LOL
With all your wonderful bits of machinery do you still start from the bottom up? Crane lifts to the top are premium.
They say, your feet should be about shoulder width apart.
You know, we got these bugger palms called cuban royals and queen. But more so the cuban royals. You have to stab the buggers hard with ya spikes and when in dont worm around too much.
I suppose, a little like climbing a dead tree with no bark. It will take some time to feel confident with them but
SHARP is very important.
I have those alloy caddie pads on mine, I swear by them, better than the Geckos and all. Get good pads, they'll help your knees and confidence. I had these leather ones once, the shaft of the climbers would twist their way around to the back of your calf muscles. The bottom of the climbers that goes in the arch of your feet would then twist up making life real uncomfortable.
Good pads, good boots, sharp spikes and you'll be fine.