Curling bench

Recon

I got one of these today and I was surprised at how much it focuses on the bicep, I wasn't able to use the weights I'd normally use.

http://www.argos.co.uk/wcsstore/argos/images/0724197A64UC195291M.jpg

Anyone else find them useful or just hate them?

iregk

The are very good. They concentrate all the lifting on the bicep so it will be harder than usual and you will not be able to use the same weight as you would if you were standing. The reason being when your standing and you start to struggle you starting bringing your back into it and everything else.

This machine don't allow for any cheating!

amazingemmet

I think they're pretty useless as once the weight is past 45degree then its pointing up relative to the arm and your not putting stress on the bicep.

As for the cheating iregk mention in a standard curl, it just illustrates that you shouldn't lift past technical failure. To take your back outta the movement lean against a pole/wall and then there'll be no cheating.

Aedh Baclamh

Chinups are where it's at !

Dragan

I'm a fan of preachers but would normally just use an adjustable bench set to a more sever angel than 45 degrees. As Emmet said, with a shallow angel you lose a huge ammount of the good of the exercise….but with a steep angle, no cheating, a stationary body and free arm, forced reps and heavy negatives you go do some terribly fun things to your biceps.

JayRoc

The owner of two of the greatest biceps ever seen, Larry Scott, attributes most of his success in training bi's to the preacher bench.
(Also known as a "Scott bench" in his honour)...

iregk

Dragan wrote:

I'm a fan of preachers but would normally just use an adjustable bench set to a more sever angel than 45 degrees.

I'm the same. I take a normal bench in the gym and adjust it almost right the way up. Pretty much most of the guys in my gym do this.