I want to start doing more weight period. I also want to get off of the smith machine and other machines and just start doing free weights for a while.
The problem is that I am lucky enough to go to a gym where I am often the only one there. While there are numerous advantages to this, the one major disadvantage is that if I get hurt, it could be several hours before someone finds me and there is no one to spot me. There is no squat rack or anything like that. This gym is strictly machines except for one barbell and some dumbells.
I read on another forum, how this guy hooked chains up to a chinup bar and then hooked them to his barbell and used that as his spotting device. I believe I could do something very similar. He said it worked great cause he could adjust it to the half inch, something he could not do with a squat rack. What do you guys think? Would that be a good substitute for a spotter? Has anyone else done this?
I intend to use the chains for bench presses and squats.
Sounds like it can work. If you securely fasten the chain to the chin-up bar, it should catch the bar if you happen to fail on your squat. If your going to fasten the chain to the bar also, obviously consider the added weight from the chains (if significant).
You could also try doing dumbbell presses instead of barbell presses if the dumbbells in your gym go high enough. It’s pretty hard to pin yourself under dumbbells.
I think you mean something along the lines of suspended chain squats/GMS. Which will deffnately work, however if your chain rolls off the chinup bar then you’re royally fucked.
i am currently doing dumbell presses, I just wanted to switch things up a little. this is kind of like suspended chain squats except the purpose is a little different.
i bought some chains and caribeaners last night. chains rated to 1900 lbs, caribeaners rated to 2000 lbs. I got a second weight clip to hold the chains on. Hopefully that will be enough.
its my office gym, its free to me, and it has extremely nice equipment, its just not geared towards the direction I want to go.
[quote]koffea wrote:
its my office gym, its free to me, and it has extremely nice equipment, its just not geared towards the direction I want to go.[/quote]
find a new gym. Just because it’s convenient doesn’t mean you should keep using it. if you know what your goals are then you have to put yourself in an environment where you can achieve those goals effectively