UKC

Gordon Robb is overweight and pushing 60. He's also a climber. His refreshingly matter-of-fact Instagram handle distils these three essential facts into an unflattering but amusing moniker: @fatoldclimber. With Gordon, there's no room for sugar-coating; he gives dishonesty a wide berth and shares unfiltered accounts of trying to progress as a late-starter in a sport where gravity is especially unforgiving for the larger frame. In our carefully curated online world, perhaps Gordon is the anti-sponsored hero we need right now.

'In my fifties. Been climbing 5 years. Have some skill/strength, but eat too much.'

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Good man!

Think many of us struggling a bit with increased weight  after lockdown.

Keep plugging away and I’m sure you’ll reach your goal ( wish I had your motivation!).

Enjoyed reading this lots. Keep it up!!

This is refreshing, articles about ordinary extraordinary climbers rather than celebrities and/or wannabees. 

Keep at it Gordon. 

Pushing 60 old?? You ain't seen nothin' yet.

Brilliant.

At 53 do I fit into the old category? 

Mature category.

Good on you Gordon, keep on pushing

I’m genuinely trying to remember what my excuses are for NOT being able to climb 7A. Nice one Gordon. Most motivated I’ve felt in years.

As it goes I've just done my first 7A since lapsing as an 'adequate' climber 18 years ago. Funny thing is 7A used to be a fairly big grade, now it's punter+ level. Keep pushing, keep having fun...

Great article, thanks.

Almost missed this excellent article. Inspiring stuff Gordon.

Also missed this, nice! 

For the last few years, since I moved closer to 60 than 50 (in age and waistline), I've been logging any climbs that are significant to me as FFOBAs (First Fat Old B@stard Ascents - only those that I have good reason to believe are genuine "firsts" in this category).  Seems only fair, after all you have FFAs.

F*uck off!