I’m in a crappy situation since the only local powerlifting gym is closing down.
I’ve looked into the nearby commercial gyms and there is one place that at least allows deadlifting and using chalk.
My request for you would be to help me come up with arguments why I should be allowed to store and use my own Power Bar at the gym, since they got only poor quality bars.
Thus far I’ve come up with:
Offering to pay a little extra (either once or monthly)
Using my own bars saves their bars form the abuse of heavier training (I’m not really that strong, but could kinda pull it off, I think, lol)
This is your best bet, because once they pay insurance on their property while your bar is there, they can claim ownership on it anyway. Clint Darden has a few stories on this occurring.
Just ask if you can store it there. There is a whole room full of personal bars at my gym that no one but their owners (and those w/ the owner’s permission) touch.
You might have a tough time doing the storage thing at a commercial gym, especially if it is corporate owned.
In my gym, which is a private training facility with a small cadre of powerlifters, there is some specialized equipment brought by clients/customers, but are ‘donated’ such that anyone can use the equipment, but it’s still that client’s property. I did that with my scale to measure band tension from Kabuki Strength, special deadlifting collars, and my trainer did that with a specialty bar, a deadlift jack, and zercher harness.
If I ran a gym I’d be not inclined to have a bunch of specialized equipment around that was hands off to everyone; too hard to police. I’d likely leave the equipment open for everyone, but feel free to mark it your property with a dremel so you can easily take with when you leave. The owner takes the risk of damage/abuse.
Yea I got lucky and they let me when I asked. Now I’m trying to bring in comp plates with the argument the bar whip hurts my lift and Ive pulled more than the world record. Asking them to make and exception.
Have you just asked? I have carried my own squat and deadlift bar into Golds Gyms and Anytime Fitness more times than I can even remember. Hell I didnt even ask for that matter I just carried it in, used it, and carried it back out to my truck when I was done.
If your asking why not just make a home gym. Someone else asked me. Only thing I can say is I won’t lift the same, I feel like i feed off the energy in the room. Some will understand some won’t.
agree with this 110%. Spent about 15k in my garage and wound up selling it all. Couldnt get motivated a bit at home by myself and couldnt get a crew to dedicate even a day or two of the week to come and use it with me so just sold it all. Apparently im a show off and I just dont do well with out others around. Even if nothing is said between us or if we are even training together haha.
That’s actually a good idea if all the gyms around you suck and you have no space at home. The only concern is heating in the winter, I suppose you could buy a small generator and space heater.
I think this depends on two things: your own personality and preferences, plus what sort of gyms are around you. I used to train at a commercial gym (actually run by the city of Ottawa, which is arguably worse) and it wasn’t a particularly motivating environment. There were a few competitive bodybuilders there and one guy who I hear now competes in PL, but mostly it was some old retired people and kids who have no fucking clue as to what they are doing. There was no energy in the room to feed off of. On top of that the equipment sucked, only one squat rack but three leg presses (two of which only have a partial ROM and the other one is on a weird angle and hurts everyone’s back) and one bench press setup. Most of the bars were totally smooth and would probably bend permanently with the weights I’m lifting now (which still isn’t that much). I got fed up with it and bought a rack, bench, and plates and put them in my basement, it felt weird at first but I like it way better than that gym. I have spent around $3000 in total. There are now two powerlifting gyms (or at least PL-friendly) here in Ottawa but I wouldn’t be able to consistently make it there to train due to work and my kids, and they don’t really have anything better than what I have at home.
I think this is generally the main thing for most people. The ones who succeed best with a home gym set up work ungodly hours a week, have kids, prior engagements, or something else that requires more time away from an actual gym. That’s when you basically have to get in a good mindset regardless, and that’s why it works best for them. Personally, I’m just introverted and don’t like other people. At all really. I deal with enough at work and shit, id rather lift alone. A home gym is the overall goal. Do whatever, whenever, alone.
