a non gym/pool rant
181
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607 days
advobwhite posted 1 year ago.
well, i just found out that the local ymca that i go to has a weightroom downstairs nicknamed "the dungeon"...its got old rusted weights that look like they could be at least 30 or so years old, an old cable crossover deal, IT ACTUALLY HAS A GLUTE HAM RAISE AND AN OLY/DEADLIFT PLATFORM, WITH BUMPER PLATES!!! a squat rack, an overhead press area, a few benches, tons of dumbbells, a full pull up bar, a nice leg press, and a couple other things. the records for bench, deadlift, squat and totals for different weight classes on the back wall, right over the platform inspire me....there was a faint echo of music from the upstairs commercial gym, and the lack of cardio machines requires me to warm up in the commercial gym...but besides that, I'm so excited about training down there :D and since nobody's down there, i'll be able to take off my shirt and train(there's something about training shirtless pressing heavy rusted plates in an old weightroom that i LOVE) w/o being yelled at by gym staff.....so yeah, i'm excited :)
173
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883 days
vistring posted 1 year ago.
wow a deadlift platform! I love those! My type of place, where is this ymca?
140
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673 days
thesonicson posted 1 year ago.
I must say I used to be the hole in the wall gym rat. But unfortunately with my schedule now I have to shower regularly at the gym and that means I need clean shower facilities. Which means I am a Gold's member. Fortunate for me I go to one of the largest ones in the world with a great lap pool, sauna, steam and yes, 2 squat racks, 2 smith machines, and at least 2 of every imaginable machine and dumbbell weight. The loud music doesn't bother me as I use an ipod anyhow and they don't have a straight pull up bar which I'm not one handing anyways. I must say I miss the smell of iron and sweat, but had to pass on the mildewed showers.
2431
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816 days
TriSooner posted 1 year ago.
vistring wrote:
more than one real squat rack, and a real pull up bar.
Playing Devil's Advocate: No one uses squat racks. Legit squats are technical and dammit, they are hard. I'll just use quad extensions and pull my shorts up real high so everyone can see my little-bitty quad. The gym probably gets an insurance discount for NOT having one. The only thing they are good for is taking the 45lb bar and putting 10s on each side and doing curls. And on a real squat you can't cheat and swing the weights around to put up tons of weight and show off. Also, those mirrors in the gym only go down to your waste, and I can wear long baggy shorts or pants all year 'round and no one will see my "Lucky Legs" (so skinny I'm lucky they don't break off and poke me in the ass.). Finally, squat racks take up so much space. And pull ups? WTF? What am I, a Marine? No one does those because no one can do those.
vistring wrote:
It is in a tiny basement room, that looks like you need a tetanus shot upon leaving.
Continuing Devil's Advocate: OMG, like I want MERSA. And if it is that dank and dark, how am I gonna see my sweet sweet guns in the mirror? You know I only work the muscles on the front of my body, like my chest and biceps. And where are the chics? I have to have some motivation for being there. I need to be able to swing around some dumbells, and then channelling the spirit of Chris Farley from Tommy Boy (pool scene, "Where's the hotel gym?") go over and tell the hot 20-something how to properly whale on her pecs.
2535
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2009 days
PrinceofClydes posted 1 year ago.
Ah, the Smith machine!
I fondly remember the "Dungeon" at the University of Calgary - pre-1988 winter Olympics, because of which we got brand new stereophonic glossy, mirrored w/o facilities upstairs in the sunlight from the skylights.
I used to load up the Smith with 365lbs (3 1/2 plates for those who know) and pound out 8 or ten sets of squats all by myself as there was seldom anyone around I would trust to spot me with 365.
Those were the days.
Pencil-necks were not welcome in the dungeon.
PoC
"It was a joke folks...I know what a "brazilian" is..."
- Anton
5891
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2195 days
beads1985 posted 1 year ago.
PrinceofClydes wrote:
Ah, the Smith machine!
I fondly remember the "Dungeon" at the University of Calgary - pre-1988 winter Olympics, because of which we got brand new stereophonic glossy, mirrored w/o facilities upstairs in the sunlight from the skylights.I used to load up the Smith with 365lbs (3 1/2 plates for those who know) and pound out 8 or ten sets of squats all by myself as there was seldom anyone around I would trust to spot me with 365.
Those were the days.
Pencil-necks were not welcome in the dungeon.
PoC
Classic! You had me laughing at work. Old school PoC!! ;-)
'Nothing to it, but to do it!'
I am guilty of ranting about gyms and pools. Gyms have gone downhill since I left my college gym. Gold's, Bally. etc. I really only want two things from a gym: more than one real squat rack, and a real pull up bar. As I tour a new gym facilities I am surrounded by blaring music and endless TVs, (I don't own a TV) I ask if they have that equipment?. They usually show me 1 squat rack, and a bunch of foo-foo racks and some crappy split, angled pull up bar. They ask me what is wrong with the bar? I used to demonstrate a one arm pull up, the other arm completely free, and explain you can't properly train for pull ups like that on a split bar. While the days of weighing 115 lbs are gone and with that the one arms, and now that triathlon has taken up life now, I still prefer the plain old long straight bar.
Ok, now for the non rant.
My pool, which I take back everything bad I have said about it, apparently has the most basic of weight rooms in the basement. It is in a tiny basement room, that looks like you need a tetanus shot upon leaving. It was empty, it has a real squat rack, it has a real pull up bar, it even has a good dip bar. Beautiful! No music, no TVs, nobody doing curls or other non squat exercises on a squat rack. Plus it is at a pool with great pools. Took me 20 minutes to go through my normal routine which normally takes 45 minutes at the big gym. One guy did come in, and seemed surprised to see somebody there. Apparently he works there, and nobody ever is down there according to him.
Awesome.