UKC

What are the other names for the phenomenon which was known in my earlier climbing circles as "washing machine leg"?

sewing machine or elvis legs.

knee trembler or disco leg

Never heard that before - I've always known it as "disco leg" or, much less often, "Elvis leg".

Maybe also bicycle leg, and when combined with arms and general flailing it can become "Cycling Window Cleaner" (I think originally a Joe Brown expression?)

Edit: Elvis leg gets the most use though?

Crazy Elvis is what I've heard and used most often.

That's something else entirely!

I'm intrigued by the etymology of 'washing machine leg'.  Sewing machine - yes.  Elvis - yes.  Knee trembler - ooh er mrs.  Bicycle and window cleaner - yes.  But a washing machine?  Perhaps I should count myself lucky if it involves water splashing from within...

They do tend to bounce around in spin mode. 

As usual

i.e. "I see hang_about is climbing as usual"

Your post has made me curious as to why this phenomena occurs. In my experience, it rarely occurs with just physical exertion alone, but seems to require a large psychological element (ie, being shit scared). All the explanations I've seen on the web talk about a physical process (holding the position too long, basically?), but nothing on the psychological aspect.

No idea what the response mechanism is, but dropping the heel stops it

I would speculate it's usually both combined - above gear and scared, with little for the feet and unsure of the next move. Presumably you could sometimes be shit scared and stationary, but relatively secure physically, and therefore wouldn't get it.

Alternatively, if you're in control mentally then you'll probably be less tense physically and therefore won't get it even while puzzling out moves on tenuous ground way above gear. And of course, to be in control mentally it helps to be in control physically!

'Hippie shakes' (per the Swinging Blue Jeans song)

Information on all the climbing terms you know and love, or not, here.

https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/features/a_glossary_of_climbing_terms_f...

T.