REALLY stiff rope

So, pretty new to climbing, and had a question. The rope I bought about 6 or so months ago is really, really stiff. it performs well enough, its just when i look at other people climbing, their ropes seem so fluid. Indeed, after getting another rope from a friend who had used it once on a top rope, it was by comparison, VERY stiff. it was fairly stiff right out of the gate (no pun intended) but i figured it would loosen up over time. Now like i said im fairly new to climbing, and i would say that me and my climbing buddy, at the beginning, were "rope doggers" pretty hard. we both kept the rope taught when we were climbing. its loosened up alot since then, but still no luck. it also is turning black ish right where we used it for the top rope, and although we now lead on sport routes, it seems to still acquire a blackish color in spots. its not mold or something like that, im pretty sure its from biners rubbing off on it. i dunno. any tips for good rope maintenance would be much appreciated. thanks!

Cody

What brand/model/size of rope do you have?

its a maxim 10.2.... equinox i believe... not 100% on that, i will have to get back to you on the model. its white and green, no water proofing or resistance of any kind though.....

black stuff is aluminum oxide from biners/belay devices/etc. pretty normal. wash it a couple times a season per manufacture recommendations to alleviate this.

some ropes are worse than other for sure. i don't have any experience with that particular rope but maybe buy a new rope or get used to it...

http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302691423&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442635647

good link for the rope i have.

Im used to it, I just dont like it lol. I was more curious if it was something i did earlier on that made it like that or what. I have washed it a couple times, the aluminum oxide still stays. So long as its not harmful, it doesnt really bother me. I use it now as a top rope only rope. i have 2 others i use for sport. The new one i have is also a maxim, apex model, dry rope. its really fluid.

I've used this model before and the stiffness was apparent to me too. I don't think you've done anything to cause this. On the upside, at least it was cheap, right?

Yup! it was cheap. good beginners rope i would say. no unhappy, just annoyed really. well at least i didnt cause it. Climb On!