Going Bananas

Training Over 35 Lifter
441

[quote]PeteS wrote:

[quote]LittleStrick wrote:
Pete…serious question. Please forgive my ignorance on this, but I really have no experience with it, or with anyone who has…and you seem like the best person to ask.

Why gear? And by that I mean, what prompted you to use it the 1st time? What makes you continue to use it, instead of going raw?
I would think the obvious answer, outside of using it as 63G does…to support a flaky part of the body, would be weight. I mean, if you can bench 450 raw, and 550 or 600 with a shirt…why not? Is there more to it than that, though? Thanks…

[/quote]

Why ride a Vespa, when they make Harley’s?

Not sure, because it is there?
[/quote]

So there really was no particular reason? You just tried it one day, liked it and stuck with it?

442

Yes and no. Somedays I fucking hate getting into gear, but I have always been more drawn to extreme, or hardcore things. There is a sense that equipped powerlifting is a more extreme version of the sport. It takes a certain screw loose to want to shove your body into uncomfortable gear that give you welts, tears and bruises your skin, and train for a ridiculous amount of time just to hit a small PR.

443

[quote]PeteS wrote:
Yes and no. Somedays I fucking hate getting into gear, but I have always been more drawn to extreme, or hardcore things. There is a sense that equipped powerlifting is a more extreme version of the sport. It takes a certain screw loose to want to shove your body into uncomfortable gear that give you welts, tears and bruises your skin, and train for a ridiculous amount of time just to hit a small PR. [/quote]

Now that makes complete sense. I had never thought of it from that perspective. And I can see why it would be viewed that way.
Thanks for the insight.

444

The one thing noone can say that has lifted both raw and equipped is that gear makes it easier. It immediately forces you to take more weight to touch the chest or make depth. Getting that heavier weight in your hands and on your back recruits muscles groups you didn’t realize were weak, makes you reassess who the fuck you think you are, and why you think you can do this. It has a huge mental toughness element that is beyond anything I have done before.

It also requires trust, and builds camraderie. I train with a guy who was D1 football, then played semi-pro for years. He is still amazed, after setting world records, at the level of camraderie there is in PL compared to other sports. We all have one enemy: the iron. And we do this because we want to move the most we possibly can. Personally, I trust the guys I train with way more than many friends I have had for decades.

Another analogy: raw gym lifting is kinda like getting a rod, some bait, etc, and going every weekend because you think it is kinda fun to fish. Geared is more like buying the boat, entering every fishing comp there is, taking an equity loan out on your home to buy more gear/better boat, and becoming so obsessed with it you think about it almost as much as you think about sex.

445

[quote]PeteS wrote:
The one thing noone can say that has lifted both raw and equipped is that gear makes it easier. It immediately forces you to take more weight to touch the chest or make depth. Getting that heavier weight in your hands and on your back recruits muscles groups you didn’t realize were weak, makes you reassess who the fuck you think you are, and why you think you can do this. It has a huge mental toughness element that is beyond anything I have done before.

It also requires trust, and builds camraderie. I train with a guy who was D1 football, then played semi-pro for years. He is still amazed, after setting world records, at the level of camraderie there is in PL compared to other sports. We all have one enemy: the iron. And we do this because we want to move the most we possibly can. Personally, I trust the guys I train with way more than many friends I have had for decades.

Another analogy: raw gym lifting is kinda like getting a rod, some bait, etc, and going every weekend because you think it is kinda fun to fish. Geared is more like buying the boat, entering every fishing comp there is, taking an equity loan out on your home to buy more gear/better boat, and becoming so obsessed with it you think about it almost as much as you think about sex. [/quote]

Being who and what I am, I understand this explanation perfectly.

446

I like fishing.

447

[quote]PeteS wrote:
The one thing noone can say that has lifted both raw and equipped is that gear makes it easier. It immediately forces you to take more weight to touch the chest or make depth. Getting that heavier weight in your hands and on your back recruits muscles groups you didn’t realize were weak, makes you reassess who the fuck you think you are, and why you think you can do this. It has a huge mental toughness element that is beyond anything I have done before.

It also requires trust, and builds camraderie. I train with a guy who was D1 football, then played semi-pro for years. He is still amazed, after setting world records, at the level of camraderie there is in PL compared to other sports. We all have one enemy: the iron. And we do this because we want to move the most we possibly can. Personally, I trust the guys I train with way more than many friends I have had for decades.

Another analogy: raw gym lifting is kinda like getting a rod, some bait, etc, and going every weekend because you think it is kinda fun to fish. Geared is more like buying the boat, entering every fishing comp there is, taking an equity loan out on your home to buy more gear/better boat, and becoming so obsessed with it you think about it almost as much as you think about sex. [/quote]

I can relate to the obsession part. Geared lifting feels like a different sport than raw. Although I suppose single ply isn’t taking it as far as multi-ply. The other consideration is the availability of competition. Most meets in Canada are through the CPU. Therefore, they are IPF; single ply. To be competitive, you need to use gear. We have a peg board with 5 squat suits, 7 bench shirts, 6 pairs of knee wraps, 2 erector shirts and 2 pairs of briefs, 3 or 4 belts plus a nice selection of shoes. That’s just for 2 of us.

I think people have a misconception that you can put on gear and your lifts magically go up. It takes a shit load of work to get into and master. You need to be able to control much heavier weights than you can lift raw. I have a super katana bench shirt that I’ve been trying to master for months. It still takes most of my energy just to control the shirt that I’m not getting much out of it. I have to trust my training partner because if I get off the bubble, I can dump the bar on my face and it can happen fast. I recently got out of my groove squatting and rolled a lot of weight over the back of my head.

In summary: I’m a total gear whore and obsess about the sport. Thank you :slight_smile:

448

Thanks Pete, Ouroboro.
I wasn’t trying to imply that it is somehow easier. Having kept up with both of you, though, and a few others, it does seem a different animal. It sounds like mastering the gear adds a whole other layer of “work”…with its own set of benefits. Increased weight being one of them. And, as you mentioned, the increased loads are still endured by the body. 600# is going to press you into a bench significantly more than 400#, not to mention the joints…and just the feel of the increased load.

Thanks again.

449

And the debate continues to rage on…

Sorry Pete, I do not agree with the fishing analogy makes it sound like Raw is the minor league of power lifting, lol. Comparing RAW vs Geared is like apples and oranges it can’t be compared. They are two completely different off shoots of the same type of sport, more like comparing Cricket and Baseball. They both have a bat and a ball but the comparison has to end there. I do agree with everything else you said.

I have seen great shirted benchers who could not bench 400 raw but could do 500 - 550 shirted and I have seen great raw benchers not able to get 20 pounds out of a shirt…

Me, I suck at both…lol

450

Colin,
Didn’t mean to give the impression raw is ‘minor leagues’. Fishing analogy is that geared does take a larger time and financial commitment.

Any hoo, benchinging got moved to Sunday due to gym owners traveling. I sucked ass today. This I am blaming a) on having been forced to go to a baby shower yesterday (for best friend) and b) following training partner who was also sucking ass today. Would have been better if I went first.

Raw warm ups: 140 x 10, 230 x 6, 320 x 3, 4 board 410 x 3

Shirt on 4 board 500 x 3, 3 board 550 x 2, 2 board 590 x 2, 1 board 620 x fucking horrible out of groove dump, should have been an easy 2 for small 10 lb pr. If I had a meet coming up I would have tried again, until I got it, but said sugg it. Shirt I am using right now isn’t the right one for me, it is flat backed, I am fairly arched. But it is what I have to use right now.

Raw 2 board agains t silver short bands 230 x 3, 280 x 2, 290 x 2 (10 lb PR).

CSR 3 pl x 10, 4 pl x 10, 5 pl x 10, 6 pl x 8, 4 pl x 20

shoulder press 90 x 15, 140 x 10, 180 x 6 (weight and rep PR)

451

[quote]PeteS wrote:
Colin,
Didn’t mean to give the impression raw is ‘minor leagues’. Fishing analogy is that geared does take a larger time and financial commitment.

Any hoo, benchinging got moved to Sunday due to gym owners traveling. I sucked ass today. This I am blaming a) on having been forced to go to a baby shower yesterday (for best friend) and b) following training partner who was also sucking ass today. Would have been better if I went first.

Raw warm ups: 140 x 10, 230 x 6, 320 x 3, 4 board 410 x 3

Shirt on 4 board 500 x 3, 3 board 550 x 2, 2 board 590 x 2, 1 board 620 x fucking horrible out of groove dump, should have been an easy 2 for small 10 lb pr. If I had a meet coming up I would have tried again, until I got it, but said sugg it. Shirt I am using right now isn’t the right one for me, it is flat backed, I am fairly arched. But it is what I have to use right now.

Raw 2 board agains t silver short bands 230 x 3, 280 x 2, 290 x 2 (10 lb PR).

CSR 3 pl x 10, 4 pl x 10, 5 pl x 10, 6 pl x 8, 4 pl x 20

shoulder press 90 x 15, 140 x 10, 180 x 6 (weight and rep PR)[/quote]

Freakin’ nice trainin’ right there brother… awesome

452

Great board pressing Pete.

453

[quote]PeteS wrote:
Colin,
Didn’t mean to give the impression raw is ‘minor leagues’. Fishing analogy is that geared does take a larger time and financial commitment.

Any hoo, benchinging got moved to Sunday due to gym owners traveling. I sucked ass today. This I am blaming a) on having been forced to go to a baby shower yesterday (for best friend) and b) following training partner who was also sucking ass today. Would have been better if I went first.

Raw warm ups: 140 x 10, 230 x 6, 320 x 3, 4 board 410 x 3

Shirt on 4 board 500 x 3, 3 board 550 x 2, 2 board 590 x 2, 1 board 620 x fucking horrible out of groove dump, should have been an easy 2 for small 10 lb pr. If I had a meet coming up I would have tried again, until I got it, but said sugg it. Shirt I am using right now isn’t the right one for me, it is flat backed, I am fairly arched. But it is what I have to use right now.

Raw 2 board agains t silver short bands 230 x 3, 280 x 2, 290 x 2 (10 lb PR).

CSR 3 pl x 10, 4 pl x 10, 5 pl x 10, 6 pl x 8, 4 pl x 20

shoulder press 90 x 15, 140 x 10, 180 x 6 (weight and rep PR)[/quote]

Yep…awesome board work, Pete.
I think the most weight I have ever unracked is 405#. I really can’t imagine 600+. My pansy ass wrists would snap…and that is not an exaggeration. Lol…and my forearms would likely end up where my upper arms used to be.

454

I wanted to make fun of lifters who use gear but I just don’t have it in me today. I was going to say something about small dicks or needing a crutch or that raw lifters are way cooler but I won’t say any of that today. But really you’re a strong mofo. Great training.

455

It’s all good Bro, sorry I read that wrong!

Nice Board work there!!!

456

you just two boarded what most rack pull nice work…

457

[quote]ecogenx wrote:
I wanted to make fun of lifters who use gear but I just don’t have it in me today. I was going to say something about small dicks or needing a crutch or that raw lifters are way cooler but I won’t say any of that today. But really you’re a strong mofo. Great training.[/quote]

Go on ahead and do it anyway. It’s always good for a fun read. Small dicks are fun to read about as well.

To Pete: Are you strongest on bench? I struggle for very small gains.

458

[quote]ouroboro_s wrote:

[quote]ecogenx wrote:
I wanted to make fun of lifters who use gear but I just don’t have it in me today. I was going to say something about small dicks or needing a crutch or that raw lifters are way cooler but I won’t say any of that today. But really you’re a strong mofo. Great training.[/quote]

Go on ahead and do it anyway. It’s always good for a fun read. Small dicks are fun to read about as well.

To Pete: Are you strongest on bench? I struggle for very small gains.[/quote]
Let me rephrase my initial post:
I want to give Pete a hard time because its fun. So I’ll make fun of his lifting gear and penis size. (I really don’t have anything against gear)

459

[quote]ecogenx wrote:

[quote]ouroboro_s wrote:

[quote]ecogenx wrote:
I wanted to make fun of lifters who use gear but I just don’t have it in me today. I was going to say something about small dicks or needing a crutch or that raw lifters are way cooler but I won’t say any of that today. But really you’re a strong mofo. Great training.[/quote]

Go on ahead and do it anyway. It’s always good for a fun read. Small dicks are fun to read about as well.

To Pete: Are you strongest on bench? I struggle for very small gains.[/quote]
Let me rephrase my initial post:
I want to give Pete a hard time because its fun. So I’ll make fun of his lifting gear and penis size. (I really don’t have anything against gear)[/quote]

Yeah I got that. I always enjoy making fun of people; 'cause it’s fun. It begs the question of your knowledge of his penis size though. Is this a guys only part of the club?

460

[quote]ouroboro_s wrote:

[quote]ecogenx wrote:

[quote]ouroboro_s wrote:

[quote]ecogenx wrote:
I wanted to make fun of lifters who use gear but I just don’t have it in me today. I was going to say something about small dicks or needing a crutch or that raw lifters are way cooler but I won’t say any of that today. But really you’re a strong mofo. Great training.[/quote]

Go on ahead and do it anyway. It’s always good for a fun read. Small dicks are fun to read about as well.

To Pete: Are you strongest on bench? I struggle for very small gains.[/quote]
Let me rephrase my initial post:
I want to give Pete a hard time because its fun. So I’ll make fun of his lifting gear and penis size. (I really don’t have anything against gear)[/quote]

Yeah I got that. I always enjoy making fun of people; 'cause it’s fun. It begs the question of your knowledge of his penis size though. Is this a guys only part of the club?[/quote]

You know us…we like to measure…it’s our ‘in proportion to’ that’s messed up!