Currently training in two council gyms in Armagh. I work for the council during the summer so i get them free. I go to Strathclyde Uni, Glasgow i train in their basement.
Council Gym 1
Ardmore Recreation Centre
http://www.armagh.gov.uk/sub_resservices_details.php?resident_id=5&show_sub=2&subresident_id=4
Smith Machine (200kg in plates)
Dumbells up to 35kg
Adjustable Cable Pulley Machine
6 Rowing machines
A ridiculous amount of treadmills and bikes
Hate training here, get told im doing everything wrong: squating too low, throwing weights above my head etc etc. zero motivation, today they were playing a gareth brooks live album and i had forgotten my earphones.
Customers in it are either Cardiac Patients who have been referred, or fat house wives walking while watching soaps. £25 a month or £3.70 a session + £10 Induction fee.
Council Gym 2
Keady Rec Centre
http://www.armagh.gov.uk/sub_resservices_details.php?subresident_id=3&resident_id=5&show_sub=2
Smith Machine (180kg in weights)
Dumbells up to 25kg
3 rowing machines (not fixed to the floor)
4 bikes
4 treadmills
some weights machines
Training in here is not as bad as Ardmore as the customers are all mainly gaelic players or into some sort of sport, so there is some sort of motivation etc. But the all mainly do a repeated cycle of Bench, Curls and Abs. They also mostly train in packs of at least 5. Which leaves no room for anyone else. Also ive pretty much outgrown the gym as i need more weight in nearly all the lifts.
£17 a month or £3.30 a session + £10 induction fee
Strathclyde University Gym
3 powerracks
1 er bench
roughly 600kg in plates
An olympic platform
5 olympic bars
1 fat bar
trap bar
2 Ez curl bars
tricep bar
Dumbells up to 50kg
Back Hyper Extension
A long corrider with steps at the end for doing farmers walks
A Multi gym with:
chin up bar
dup bar
hanging leg raises
High cable
low Cable
Leg Press
Adjustable sit up bench
Ive never been to the CV suit above but it is new and seems to have everything you could ever need.
70% of the people training in the weights room are pretty serious and know what there doing.
We have a few successful strongmen, group of older and younger powerlifters, couple of people who represent scotland in olympic lifting and many rugby players.
The only downside to the gym is it has no music. apparently this is because they need a licence but we think thats bollacks and are going to offer to buy a hifi.
This year there is a new powerlifting and strength club being set up. one night a week will be for form, questions and for people to be judged and spotted on PB attempts. every other night there will be a few of the members in training if some newbies need a hand or just want motivation for training. there will also be competitions of different types throughout the year and im sure nights out.
£70 for the year or £2.00 a session
so as you can see, i obviously cant wait to get back to uni to train somewhere decent.
Andy Cairny setting the gym record with a 300kg squat