So I did the search, and didn’t find too much. I need a place to train that actually has a power rack or two, doesn’t play dance music, and allows folks to perform deadlifts with a decent amount of weight.
I was/am a member of a great “private” gym back home in Detroit, but I’ve recently moved to the aforementioned area, and I’m having a hell of a time finding something better than these hole-in-the-wall places, or Lifetimesavings Fitness.
Jakked Hardcore is fantastic, but it requires almost an hour drive when traffic is friendly, and I cannot swing that with my work schedule.
Just popping in to say hi; nice to have chatted with you this evening when the gals and I were squatting. Psst…work on getting the strong wife to come with you sometime; we’d love to meet her.
Hey all, I’ve recently been told that I “need to find a different gym” at my current XSport over in Darien since it “isn’t set up for Powerlifters”. Found this thread and thought I might stop by and give your gym a try.
My training is fairly simple all I really need is a cage and a barbell. If you want shoot me a PM of when you train and I’ll try to stop by at a similar time.
So, a year later, after training at Lifetime, I finally have some resolution.
Quick backstory - I traveled to Detroit/Ann Arbor area (home) almost every weekend from February to September to see my wife and renovate my condo, a 285 1-way trip. Lifetime actually worked decently well as they had a gym both here (Naperville) and home (Canton, MI).
But now that my family and I are finally settled in as Naperville residents, and I have a decent little basement, the Rogue S-1 will be handling a lot of my weekday training. Weekends I train with a group of senior powerlifters where I’m finally learning how to bench properly. With my crazy work schedule, relentless Chicagoland traffic, and homicidal tendencies toward dipshits doing curls and shrugs on the one goddamn squat rack the gym had, this was my best choice.
This stand is far and away better than any other setup I’ve encountered at commercial gyms, I’m thrilled about it. I’m still figuring out a deadlift platform so I don’t ruin the floor, but no matter.
That is you remember me Filak? I miss training at Ben’s gym. I’d like to have one like that myself one day here in Jackson. I got a job working as a corrections officer at one of the prisons here.
[quote]Sea-Doo Boy wrote:
So, a year later, after training at Lifetime, I finally have some resolution.
Quick backstory - I traveled to Detroit/Ann Arbor area (home) almost every weekend from February to September to see my wife and renovate my condo, a 285 1-way trip. Lifetime actually worked decently well as they had a gym both here (Naperville) and home (Canton, MI).
But now that my family and I are finally settled in as Naperville residents, and I have a decent little basement, the Rogue S-1 will be handling a lot of my weekday training. Weekends I train with a group of senior powerlifters where I’m finally learning how to bench properly. With my crazy work schedule, relentless Chicagoland traffic, and homicidal tendencies toward dipshits doing curls and shrugs on the one goddamn squat rack the gym had, this was my best choice.
This stand is far and away better than any other setup I’ve encountered at commercial gyms, I’m thrilled about it. I’m still figuring out a deadlift platform so I don’t ruin the floor, but no matter. [/quote]
How much weight can the safety bars hold on that S-1? I’ve been looking to get a full rack but might actually prefer the half racks like that one. I don’t like squatting inside racks so my main use for the safetys would be for bench press, and maybe shrugs or something. Also like the pullup bar, most squat stands don’t have those which is why I never considered them before.
Edit: Was looking at the S-2 which looks like S-1 with pullup bar.
I’ve heard good things about the Xport in Bolingbrook. There’s also a place called Reps off of Rt 59 in Naperville. I haven’t been in there yet but I keep seeing these gigantic dudes wearing Reps apparel buying up gratuitous amounts of eggs at my local Jewel. I thought it’d be something worth checking out.
PowR was pretty much perfect for me back when I was in metro Detroit; I wish I would have found them sooner.
The safety bars can easily hold several hundred pounds. I have’t done much with them yet as I don’t have quite enough plates for deads yet, but everything I’ve read says it should be more than enough for what I need it for. This is a very heavy duty, high quality squat rack. And yes, the S-2 adds the pullup bar and I think it may be a bit taller. I’m pretty close the the floor joices in my basement, so I didn’t get the next step up.
And XSport is Discount Lifetime Fitness. If I have to deadlift with those f------ hexagonal plates again… nevermind if I can actually find a space to do them in. Nope, I’m all done with Mega Corporate Foo-Foo Gyms. What I spent on this setup is roughly what I’d spend in a year for a Lifetime membership. The accountant in me says that is well worth it.
