I’d probably put the first 20 on each side whilst resting the bar on the scaffolding and then clean the weight up to the rack before adding more weight, but you’re right, that would be annoying!
Ben
PS I found the store in Cardiff you told me about on the yellow pages but the link wouldn’t work properly. I might just have to visit the store when I’m nest in Newcastle, which will be happening a fair bit over the next few months due to the projects I’m working on up there (new building at the hospital) really ramping up in speed as they near completion.
[quote]scrooge wrote:
hey bg100,
I have had the rack for some time now, it is a piece of sh!t, very unstable. I am starting to question it’s suitability for the taks. Due to only being supported at the bottom it sways a bit when the bar is resting on the stops. Also, it is very narrow, I actually grip the bar outside the width of the rack. The lack of width makes for an interesting time when I add the first set of 20kg plates…almost like a see-saw. I really need something more like the width of the scaffolding.
I think I will have to come up with a better solution shortly, maybe just widening the base and adding some additional bracing to limit the sway.[/quote]
Just found out that I missed a “40% off everything sale” over the long weekend at one of the fitness stores near me that actually looked like it had decent equipment. Why do I always find out about these things after the event? Oh well, hopefully there will be stocktake sales at the end of the financial year, which is probably going to be a more realistic time to be buying for me.
The store in cardiff is not that impressive, they may or may not actually have much floor stock for you to look at. It is worth a phone call first.
That said, I have had no trouble dealing with them. I rang them up in the morning to get plate and bar prices and when I stopped by that arvo they had already brought the gear up from their warehouse just in case I wanted to buy them. Good guys.
The store in cardiff is not that impressive, they may or may not actually have much floor stock for you to look at. It is worth a phone call first.
That said, I have had no trouble dealing with them. I rang them up in the morning to get plate and bar prices and when I stopped by that arvo they had already brought the gear up from their warehouse just in case I wanted to buy them. Good guys.
I’ve been looking into this for a while myself too. I’ve decided to get commercial. Yes it’s expensive but how long are you going to be using this stuff? It will pay for itself and still be in good condition long after super a-mart garbage has rusted away.
Australian Barbell company are the commercial weight suppliers. You can find them on the internet or you can PM me and I’ll give you their price list.
Life fitness are a good place. You can get calgym or hammer equipment from them and it’s cheaper than you’d think. They’re on the internet too.
Lastly, if you get olympic adjustable dumbells you’ll be able to use your plates for everything.
Olympic Heavy Duty Multi Rack 1 2,610 2,610.00
Parabody - Flat to Incline Bench 1 380 380.00
Olympic 200cm Barbell - Imported 1 150 150.00
Olympic Dumbbell Handles 1pr. 70 70.00
Spring Collars for Olympic Bar 1pr. 20 20.00
Fitness Balls - 65 & 75cm 2 34 68.00
Rubber Coated Olympic Discs 150kg $3.00 per kg 450.00
All up it doesn’t come to $4000. I think that’s pretty good. I don’t know if you’ll be able to get those prices, this was a few months ago but contact them and see what they can do for you.
Thanks for the info cal, the getstrength site looked very helpful, seems like these guys are on the same wavelength as T-Nation in regards to the equipment we should be using. Have you ordered from them at all? What are the shipping costs like to Aus?
I couldn’t get much from the strength supplies site, but then again that may changes when they get the full site up and running.
I’m in Aus also and have recently purchased a home gym and weights. Shopped around a fair bit and found the best prices for both weights and benches, near me (Jindabyne) was a mob called GymQuip in Canberra.
I understand they are a franchise set up and have other stores around the place. The one I went to is in Fyshwick near Canberra and had a heap of floor stock on display. They stock olympic and standard weights for $1.80 kilo.
Think they have changed their name from GymQuip to Sports kinetics. Or the Store Chain has broken up. Fyshwick still called GymQUip
Compared to the store at Fyswick the website doesn’t list all they have, especially re benches with squat racks and power cages, pretty good range and if you bargain and offer cash the price comes down further.
Well, I finally started looking around for real and visited a few stores near where I live on the weekend. As a result I have come up with a few more questions.
What are the good quality brands that we can get here in Aus? Brands that I have seen include Avanti, Infinity, Parabody, Healthstream amongst others. Any recommendations?
Also, how about the weight plates? I like the look of the Infinity rubber coated plates with the handle spaces (the bright coloured ones), the other advantage is that their 20-25kg plates seem a bit smaller in diameter than the regular plates around, which would be helpful with avoiding the ceiling doing overhead lifts in my garage.
I see you are interested in getting into the Oly lifts. If you are going to get at all serious, a coach is almost a must. If they are any good, they will pick up numerous technique faults and save you thousands of hours of unnecessary pain and suffering. If you are just going to do power versions to improve your explosiveness (eg for sport) this wouldn’t be necessary. If you’re going to do that I recommend the book “Explosive Lifting for Sports” by Harvey Newton. This has a good explanation of how to teach yourself the basics. Available from the ExRx website.
Re Oly plates: I think you can get away with uncoated plates if you have heavy rubber matting to drop them on. There would be some risk of bending a bar if you drop a very heavy load in too uncontrolled a fashion. (BTW, Harvey Newton’s book deals with how to bail out of Oly lifts). But I think that’s unlikely unless you get very strong and very quick. Another alternative - just get two bumper plates and add iron plates to them as you go.
Bump for the bench question below. I went to Elite fitness and saw some Parabody benches, they seem to be very solid and the salesperson said that they are one of the better brands. If anyone has more advice I’d appreciate it.
I also really need to find out about bumper plates. I have done a lot of research but it looks like not many stores have them. Does anyone know where I can get them for a reasonable price?
Cheers,
Ben
[quote]bg100 wrote:
Well, I finally started looking around for real and visited a few stores near where I live on the weekend. As a result I have come up with a few more questions.
What are the good quality brands that we can get here in Aus? Brands that I have seen include Avanti, Infinity, Parabody, Healthstream amongst others. Any recommendations?
Also, how about the weight plates? I like the look of the Infinity rubber coated plates with the handle spaces (the bright coloured ones), the other advantage is that their 20-25kg plates seem a bit smaller in diameter than the regular plates around, which would be helpful with avoiding the ceiling doing overhead lifts in my garage.[/quote]
Ive never looked at buying any of my own equipment but I know that the Brisbane Broncos get most of their stuff from Australian Barbell Co, including a GHR bench, first one ive seen in Australia.
ABC only sell commercial or wholesale to retailers, and if you have a look at the prices in a retail store you understand why only commercial gyms can afford it! It’s a pity as they make very high quality equipment. My old gym had their dumbells, probably the best I have used.
Unfortunately ABC is way outside of my budget. Thanks for the reply though.
[quote]deadly69 wrote:
BG100,
Ive never looked at buying any of my own equipment but I know that the Brisbane Broncos get most of their stuff from Australian Barbell Co, including a GHR bench, first one ive seen in Australia.
Try this site if you are in melbourne. I have bought a rack, plates and dumbells, all at about 60% of the price you will find in places like Elite or Olympic shops. Very good quality stuff
[quote]jsells wrote:
Try this site if you are in melbourne. I have bought a rack, plates and dumbells, all at about 60% of the price you will find in places like Elite or Olympic shops. Very good quality stuff
I’ve had a look at this site before and it is one of my options. What brands do they sell? I’m mostly interested in bars, weights and benches. I’m not in Melbourne (in Sydney), but I’m sure that I can arrange delivery.
He imports all his equipment himself directly from China I think, so it is completely unbranded and probably explains the lower cost. The rack I have is fantastic, best thing I ever bought. The bench that came with it ia also just fine. I have also bought a couple of bars, plates and hex dumbells which also are also as good as anywhere else.
A bump of sorts for this one. Guess all of you know how expensive weights and equipment is over here.
You may be interested to know that there is currently a power rack for sale on ebay Australia, which is a total rarity.
I’m sure it will soon be snavelled up. Sellers location is the central coast so for any T-men or vixens in Sydney/Newcastle area may be a bargain.
Too far for me to travel as I’m in Jindabyne.
Don’t know if I’m allowed to paste the link to ebay, but a quick search on Ebay Austrlia for “Power Rack . Heavy Duty Commercial Quality” and you will find it. I know nothing about it or the seller just happened to notice it while surfing away.