Bump.
Hey, guys and gals. There is this guy who posted a single video on YouTube, so far, that shows an amazing technique he's developed in using the Rope Runner. The manner in which he captures both ropes keeps them running straight through the Rope Runner. Here is a link to his video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ykc0dnzuPE&feature=player_detailpage
He has a second video on Vimeo. I'll try to include a link to his 2nd video here.
http://vimeo.com/116712398
Here is a link to the thread on Treebuzz forum in which he first posted links to his videos. I hope Butch doesn't mind.
http://www.treebuzz.com/forum/threads/rope-runner.27691/page-12
He calls himself "Johnny Pro" on YouTube, and just "Johnny" on Vimeo. He seems like a funny, quirky dude. So far, he's like an online mime, in that all of the talking that I've seen him do so far is done by posting links to videos or other web pages that try to answer peoples questions. He may have good reasons for this, and I do not begrudge him his silence. I do not wish to discourage him from contributing in whatever form he wishes to. I'm just really glad that he chose to create and post these videos.
One big advantage I see in his technique, aside from the fact that all he seems to need is two foot ascenders, is that both ropes get tended at the same time. Whenever I climb with two ropes, which I do a lot, my primary rope is being tended by my over-the-shoulder bungee, but so far I manually tend my second rope.
So far, the only thing I can see in what he's doing that would cause me some concern is that it looks like he might have at least the possibility of loading the gate of his carabiner.
He is so good at what he does, however, that I can't help but think that my concern is not justified, and that it works just fine for him, and safely, too. Further in that same thread he names the rope he's using with this technique. Here is the link to that rope.
http://www.mammut.ch/en/productDetail/201001880_v_4160_60_87_0/8.7-Serenity.html
Thanks for your time, and hopefully this will start some lively discussion.
Tim