch the body and keep the awkward angle, so it ends with a very sore back, and still laying down on rope, and the croll angle it's pulled at doesn't move up well/at all/efficeintly)

Rachel I have the same feeling with a typical low-attachment frog harness.

And idea if you can't get the high rig caving harness, is that climbing harnesses are typically higher waist points. While I hate belay loops...it may be easier to purchase there than having a high attachment point shipped in.

In case anyone is curious about who I'm working with for building better SRT kit for top-heavy/curvy/falls away from the rope sorts of issues (including we are working on a chest harness built for busty women!) check out - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pangaea-Vertical-Caving-Systems-Manufacturer-of-Custom-Made-Gear/177172535687423

 

[langcliffe]

Obvious scientific discrepancy; "fully submerge breast in water" - "breast is less dense than water" This indicates that to submerge the breast in water some downwards pressure is required, thereby introducing an external element to the experiment and nullifying the final readings.

Rubbish - all you're doing is measuring the volume of the displaced water - the amount of force required to sink a floating block of wood to the point where the top is level with the surface does not affect the amount of water it displaces.

 

[bograt]

Volume, no, but by pressing down, you are artificially increasing the weight, (for these purposes, equatable to mass), thereby giving an artificial value to the density, is the density of mammary tissue really 0.9?.
The full body immersion method would ensure that no external influences affect the values, ideally a weighing device in the water would enable a more accurate determination since the upthrust on a lighter than water object is calculable.

 

[droid]

Classic thread.

Would it be considered rude to suggest that a lot of the problems outlined here might be sorted by eating fewer pies?

At least for the blokes.....

 

[graham]

Does anyone else remember the photo sequence in Descent (in the old B&W days before Chris took over) of a female caver climbing a ladder as her wet suit became more and more shredded?

 

[paul]

Classic thread.

Would it be considered rude to suggest that a lot of the problems outlined here might be sorted by eating fewer pies?

At least for the blokes.....

Or for the very top-heavy, learn to Prusik upside-down!

 

[simonsays]

Does anyone else remember the photo sequence in Descent (in the old B&W days before Chris took over) of a female caver climbing a ladder as her wet suit became more and more shredded?

Not rude at all.

All of my centre of gravity issues are of my own making :

Its not so long ago I was a little over 20 stones and could barely fit into my car let alone walk to it

Diet, blood, sweat and tears have removed a quarter of my body weight but I'm still very much a work in progress.

 

[martinm]

Not rude at all.
All of my centre of gravity issues are of my own making :
Its not so long ago I was a little over 20 stones and could barely fit into my car let alone walk to it
Diet, blood, sweat and tears have removed a quarter of my body weight but I'm still very much a work in progress.

Well done Simon, keep it up. I used to be over 15 stone but am now about 13. Makes a big difference.... Mel.

 

[AA Speleo]

Does anyone else remember the photo sequence in Descent (in the old B&W days before Chris took over) of a female caver climbing a ladder as her wet suit became more and more shredded?

Was a Rocksport advert, appeared in at least Descent No 45 March/April 1980 pages 8,9,10,11  :read:

 

[ianball11]

Good slimming Simon!    What's your target weight?

 

[Hughie]

Classic thread.

Would it be considered rude to suggest that a lot of the problems outlined here might be sorted by eating fewer pies?

At least for the blokes.....

Absolutely. Most definitely too many pies.

 

[blackshiver]

This thread is a classic. And getting back to Les W's hijack of Amy's original scientific experiments this one should drag the oldies out.Never mind the Rockport advert. This is 1973, I was 13 Years old, no SRT, no Internet, just girls in caves. Retrived it from the loft. I can't remember what I did at work this morning but these images were still etched into my schoolboy brain.

Super Wezzit - who and where?
Miss F got my 13 year old vote, primarily because she had the least clothes on.

If the photo does not work (child of the analog age I'm afraid) its on my blackshiver flickr photostream

 

[bograt]

This thread is a classic. And getting back to Les W's hijack of Amy's original scientific experiments this one should drag the oldies out.Never mind the Rockport advert. This is 1973, I was 13 Years old, no SRT, no Internet, just girls in caves. Retrived it from the loft. I can't remember what I did at work this morning but these images were still etched into my schoolboy brain.

Super Wezzit - who and where?
Miss F got my 13 year old vote, primarily because she had the least clothes on.

Thanks for reminding me of this, I've probably got the originals packed up in boxes somewhere, I remember it now since you remind me , you have, however, also reminded me of my age (thanks for that, Sprog!)

 

[bograt]

Just so people know what we are chatting about

 

[shotlighter]

Just so people know what we are chatting about

Stiill got my copy, though I always thought D was rather nice - must be those hobnail boots :

 

[bograt]

With you on that one (lady D), but I always thought of who I would like to be on the other end of my lifeline.

Can anyone find A, B, and C??

 

[blackshiver]

Miss D won.
Scientific notes - Low breast weight, pie free diet, no beer belly and no choice but to get very very good at climbing ladders.

 

[bograt]

Miss D won.
Scientific notes - Low breast weight, pie free diet, no beer belly and no choice but to get very very good at climbing ladders.

Wetsuit enabling minimal snagging on rungs.