differences in lead and top rope climbing

Question
hi, im doing a research project on climbing styles, and i am doing a section on the differences in lead climbing and top roping mentally and physically. i would really appreciate your help if you could help me with some ideas. cheers, sean

Answer
Hi
Well i would begin with saying that lead climbing is deffinatly more mentally and physically tiering than top roping. For one you need full confidence that you have clipped the rope in well, for if you need to hang back on it when the climb gets too hard, sometimes you dont have this option as you would in top roping. Your head is very much aware of this and at this point the adreneline will start pumping round your body, along with the lactic acid. You know as soon as you start a lead that there is no margin for error or mistake and there is just so much more than the route to think about. Your not only working with rope, but working with rope at increasing height and in a tiered mental and physical state.
      The amount of physical and mental preperation will be greater before a lead than a top rope climb. Mainly because a lead requires more mental and physical effort than a tope rope. Now you are not just requiring on the belayers skill, but your own skill to place gear and clip ropes in safetly and as secure as possible.
      Personally i have found that sometimes, eventhough my ability, skill and fitness as a climber has improved, my mental state on the wall will still determin my sponteneity in a situation. Your mental approach to a climb will be such a big part of your performance. Sometimes on a long climb or at the end of a climbing session, height or vertigo can effect even the bravest and most confident climbers. For example, Leo Holding (one of Britains elite climbers) explained that he once convinced himself he was not even attached to a rope at all, that he was falling in to an abis and the ground was evidentally getting closer and further away all the time. He eventually woke up from his day dream and found himself stationary, belaying his climbing partner on their fourth wall in an indoor climbing centre. I think Leo maybe spending a little too much time on the wall.......
I hope the project goes well and i hope i helped. Anymore questions ill be glad to help.
Good Luck!!
XEMX