Air Ride Equipped 5.11a - Red River Gorge

Air Ride Equipped is a very unique climb for the grade. Climbing almost as far as horizontal as vertical, you won't find holds much better than this one. This route is a good intro to the steep climbs at the Solarium and a good warm-up for the projects next to it. If you find yourself pumping hard, look for a laydown rest past the half-way point.
Thanks for the belay, Leo!

[@LouDude502]

I was on the trail day team that built that belay platform. I remember the start was even worse before that. Been meaning to to get back to the solarium to give it a go. They had to beat me off the route with a stick periodically. Thanks for sharing 🤙

[@tallmanbeta981]

Thanks for the work put in during those trail days! The start used to be so much worse. My first time on the route a couple years ago, there was this god awful cheater stack that was almost impossible to balance on. This platform is so much nicer!

[@LouDude502]

@@tallmanbeta981 yeah that cheater stack was ridiculous. Good way to snap an ankle 🤙

[@MrConstanto]

Nice ascend! Very interesting rock! Pleasure to watch :)

[@JREV123]

Sweet lead, really smooth man. Led this a few days ago and was one of my favorite climbs in the RRG.

[@tallmanbeta981]

Nice! It's a really fun climb.

[@beezow7113]

Just did this route yesterday and I hate how easy you made it look! I sat on that arm wrap around for a solid minute and a half and that ledge at the top for like 4 minutes haha

[@tallmanbeta981]

To be fair I've done this route several times. The first time I climbed it though was a different story. I rested on the upper ledge for what felt like an eternity. I remember looking a few feet up at the anchors and thought they were a mile away.

[@louiscranfill4094]

Such a cool rt

[@TheChismFamily]

The first Perma on this is gone as of last week.

[@nelsonianb1289]

This route was u fortunately packed the many times i passed it those 2 novembers ago... one day

[@urielknopf7087]

How tall are you??

[@tallmanbeta981]

6'1" on a good day

[@urielknopf7087]

@@tallmanbeta981 awe dang, your beta is definitely not for me (at 5'4") but it's fun to watch you climb. Thanks for the videos 😊

[@alexfy7401]

Is there a reason why it’s all permanent quickdraws? Very interesting climb otherwise.

[@tallmanbeta981]

I think it's probably due to the overhanging and wondery nature of the route. It would be a total pain in the ass to clean it if it didn't have permadraws.

[@krakenattackin7617]

I was at the Solarium and a guy told me that a dude sent this on his first ever day climbing. Not sure if it's true but def a soft route lol

[@tallmanbeta981]

I want to believe that. If you're strong enough, I could easily see muscleing yourself up this route; not much technique is required.

[@phillipwaters7716]

I saw where someone said that in the comments on Mountain Project. If it is true, the dude was fortunate to send an 11a his first time climbing.

[@dogpak5357]

I wasn't exactly a "new" climber but I was pretty new when I went here, mostly doing 5.6--5.8 at the Gunks then like 5.7--5.9 at the NRG in WV, then took my trip here where I think I managed to struggle up a 10.a. The next day I on-sighted this route. It was super tough and I had to take my rests of course, but I did it clean. The style of this route I think was well fitted to my brutish technique where, at the time, I had little grace but a fair amount of back and arm strength so I just beasted my way up it with probably the ugliest form imaginable.

[@holyworrier]

I hate head-mounted gopro videos.

[@holyworrier]

@Not You - I didn't.