Discussion Topic |
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BrassNuts
Trad climber
Boulder Colorado
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Topic Author's Original Post - Feb 22, 2008 - 11:31pm PT
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Time to pay homage to the most colorful period in climbing... the LYCRA era! Back in the day when true fashion ruled the crags - no beenies back then! Let's see who has the most classic (heinous?)lycra shots.........
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Crimpergirl
Social climber
St. Looney
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Feb 23, 2008 - 12:15am PT
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WHERE did you guys buy these things?
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dfrost7
Social climber
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Feb 23, 2008 - 12:16am PT
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Thank you! I was hoping for this thread.
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Crimpergirl
Social climber
St. Looney
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Feb 23, 2008 - 09:53am PT
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For real? No one else has any lycra shots?
I *know* there is more lurking lycra out there. Wish I had some to show.
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Michael Hjorth
Trad climber
Copenhagen, Denmark
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Feb 23, 2008 - 10:20am PT
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We had the same issue going on Danish Mountain Club site a few year ago, and I dusted off some old slides of me self.
Here belayed by Jakob in similar outfit. 1989.
Check the matching fleece-rope-tight color...
Michael
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AllezAllez510
Trad climber
PDX, OR
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Feb 23, 2008 - 10:28am PT
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Can I put myself out on a limb and ask: why? Was it more fashion or more functional?
I was probably about 8 years old when those pics were taken, but I do remember bicycle shorts being in fashion at my elementary school. Closest I ever came to lycra.
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justthemaid
climber
Los Angeles
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Feb 23, 2008 - 10:29am PT
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More please.
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Jerry Dodrill
climber
Bodega, CA
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Feb 23, 2008 - 11:27am PT
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A group shot everyone would like to forget:
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Salathiel
Trad climber
South Beach, FL
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Feb 23, 2008 - 11:32am PT
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Todd,
I met cos a few years after that photo of him in the "bee" lycra and mullet - the picture had been published in Climbing as a part of the story about his and the General's attempt to free the Muir wall. I asked him about it later, and he told me that he still has them, and charges extra when clients ask for 'em.
That picture cracks me up.
There is another photo of him bouldering out in the desert on a rock with the words "white power" spray painted on it. Cos has a knack for the provocative.
Blur
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Ghost
climber
A long way from where I started
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Feb 23, 2008 - 11:36am PT
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That last shot of Jerry's is too much. Not just lycra, but "Man-Pri" lycra. The shame...
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bachar
Trad climber
Mammoth Lakes, CA
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Feb 23, 2008 - 12:53pm PT
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Somewhere on the Eastside....
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TradIsGood
Chalkless climber
the Gunks end of the country
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Feb 23, 2008 - 12:56pm PT
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Documentary proof that golfers of the 70s were not the nadir of fashion.
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bachar
Trad climber
Mammoth Lakes, CA
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Feb 23, 2008 - 01:02pm PT
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I still wish I could get some of these Comici "plus fours"...
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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Feb 23, 2008 - 01:10pm PT
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What are you people? Slaves to fashion?
Lycra makes a fairly effective skin layer. Freedom of movement; overclothes slide easily.
Sometimes I wear bright colors to "teach" the rangers that climbers are easy to see. Then at other times I can go in camo and they see nothing.
Its about function, not fitting in. Some climbers may be bold, but apparently not bold enough to, heaven forbid, commit a fashion faux pas.
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BrassNuts
Trad climber
Boulder Colorado
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 23, 2008 - 01:12pm PT
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Here's an example of the fashionable "Man-Pri" at work...
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Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, Ca
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Feb 23, 2008 - 01:54pm PT
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Solid colors were good too. I don't recall who took this shot in Josh..
and dark color were warmer. G-gnome got this one, I'm on somethin' in Courtright.
The thing I can't understand is that I actually liked those tights... hmm.
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nick d
Trad climber
nm
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Feb 23, 2008 - 02:09pm PT
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Good thing I'm a bicyclist, so I can wear this stuff without GUILT!
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G_Gnome
Trad climber
In the mountains... somewhere...
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Feb 23, 2008 - 02:41pm PT
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Let's see some Mike Paul photos! He always wore THE most gaudy Lycra pants of anyone.
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BrassNuts
Trad climber
Boulder Colorado
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 23, 2008 - 02:43pm PT
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Ksolem - DUDE - are you sporting those solid reds on Such a Savage?
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Ihateplastic
Trad climber
Lake Oswego, Oregon
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Feb 23, 2008 - 02:50pm PT
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I apologize... I used to distribute plum smugglers, err, lycra into the climbing community. I even advertised the fact for a time. Somewhere I have some heinous shots... I will search.
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Chiloe
Trad climber
Lee, NH
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Feb 23, 2008 - 02:55pm PT
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So far, this thread has totally overlooked the better side of those lycra daze.
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Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, Ca
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Feb 23, 2008 - 02:59pm PT
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Brass - That's a slab thingy on Future Games Wall called Games Without Frontiers. It does kind of look like the Savage though, now that you mention it.
Anyone know Ken Gohegan? For a while he was the Vetrinarian there in 29 Palms, lived just by Indian Cove there. For some reason he enjoyed making tights, and kept me stylin for a while there. He did some cool things with pinstripes that looked like they belonged in a nice Italian suit. We did a route together up in Indian Country there, called it the Last of The Gohegans...
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Michael Hjorth
Trad climber
Copenhagen, Denmark
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Feb 23, 2008 - 04:28pm PT
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Chiloe,
You're right. Let's get focus away from the atrocious colors and look into functionality:
Ease of movement is unsurpassed. Closely followed by the plusfurs of Comici. The climbingpants I have just now are horrible when I'm sweathing; fabric sticks to the skin and prevents movement.
For the same reason I still keep one pair of tights somewhere (but I don't dare to use them in public).
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Anastasia
Trad climber
Califlower
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Feb 23, 2008 - 04:43pm PT
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Nice to know that most of you don't mind the attention of "showing so much."
Now explain to me something...
Did you wear anything underneath?
Giggles...
AF
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Chiloe
Trad climber
Lee, NH
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Feb 23, 2008 - 05:02pm PT
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Chiloe,
You're right. Let's get focus away from the atrocious colors and look into functionality:
Hah, Michael, you're right there were reasons, but I was thinking of something else when I wrote that ... every photo so far has been male!
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Ricky D
Trad climber
Sierra Westside
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Feb 23, 2008 - 05:14pm PT
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No - we didn't wear anything underneath - remember that was when the dreaded visible panty line was an issue!
Lycra allowed men to get in touch with their feminine side at the same time demonstrating to the world that we were comfortable with ourselves.
What I liked about lycra was the freedom of movement the second skin provided and the sense of compression it gave my leg muscles.
Plus it looked sooooo cool!
I'll have to dig around my trunk - I think I still have some custom tights made by EmilyK in Santa Barbara around 81 or so.
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J. Werlin
climber
Cedaredge
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Feb 23, 2008 - 08:14pm PT
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This is an important historical thread and needs to be bumped back up.
JT April, 1986. Two ladies were selling some sweet tights to finance their road trip. We camped in the site adjacent to Watusi for three weeks, if I remember correctly.
Style points if you can name the route.
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TrundleBum
Trad climber
Las Vegas
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Feb 23, 2008 - 08:32pm PT
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Only pair I ever had was a blue/white motely pattern.
They were of the thicker variety spandex, I used them mostly for ice climbing on crags and ice sailing on a FreeSkate.
Mine were made by Hugh Herr.
I couldn't resist the sign on the clothes rack at IME in N.Conway at the time:
"Buy a pair and get into Herr pants"
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bachar
Trad climber
Mammoth Lakes, CA
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Feb 23, 2008 - 08:50pm PT
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These were so thin they should have been sold at a lingerie shop... I have to admit they did "set you free'. Guess who made them???
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Anastasia
Trad climber
Califlower
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Feb 23, 2008 - 09:05pm PT
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Bump...
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the kid
Trad climber
fayetteville, wv
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Feb 23, 2008 - 09:16pm PT
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this shot is from my first trip to shelf road in 1989. About 7 months after knee reconstruction.....
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the kid
Trad climber
fayetteville, wv
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Feb 23, 2008 - 09:17pm PT
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bachar,
i do believe those are Gramicci thights...
ks
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bachar
Trad climber
Mammoth Lakes, CA
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Feb 23, 2008 - 09:23pm PT
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kid - Yup, just like these were Gramicci...
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socalbolter
Sport climber
Silverado, CA
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Feb 23, 2008 - 09:50pm PT
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The route is Equinox and good old Ed Sampson used to push that Gramicci lycra out of his car.
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bachar
Trad climber
Mammoth Lakes, CA
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Feb 23, 2008 - 10:09pm PT
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bob - Kloberdanz?
I like the straight purple.
Interesting angle on the photographer's behalf...
Edit: That's Equinox? Weird angle - throws me off a little.
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happiegrrrl
Trad climber
New York, NY
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Feb 23, 2008 - 10:32pm PT
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Where did the lycra COME from? Who was the first? Was it an immediately accepted thing or did it take time to catch on? And...what happened to end the lycra movement?
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tenesmus
Trad climber
slc
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Feb 23, 2008 - 10:46pm PT
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Where and what route is that first pic? Something on Castleton? Big Bend?
you guys look so pretty
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BrassNuts
Trad climber
Boulder Colorado
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 23, 2008 - 10:53pm PT
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Tenesmus - the route is Jah Man on Sister Superior in Castle Valley. I did feel pretty in my "planetoid" tights...
Here's a Long's Peak lycra moment...
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J. Werlin
climber
Cedaredge
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Feb 23, 2008 - 10:53pm PT
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Not Equinox. This one is two number grades easier and in the Hall of Horrors.
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BrassNuts
Trad climber
Boulder Colorado
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 23, 2008 - 10:56pm PT
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Is it the Exorcist with a strange angle?
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bob d'antonio
Trad climber
Taos, NM
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Feb 23, 2008 - 10:59pm PT
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John...that is Kloberdanz.
Funny..to this day I can't wear baggy pants climbing...no more lycra but I do wear Hind Munich running pants climbing.
On the FA of what else...Lycra Phobia
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J. Werlin
climber
Cedaredge
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Feb 23, 2008 - 11:18pm PT
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Brass, that's the correct wall, but you're to far left.
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happiegrrrl
Trad climber
New York, NY
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Feb 23, 2008 - 11:31pm PT
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SofaKing Hot!? hahahah - that's really, good, Kath.
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L
climber
Malibu, baby....in a Cheetah shirt
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Feb 23, 2008 - 11:34pm PT
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I'm sittin' here (with all the gals, no doubt), eatin' my heart out. They just don't make drop-dead gorgeous lycra like that anymore.
If they did, we'd all be wearing it!
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Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, Ca
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Feb 23, 2008 - 11:50pm PT
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Werlin, any chance that is a reversed image of the old Matt Cox route Aerospace?
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Anastasia
Trad climber
Califlower
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Feb 24, 2008 - 12:07am PT
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NO!
Don't bring Lycra back! Remember all the fat people wearing Lycra?!
Disturbing...
Yeah... I can enjoy seeing athletes wearing it but heck... It never remains where it belongs.
Blah...
Reason one I rebelled against Lycra when it was part of my High School track uniform and grabbed instead the mini shorts from the 70's.
Too many out of shape moms wore it for my taste.
AF
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Russ Walling
Social climber
Out on the sand.... man.....
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Feb 24, 2008 - 12:12am PT
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Having never worn lycra, ever.... this whole thread is making want to go out and smoke a pole. What was wrong with you people?
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Jerry Dodrill
climber
Bodega, CA
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Feb 24, 2008 - 01:36am PT
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My friend Eric at Red Rocks.
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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Feb 24, 2008 - 01:57am PT
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never wore lycra for climbing
wear bicycling stuff though...
...need to get back into 70's shape (wish me luck!)
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Anastasia
Trad climber
Califlower
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Feb 24, 2008 - 02:16am PT
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My first time climbing was at Point Dume and I remember a guy free soloing, doing laps next to me during this historic occasion. It was a very interesting sight.
He was wearing a speedo...
AF
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J. Werlin
climber
Cedaredge
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Feb 24, 2008 - 10:10am PT
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Ksolem and Sewellymon--
Yes Aero Space is the route, you all got it. And I apologize for the slide reversal. Climbed it 21 years ago and didn't remember the route well enough to catch my mistake.
Cheers.
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J. Werlin
climber
Cedaredge
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Feb 24, 2008 - 10:52am PT
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Brassnuts--welcome to the GreatTimeWaster.com. Thought I recognized you in that Long's shot. Say hey to Pente for me.
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justthemaid
climber
Los Angeles
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Feb 24, 2008 - 11:33am PT
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I have to fire off a message to Cragsman.
His famous purple-zebra shot must not be left out of this thread.
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Big Kahuna
Ice climber
Hell Hardest climb I did was getting out of bed.
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Feb 24, 2008 - 12:09pm PT
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When I was not quite so big back in the day.
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Geno
Trad climber
Reston, VA
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Feb 24, 2008 - 12:12pm PT
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I could only wear black tights. I wish I had applied that thinking to the shoes.
I thought Laura looked damn good in her shiny frost green lycra:
My German friend Ingo going for it fashion wise as well as through this crux:
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BrassNuts
Trad climber
Boulder Colorado
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 24, 2008 - 06:04pm PT
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Who can name the location of the fashion flashin'?
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FeelioBabar
climber
Sneaking up behind you...
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Feb 24, 2008 - 07:52pm PT
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funny thread...but sooo glad I missed that era.
belaying must have been torture with all that grape smuggling going on. yikes!
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Raydog
Trad climber
Boulder Colorado
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Feb 24, 2008 - 07:54pm PT
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Great Thread.
RE:
" Who can name the location of the fashion flashin'? "
I can.
Z crack. 5.9/10a (maybe)
Pinnacles, Easter Island Group.
Deerhorn Valley, California.
might know the guy who did the FA on a lot of those little climbs :)
wow. thanks for posting that one BrassNuts dude
(I honestly thought the move to grab the in-cut at the top, made off that (kinda deceptive) sloping jam you're setting w/ your left in the pic, was .10a, BUT - hey, I'm way short SO - if someone today said 5.8, I'd say "good job!")
BTW - for travelers looking for really warm high quality cragging in So Cal winter - this link will get you there.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060225/news_lz1dd24mother.html
can see the rocks from road - approach fairly obvious - do a repeat of the Fang OW the way the FA was done...no pro bro!
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Jaybro
Social climber
The West
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Feb 24, 2008 - 08:06pm PT
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Check 'em out
Pink cadillac convertibles, parrots with shades and hawain shirts!
And I can still wear'em!
But I don't...
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bob d'antonio
Trad climber
Taos, NM
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Feb 24, 2008 - 08:15pm PT
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Geno...is it Mark R??
Laura looks lovely.
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radair
climber
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Feb 24, 2008 - 08:20pm PT
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El Cap, November 1985; and "Climber Bob" Parrott taking a whipper off Liquid Sky at Cathedral Ledge, NH, same era.
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Geno
Trad climber
Reston, VA
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Feb 25, 2008 - 06:20am PT
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Bobby, Affirmative. I have other great shots of him in tights. Maybe I'll post them later.
Jaybro, Those are really funny. Put em on!
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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Feb 25, 2008 - 10:39am PT
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Jaybro... maybe you should break those out for Wide Wednesday this week! You'd make Gary blush!
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klk
Trad climber
cali
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Feb 25, 2008 - 01:12pm PT
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We made and sold Lycra tights, along with chalk bags, butt bags, etc., back in the early-middle '80s. We bought most of the material at a huge fabric place in San Bernardino. Nomad at Idyllwild sold some for us. I think Cilley hawked a few pair. I think I still have a few pair in various patterns left over, but I suspect that most of the ST crowd have somewhat different proportions than they did bitd, so I'm not planning an Ebay auction.
In terms of functionality, they were far better for climbing than anything before or since, w. the obvious exception of places with really rough rock or wide routes where you wanted to bury your knee. Funny, that stuff is still regular gear for road riding and even some mountain biking. But if climbing were really about functionality and not style, Lycra would still be the standard for sport and comps.
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Nefarius
Big Wall climber
Fresno, CA
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Feb 25, 2008 - 01:12pm PT
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hahaha Man, oh man, that stuff is ghey, dudes! hahahaha
My climbing partner, Blaine, has some shots of himself in tights. I tease him endlessly about those things!
Love the Flock o' Seagulls hair there, Jerry! hahaha
We all have some really bad pics of ourselves from back in the day, don't we? We thought we were some cool mofo's rockin' those fashions then, however!
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marty(r)
climber
beneath the valley of ultravegans
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Feb 25, 2008 - 02:35pm PT
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Lycra's bad, but so are paint-splashed wrestler's pants with the elastic waist. Ho-Man!
Clinton never wore lycra:
Bootsie's another story...
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Klimmer
Mountain climber
San Diego
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Feb 25, 2008 - 06:30pm PT
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I wore lycra for fashion. It worked for this image . . .
photo: glenn simpson/realm of light (cheap scan)
But I have to admit it did feel sexy, and of course I wore them butt naked!
Lycra for images should come back. The color is great, and on certain climbers it sure looks damn good.
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Nefarius
Big Wall climber
Fresno, CA
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Feb 25, 2008 - 06:33pm PT
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HAHAHA Check out those pants George is rockin'!!! Suwheet!
Climbers in lycra are kinda like the white pimps of the climbing world... You guys should get big-brimmed hats with matching fur, Sport a gold-tipped cane on your way to the crag, etc.... =)
Maybe JB can craft up some platform climbing shoes! Russ can hook you's guys up with some killer fur!
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klk
Trad climber
cali
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Feb 25, 2008 - 08:30pm PT
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Actually, Lycra was WAY less Village People than the outfit that it started to replace: In SoCal before Lycra, all the men wore very short shorts with a swami but WITHOUT underwear. For many of us, it provided an additional incentive to lead rather than belay. When Lycra came along, it actually did a lot for masculine modesty at the crag.
Some folks hated Lycra partly because of the colors-- middle-class white guys in the US wear nothing except brown, grey, black, drab green or navy blue-- but mostly because it was associated with hangdogging, rap bolting, and France.
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Crimpergirl
Social climber
St. Looney
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Feb 26, 2008 - 07:43am PT
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Sounds like a new thread is in order. I've seen those photos of those SHORT shorts that men used to wear. Plus, in the gym in DC, this one older guy still wore those tiny split-up-the-side running shorts to climb. Talk about corneal burns. Thank God for lycra!
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justthemaid
climber
Los Angeles
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Feb 26, 2008 - 10:44am PT
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LOL Totally funny post KLK.^^^
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tolman_paul
Trad climber
Anchorage, AK
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Feb 27, 2008 - 01:37pm PT
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I was an impressionable teenager, with no sense of fashion.
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TwistedCrank
climber
Ideeho
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Feb 27, 2008 - 01:47pm PT
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Cyclists are still wearing lycra. Bad bad bad color choice though.
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Ihateplastic
Trad climber
Lake Oswego, Oregon
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Feb 27, 2008 - 04:33pm PT
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I can't believe I am going to reveal these shots... I know nothing beats lycra for comfort on free climbs but it still looks a wee sissy...
I even did self-timer shots. PATHETIC!
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Oakville, Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Feb 27, 2008 - 08:30pm PT
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Twisted Crank, you are indeed twisted. And after several beers and shiraz on an empty stomach, I am LMAO. Accordingly I shall share the Dr. Piton Theory of Hunged-ness:
If you are a lefty [like me!] you hang right. The converse is also true.
Accordingly, in theory from left to right, the cyclists are:
Righty, lefty, lefty, righty, lefty.
Note: This is somewhat counter-intuitive since most people are Righties, however I will stand by my assertion.
I never wore lycra. It would give away my lefty-ness.
eKat - right on! Tell it like it is!
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Willoughby
Social climber
Truckee, CA
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Feb 27, 2008 - 09:16pm PT
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As somebody who can't even tolerate boxers, much less tighty-whiteys, the notion that lycra is/was in anyway comfortable is simply unfathomable. You guys are friggin' insane! Seriously. INSANE!!!! (Or lying, 'cause you just liked the way you looked in 'em). Cyclists wear bike shorts for the chamois padding. I do this myself on my road bike, but it's definitely taken me a few years to get use to, and somedays they're so annoying I think it really helps me push the pace, just so I can get home and get out of those god-forsaken torture garments. Nonetheless, I was tempted by Brian's link. I took a peek, and, one thing led to another, and...from now on I think I'm gonna climb in one of these get-ups:
I'm gonna see if they'll make me a cape and a codpiece to go with it. Lycra...wtf?!?!?!
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Brian Boyd
Trad climber
Scottsdale, AZ
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Feb 29, 2008 - 04:23pm PT
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More, cause it's Friday...
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Crimpergirl
Social climber
St. Looney
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Feb 29, 2008 - 04:41pm PT
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Bwhahaha! Just when I thought I'd seen the ultimate in lycra, I see these new photos. You guys are crackin' me up!
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knieveltech
Social climber
Raleigh NC
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I bought some leopard print lycra tights a couple of weeks ago that had their big debut at the gym this evening. I was immediately informed by the owners that "retro night is on monday, not wednesday" and "clearly I hadn't read the fine print on the waiver" and that "there was a fashion clause in the membership contract". Other than that (and this strange phenomenon where folks wouldn't look directly at me and tended to shuffle away from my general area if I stood still for more than a few seconds) these things are great! Very comfy, very shiny, and apparently a great way to ensure I never have to stand in line waiting for a problem at the gym ever again. SOLD! I can't wait to take them to the crag...
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Willoughby
Social climber
Truckee, CA
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Well, if clears folks off the routes I wanna do, then maybe I will have to try it. Plus, just look at what delightful company I could be in:
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Crimpergirl
Social climber
On my way to Boulder
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This thread continues to crack me up!
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Tomcat
Trad climber
Chatham N.H.
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Happi asked how it all started.Legend here in the east is that Hugh Herr was experimenting with ways to keep his prosthesis(sp),....his legs on.Lycra was the ticket.He was stiching at Wild Things and made some up.The rest is history.
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BrassNuts
Trad climber
Boulder Colorado
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Topic Author's Reply - Apr 4, 2008 - 12:03pm PT
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I think you're right about Hugh Herr... he was likley the first to market lycra tights to the climbing community. His slogan was something like "you'll want to get into Herr pants"...
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philo
Trad climber
boulder, co.
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My first climbing 'fashion', after cowboy boots and hat, was the 1970's ubiquitous white painter pants, rugby shirt and bandanna or 'scull cap'. While the greater durability of double kneed Carharts soon became perferable for the slug fests of the Black Canyon and Red Rock and cycling hats replaced bandannas as head gear of choice, rugby shirts still reigned supreme.
Funny thing was for years I was not just climbing but also dancing in a modern dance company. I regularly wore lycra tights, leotards and unitards of all manner of style and color.
And I must say all the beautiful women I got to perform with looked fabulicious in lycra! Lycra really is a fabulously comfortable thing to wear and move in but lets face it not everyone should wear it. Some of the up thread pics prove that.
So, just like the simularly doomed 'mullet', over popularity drove lycra into the scrap heap of dork-ness.
Before the lycra revolution I used to climb alpine walls like the Diamond in lycra tights with leg warmers that would attach to velcro tabs sewn on wool bike shorts. Though for the day I am sure it was odd looking it was a great and versatile system of layering for rapidly changing conditions.
It was amusing for me when the wild stuff became the fashion d'jour of the climbing world. My favorite wild lycra was a strap top one piece bird feather print that Hank Caylor use to have. Ho man that was somethin'.
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Dick_Lugar
Trad climber
Indiana
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There's no excuse for this, there was no time in the 20th century when these colors/patterns should've been acceptable! LOL
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L
climber
If only I could remember....
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Willoughby's gang in the scrubs and lycra have me absolutely green with envy. Where did he get those zebras????
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Melissa
Gym climber
berkeley, ca
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I once worked w/ a guy who was fond of wearing purple tights w/ a tucked in a tee-shirt and a fanny pack positioned off-center near the front for maximum "look at my package" effect.
It was indeed pretty bad and a at least 5 years after the last semi-tasteful person retired their lycra.
There was a crusty doc in the lab w/ no inclination for mincing words who told the lycra man that...
"Men should only wear tights if they are in play."
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Tahoe climber
Trad climber
a dark-green forester out west
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Wow. If I could lay my hands on some of those zebra's, I'd wear the all the time.
"Works everytime, all the time, 60% of the time."
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L
climber
If only I could remember....
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O...M...G...Willoughby,
You have no idea what a happy girl you have just made me...
Not only zebra--but tiger too!
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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those work for guys too, right?
how about the Red Paisley...
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L
climber
If only I could remember....
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Yeah Ed, with your dark hair, you'd look marrrrvalous in red paisley!
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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Debbie would fall over laughing if she saw me in those tights...
not that that would stop me.
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Gobie
Trad climber
Northern, Ca.
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I cant believe someone hasnt posted up the pic of the late Xavier Bongard on the cover of Big Walls climbing Sea of Dreams. Largo's got to have a shot of that somewhere. Id scan it but im still digging cords out from when i moved just to charge my cell phone.
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knieveltech
Social climber
Raleigh NC
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Last Saturday at the NRG:
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L
climber
If only I could remember....
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Lycra Lives!
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RRK
Trad climber
Talladega, Al
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here's my best climbing bud for the past 30 years - but this shot was only a couple of years ago. He's starting up after that long traverse on the backside of Shiprock. MalD, if you see him at NRG please don't spill the beans about this picture (I didn't get a model release or anything like that). I may have a couple more somewhere and will check around later on.
I never had any climber's-pantyhose for myself. I'm from 'Bama, and I'm skeered that I'd wind up in the emergency room wearing them. Maybe I could pass if they were the camo ones in the shot above. Naaah -"John Wayne don't wear lycra".
RRK
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Bldrjac
Ice climber
Boulder
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Pam here....GREAT thread(s)! Wish I knew how to post pics, because we've got a LOT of them. Lycra was great stuff...really comfortable (really, to all you non-believers), and it actually wore really well. I can't remember ever blowing out of lycra, just wanting a new "flavor." Besides, it was fun! Better than everyone climbing in jeans and regular pants like they do now...seems weird to try to be athletic in jeans! Anyone remember the lycra parties we had at the "Alpine House?" Sure showed off a nice physique to good affect! :-) I can remember Japanese tourists asking us to pose for pictures in our lycra in the Tuolomne store parking lot....
Anyway, thanks for the fun romp down memory lane...just say no to cuffed baggy jeans!
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Watusi
Social climber
Newport, OR
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Cool new stuff folks...(I myself was a covert lycra wearer...)
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Raydog
Trad climber
Boulder Colorado
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RE:
"Wish I knew how to post pics,"
there's this thing called Google and
if you phrase your questions even remotely well
it will answer them - it works! Even in Boulder.
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Crimpergirl
Social climber
On my way to Boulder
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To post photos:
Open an account on www.photobucket.com. It's easy and free.
Upload photos there. Again, super easy with some button clicks.
Below the uploaded photos, there will be four lines of code. Copy the like that says "IMG Code". Paste what you just copied in your post on ST.com. The photo will then show up. If you remove the photo from photobucket, it will no longer show up on ST.com.
Hope this helps. Let me know if you need more assistance. Looking forward to more great photos!
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knieveltech
Social climber
Raleigh NC
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Now that I've climbed in lycra I can't see going back to jeans or cargo pants unless it's cold as hell outside. This stuff is fantastic.
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philo
Trad climber
boulder, co.
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philo
Trad climber
boulder, co.
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Here's one for Bachar.
I call it Funk-i-Tard.
It's from that same lycra site above.
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philo
Trad climber
boulder, co.
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Apr 10, 2008 - 11:14am PT
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Here is the aforementioned bike shorts and leg warmer system in action in the early 80s.
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bob d'antonio
Trad climber
Taos, NM
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Apr 10, 2008 - 06:23pm PT
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This one was sent to me From Greg Davis...thanks.
Castle Rock, CO maybe 1985
Me on Never a Dull Moment.
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philo
Trad climber
boulder, co.
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Apr 11, 2008 - 02:45pm PT
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Bump 'cause I like it. And it's better than another LEB drivel-thon.
BobD Don't you know that horizontal stripes make you look fat?
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BrassNuts
Trad climber
Boulder Colorado
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Topic Author's Reply - Apr 11, 2008 - 06:49pm PT
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Sportin some fashion on the summit of Devil's Tower...
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Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, Ca
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Apr 11, 2008 - 08:41pm PT
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Stylin' at the slabs...
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426
Sport climber
Buzzard Point, TN
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Apr 13, 2008 - 12:52pm PT
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123, don't look at me!
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mack
Trad climber
vermont
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Apr 13, 2008 - 01:49pm PT
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So, tell me this, I would love to wear lycra to climb in however, I'm umm, 50ish and not really a very good climber. Is that ok? Or would I feel funny? I love that Funky lycra site and would definately buy and wear them. Would other climbers think I was putting on airs? Please advise.
Leslie
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Crimpergirl
Social climber
On my way to Boulder
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Apr 14, 2008 - 09:42pm PT
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Will the patterns never cease? Great stuff!
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philo
Trad climber
boulder, co.
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Apr 15, 2008 - 04:49pm PT
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Hank "plumb smuggler" Caylor nice pics! That is the bird suit lycra. Woohoo!
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divad
Trad climber
wmass
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Apr 15, 2008 - 04:52pm PT
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Leslie,
Whaat, climbers have airs? Wear whatever you want. Who's gonna see you anyway...way up there, where you are? :)
Back when the lycra craze had barely begun, I was on the start line for a XC ski race when this guy shows up in a neon tiger-stripped, nut-hugging outfit that set everyones' eyes a rolling.
I figured that anybody with the balls to wear that is probably gonna win the race. Sure enough, made the rest of us look like a bunch of pansies.
edit: BTW, congrats on the big move. Hope everything went smoothly.
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COT
climber
Door Number 3
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Apr 15, 2008 - 06:41pm PT
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sometimes you just say to yourself WTF was I thinking? circa 1986
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philo
Trad climber
boulder, co.
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Apr 15, 2008 - 06:51pm PT
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Oh my eyes, MY EYES! It Burns!
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Crimpergirl
Social climber
On my way to Boulder
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Apr 15, 2008 - 10:21pm PT
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Whoa. That really does hurt my eyes!
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Jingy
Social climber
Flatland, Ca
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Apr 15, 2008 - 10:28pm PT
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Bad Azz!!
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Jimmy S
climber
Granite State
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Apr 15, 2008 - 11:39pm PT
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The man who started it all...
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COT
climber
Door Number 3
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Apr 15, 2008 - 11:51pm PT
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Hey Jimmy S,
I am sure there are few images of you sporting some fine lycra (like the cover of a NH climbing Guide) Here is a story I know you will laugh at. I remember when Stevie Damboise came back to Maine from the "mecca" of North Conway sometime in the late 80's and told us backwoods bumblers that lycra was dead. I was crushed. I had a pair for every day of the week and Halloween was only once a year!!!
Dave A
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airiq_p
Trad climber
San Francisco, CA
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Apr 18, 2008 - 03:06am PT
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Honestly, I have been continuously discussing the possibilities of bringing back lycra. I'm heading to Red Rocks in a week. If anyone can tell me where I can get a sweet pair of 80's style lycra pants, I'll wear them. Plus I'll rock the handle bar mustache.
Any help????
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Geno
Trad climber
Reston, VA
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Apr 18, 2008 - 04:42am PT
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Hankster and Cot posted some great vintage wear. We are getting into the real stuff now.
Jimmy, Yeah I remember those early heavy duty tights. Here's Rob Robinson in mid 80s wearing em.
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Rockrat
Trad climber
Lake Havasu City AZ
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Apr 18, 2008 - 10:03am PT
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Ah true fashon statements have a language all their own. Wonder what it is?
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knieveltech
Social climber
Raleigh NC
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Apr 18, 2008 - 10:24am PT
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airiq_p
Running Funky (linked up-thread) has an incredible selection of fantastically eye-searing patterns to choose from. If you're looking for lycra, they're worth taking a look at.
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airiq_p
Trad climber
San Francisco, CA
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Apr 18, 2008 - 09:00pm PT
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Thank you, thank you, thank you... Running Funky
Now my problem is deciding which pattern to buy and how many pairs to get.
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426
Sport climber
Buzzard Point, TN
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Apr 18, 2008 - 11:00pm PT
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Geno, curious where that pic of RR is...
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Curt
Boulder climber
Gilbert, AZ
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Apr 19, 2008 - 02:25pm PT
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Curt
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knieveltech
Social climber
Raleigh NC
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May 28, 2008 - 11:52am PT
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Lycra at the New this weekend.
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Crimpergirl
Social climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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May 28, 2008 - 01:21pm PT
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Excellent! We watched the Dogfather video last night. It's great on so many levels AND it is loaded with some crazy lycra too. Stuff cracks me up.
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klinefelter
Boulder climber
Bishop, CA
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Skinny guy on scary route. Purple was king.
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shenoa
Social climber
Marina, CA
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Hmm, so back in the day, did you all wear anything over the top of your fancypants on the approach? Did you stroll through the parking lot in neon glory, or bust out your lycra lusciousness at the base of the climb?
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Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
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Klinefelter...
Edge of Doom, in Josh?
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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Hahahaha! This thread is a riot. Here's a new photo for it:
Can you name the location? The climber? I forgot the specific route name - you guys likely know.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
Monrovia, CA
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Scottish Lycra...
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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Nice!
Reilly - I thought you'd recognize the location and possibly climber in my previous post.
Maybe I'm wrong (That'd be the first time this hour, and if so I'll blame this blue martini I'm drinking).
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COT
climber
Door Number 3
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Otter Cliffs 1987 photo Dan Wood
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Reilly
Mountain climber
Monrovia, CA
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Crimpie,
I'm lucky to recognize my own house when I get home at night!
It does look familiar though. I know I've been on granite before. Looks like somebody has been chipping holds big time!
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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City of Rocks - Carol Kotchek. Route name I've forgotten.
Regardless, it has some excellent lycra. :)
Edit: NICE one COT!
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Reilly
Mountain climber
Monrovia, CA
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I was only there the once for four days and we never saw a soul!
As I said we didn't have a guide so we didn't know nuttin'. If it looked gud we gave it a whirl. Coulda been doing' FA's for all we knew. Who cared?
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philo
Trad climber
Somewhere halfway over the rainbow
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Nov 20, 2009 - 10:56am PT
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ydpl8s
Trad climber
Santa Monica, California
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Nov 20, 2009 - 11:06am PT
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Philo, is that really you in those pics? Where da heck were those taken?
Somewhere I have some similar pics of Bob Dickerson when he was in his Modern Dance phase. What's next, Dancing with the Stars?
p.s. I don't know Curt above, but that one stands out as one of the swishiest photo's I've seen (not that there's anything wrong with that:-)
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philo
Trad climber
Somewhere halfway over the rainbow
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Nov 20, 2009 - 02:25pm PT
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Yep MossMan that's me. Marilyn re-created Carmina Burana with full choral and percussion ensembles at Fort Lewis College. Huge production, lots of bodies, Tiny amount of stage space left to dance with exuberance upon. Fortunately there was a lot of rope dancing above the floor. It was wacky but we had to re-stage everything a week before the opening because heavy snowfall collapsed the roof of our original theatre. Talk about a desperate scramble. Rush, rush, rush... It's Show Time!
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ydpl8s
Trad climber
Santa Monica, California
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Nov 20, 2009 - 06:02pm PT
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Now be truthful Phil, "rope dancing" is the true skill that you used to attract your beautiful spouse. I know that you've got those stirrup things above your bed, and now I also know the truth behind your ongoing knee problems...ha! :-)
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Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
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Nov 20, 2009 - 06:31pm PT
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Lycra and hair go together...
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Maysho
climber
Soda Springs, CA
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Nov 20, 2009 - 07:17pm PT
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In the spirit of the moment, winter just started up here! Skiing tomorrow! Yippee!
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philo
Trad climber
Somewhere halfway over the rainbow
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Nov 20, 2009 - 08:36pm PT
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Maysho
climber
Soda Springs, CA
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Nov 20, 2009 - 08:54pm PT
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Philo, too cool! I remember you mentioned in the Merce Cunningham thread that you spent some time in the fantastic world of dance, me too. Some of the sequences on stage constitute the most challenging redpoints I have ever experienced. If I lived in the city I would still take class, IMO by far the best urban workout one can get in 1.5 hours.
Peter
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Fogarty
climber
BITD
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Nov 20, 2009 - 08:59pm PT
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I Liked this black pair, I never had to wash them.
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philo
Trad climber
Somewhere halfway over the rainbow
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Nov 21, 2009 - 09:48am PT
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An old friend an former dancer sent me this video as it is reminiscent of my choreography from BITD. It is very cool and if it doesn't make you appreciate lycra then nothing will. Enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cI6OnTx8iyU&feature=player_embedded
And Maysho, you are so correct, Dancing is HARD! The art of dance is to make the brutally difficult seem effortless.
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philo
Trad climber
Somewhere halfway over the rainbow
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SpandexBump
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hooblie
climber
from where the anecdotes roam
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i thought they were just the ticket for northwest bushwaking. when every shrup dumps it's leaf cups of cold water on you, and your pants are stowed to be put on dry, you've still got some abrasion resistance, ankle seals for ticks, and a moderated skin temp that takes the chill shock off the next bushload of douse.
didn't lawrence of arabia stick 'em on his head, tie the legs behind, take a wrap beneath the chin and toss the rest over his shoulder?
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Johnny K.
Mountain climber
California
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1986 Smith rock:Lycra central.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWAYgEccNBA
(For what its worth,The music from the original documentary is not played in this youtube video.The original music and the full documentary is well worth the watch if you can find it,the youtube video really does not do it justice.)
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bjj
climber
beyond the sun
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"Did chicks wear this stuff, how did they conceal there camel toe?"
If they did, I doubt it would have been a problem. You can't have toe unless you've got a "brazilian" job going on. Very few girls in the lycra error were that into such extreme landscaping.
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Peter Haan
Trad climber
San Francisco, CA
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Note Fuzzywuzzy, proud and strong here in spoofing 80's turnout as he guides and belays the timid:
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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Lycra error? A Freudian slip?
*snicker*
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hooblie
climber
from where the anecdotes roam
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lot of sheen showing, fuzzy wasn't fuzzy, was he?
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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was looking at Mountain to find the "first" Lycra shots...
...the first ad with someone in Lycra was in Mountain 100 (Nov/Dec 1984) Berghaus...
love the cigarette and the slight turn from the camera...
But I also saw this picture in Mountain 92 (July/August 1982) in an article by Jerry Moffatt, the caption:
Opposite Top: Skip Guerin crossing the roof of Psycho (5.12c), Eldorado Canyon, belayed by Chris Gore. Photo, Moffatt.
Bottom: Moffatt initiating the crux sequence on Sole Fusion (5.12a) Joshua Tree. Photo, Gore
Both Chris Gore and Skip Guerin look like they're wearing something suspiciously close to Lycra, but I don't think it is... anyone know?
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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They look rather like the stretchy track pants that were popular in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Adidas, particularly, with the three white stripes on the outer leg. They had some spandex, and were snug, but weren't form-fitting. The fabric had some body to it, and was low albedo.
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Jan
Mountain climber
Okinawa, Japan
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Good to see the stage people at least understood color coordination. Can't say the same for the climbers.
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Disaster Master
Social climber
Born in So-Cal, left my soul in far Nor-Cal.
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Those were the days! Paul Humphrey on the first ascent of "The Vanishing Line", Lost Rocks, CA.
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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Awww!!
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Red_Belay_Bunny
Trad climber
Birmingham
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May 25, 2011 - 08:38am PT
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Recent trip - LYCRA!!!!
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gonamok
climber
dont make me come over there
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Jan 13, 2012 - 09:15pm PT
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oh man that stuff sucks. Why do you want to run around with your little weener sticking out like that? I think theres a cross dressing wannabe component to all this.
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426
climber
☬
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This thread always puts a smile on my face;
Chris Lindner's dad and I had a great lycra discussion at Rifle a while ago-he climbs in black tights and told me I shouldn't be wearing jeans in the hard wide; he sent Paisano only after he donned his lycra, claims that the seams in jeans get all hung on hard cracks like Mother Superior...
^^^
I have yet to test the veracity of this claim....
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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Agreed 426 - this thread always makes me smile! Great stuff here!
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the kid
Trad climber
fayetteville, wv
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heres a good one. 1989. new route i did with Scott Royko in E. Castle Rock Gulch, CO. We did a bunch of ground up, no dogging routes in 88. 89. this was 6 months after my left knee was completely rebuilt. This route was .12+ i think.
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WyoRockMan
Trad climber
Flank of the Bighorns
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Clear lycra. Always in fashion.
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Fossil climber
Trad climber
Atlin, B. C.
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Sep 29, 2012 - 06:40pm PT
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Reminds me - stopped by the Meadows one time and ran into TM Herbert. "You ever wear lycra?" I asked.
"Oh God no!" he said with a look of horror on his face - which you can picture.
"Why not? Looks comfortable."
"Well," he said, with his usual lugubrious expression, "I have to guide young ladies sometimes, and they'd know..."
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surfstar
climber
Santa Barbara, CA
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From last weekend:
I think the best part is, I bought the outfit 'current' this isn't retro/ebay/thrift store!
(edit)For something from the 'petite' section (albeit Large ... jumbo shrimp?), they fit great and were comfy. A bit warm for sunny 70s, though.
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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Those are awesome!
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Ezra Ellis
Trad climber
North wet, and Da souf
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Apr 25, 2015 - 03:54am PT
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Bump for Hartouni!!!!!
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