UCD Gym quiet hours

Sangre

What are the quiestest times for the UCD gym on a weekday or weekend? Due to its lack of any decent equipment I'm getting very annoyed waiting for all the GAA players for to finish with their 50 bicep curls and bench presses.

I have a programme that I need to do in a specific order so it gets quite annoying have to wait for equipment to free up. It was so bad today I just stopped and left the gym.

Any help appreciated.

theleprechaun

I used to find from 8-11 am fairly quiet. But that was when i used to go-got too lazy since then:D

tribulus

Sundays are always quiet in my experience. Saturdays I found the afternoons, ~2-6 to be best and weekdays the only quiet period would be the mornings, before 12 I'd say.

IT Loser

Sangre wrote: »

What are the quiestest times for the UCD gym on a weekday or weekend? Due to its lack of any decent equipment I'm getting very annoyed waiting for all the GAA players for to finish with their 50 bicep curls and bench presses.

I have a programme that I need to do in a specific order so it gets quite annoying have to wait for equipment to free up. It was so bad today I just stopped and left the gym.

Any help appreciated.

Pathetic losers the lot of them. I used to see them in there, they mostly strut and try and stick their chests out, with these desperate looks on their faces, like they were scared or something. We used to ask them if they wanted to join the boxing club, and then we have a good laugh at them when they said no. Still, there are savage women and savage times to be had down Ballyspiddjamesduffery-On Sea during the Summer, so its only right they would want their pecs in order.:D:D:D

IT Loser

Sangre wrote: »

Think I'll head down for around 9am in future and Sat mornings. Even around 10 today it was too much.

Although I think the real problem is not the busyness but thelack of any decent equipment. Only one squat rack, about 4 oly bars and hardly any room to deadlift, military presses or rows. Gah.

What about upstairs??

Sangre

Think I'll head down for around 9am in future and Sat mornings. Even around 10 today it was too much.

Although I think the real problem is not the busyness but thelack of any decent equipment. Only one squat rack, about 4 oly bars and hardly any room to deadlift, military presses or rows. Gah.

Sangre

You mean doing my lifting upstairs or using the machines?

Well upstairs there aren't as many mirrors to check your form if lifting and I try and avoid machines.

mloc

One of the oly bars went missing recently. Still not back. Pain in the hole.

Don't know which are worse, the packs of thick GAA mudsavages or the packs of ignorant schoolkids. Both types favour the 3 inch ROM bench press, bicep curls mostly from the hips, quarter "squats", and this new fad which is like some sort of wierd bicep curl using a barbell plate, usually jerky and not really moving much at all.

That and the squash players who sometimes jam the balcony with the pulldown machines; they're not even members of the place, wtf are they doing there.

IT Loser

Sangre wrote: »

You mean doing my lifting upstairs or using the machines?

Well upstairs there aren't as many mirrors to check your form if lifting and I try and avoid machines.

Yeah, upstairs machines....

I found the back machine very good.

I have to agree with most of the opinion, Sundays is best. Most people go and get wellied on Saturday.

Join the boxing club if you want to be fit. Only a few quid per year and you ge t fit in no time.

Flume

IT Loser wrote: »

Join the boxing club if you want to be fit. Only a few quid per year and you ge t fit in no time.

What way does that work IT, do you have to box in competitions or can you just do it to keep fit?

IT Loser

Flume wrote: »

What way does that work IT, do you have to box in competitions or can you just do it to keep fit?

Its up to you. You don't have to fight, you don't even have to spar. You might get asked but you can turn it down. Mostly, its softly softly. Its a two hour thing three nights a week. You can't go wrong. Go down on Friday to Hall C {the little one } between 8 and 10 or 5-7 Monday and have a word with whoever is running the show.

Or you could go down now, 7-9 Wednesdays.

AlphaMale 3OO

Finally someone who agrees that UCD gym is full of pathetic d1ckheads and wont call me an angry physco for expressing my feelings! I deal with the beanpole twats be running madly around the gym, being extremely possessive about equipment and insisting to people that I work in with them. Though I have no problem with anyone working in with me. It can be done if you act like you own the place. Sad as that seems. Since I joined that gym, I have seen excercises and weight movements done that I had never seen before. What an innovative bunch they are. The 1/8 squats always crack me up. I too have found the quietest times to be morning, but thats only natural.

fatal

I hate the UCD gym.I went in there last year to have a look around because I was considering joining.However,a 5 minute tour was enough to put me off for life.Since then i've heard countless stories which often make me wonder how anyone gets a workout done in there.
If the UCD gym wasn't so crap I wouldn't have found the gym where I am currently a member(the best gym ever!!).So in a way im kind of glad that I was turned off by it

farva

fatal wrote: »

I wouldn't have found the gym where I am currently a member(the best gym ever!!).So in a way im kind of glad that I was turned off by it

Where is this magical place you speak of? I'm a member of crunch in UCD and its grand to me. I'm there 3 or 4 times a week and get a good workout done everytime, I've gotten to know a good few of the regulars there and their sound guys. The kids piss me off though, most of them havent a breeze what they are doing and take way too long on each machine/bench/bar because they travel in packs.

AlphaMale 3OO

look out for the tall boggers who do only bench press and struggle to even lift the bar. its just great.

remus808

Your elitism is pathetic.. Ok they mightnt have a clue what theyre doing but at least theyre making the effort.. Not everyone is a fitness guru with a meticulous workout plan.

fatal

forbesii wrote: »

look out for the tall boggers who do only bench press and struggle to even lift the bar. its just great.

HAHA I have heard alot of those stories-guys who walk in,"do" the bench press for half an hour,flex their "muscles" in front of the mirrors and then walk out with a big grin on their face.

farva wrote: »

Where is this magical place you speak of? I'm a member of crunch in UCD and its grand to me. I'm there 3 or 4 times a week and get a good workout done everytime, I've gotten to know a good few of the regulars there and their sound guys. The kids piss me off though, most of them havent a breeze what they are doing and take way too long on each machine/bench/bar because they travel in packs.

Do you really really wanna know:D?
The place is called Pinnacle gym.Its by far the best gym that I have ever been to.The atmosphere in this gym is unlike any other.Everyone is willing to help each other out and no one hogs the equipment like they do in other gyms.Even someone like me feels welcomed by the behemoths who regularly patrol the gym;)

farva

fatal wrote: »

Do you really really wanna know:D?
The place is called Pinnacle gym.Its by far the best gym that I have ever been to.The atmosphere in this gym is unlike any other.Everyone is willing to help each other out and no one hogs the equipment like they do in other gyms.Even someone like me feels welcomed by the behemoths who regularly patrol the gym;)

I had a look at the bebo there (the only source of info that I could find on the internet for it) and the facilities look good but a bit small and it doesnt seem to have any cardio equiptment? I like to get 3 cardio sessions done a week along with my weights - keeps the gut away! Is pinnacle expensive?

I find most people in UCD are fairly decent, I'd be quite friendly with 9 or 10 regulars (most of them aren't in UCD though) who'd be fairly big and into their lifting - and their only too happy to help people out! I get asked the odd question when somone is working in with me on something and I'd do my best to help them out.

forbesii I would agree that there are a lot of guys there who don't have a clue what there at, but you'll get that everywhere and as karmabass said at least they are trying. When I started off I hadn't a notion what I should do, but I learned over time by researching and asking questions. And with an attitude like that you don't seem to willing to help anyone else out, which I think is pretty ****ty!

fatal

farva wrote: »

I had a look at the bebo there (the only source of info that I could find on the internet for it) and the facilities look good but a bit small and it doesnt seem to have any cardio equiptment? I like to get 3 cardio sessions done a week along with my weights - keeps the gut away! Is pinnacle expensive?

I find most people in UCD are fairly decent, I'd be quite friendly with 9 or 10 regulars (most of them aren't in UCD though) who'd be fairly big and into their lifting - and their only too happy to help people out! I get asked the odd question when somone is working in with me on something and I'd do my best to help them out.

forbesii I would agree that there are a lot of guys there who don't have a clue what there at, but you'll get that everywhere and as karmabass said at least they are trying. When I started off I hadn't a notion what I should do, but I learned over time by researching and asking questions. And with an attitude like that you don't seem to willing to help anyone else out, which I think is pretty ****ty!

They do have cardio equipment but nothing like the unecessary number of treadmills and bikes which you find in UCD gym(pointless!?!).Its not huge nor tiny but the size of it has never really been an issue.They also have a full size ring and matted area for martial arts/boxing.
Its alot cheaper than most of the other gyms out there.For your subscription you're not only getting a gym membership but also a great friendly atmosphere-something lacked by other gyms which I have used in the past and which makes achieving your goals that much easier

AlphaMale 3OO

farva wrote: »

forbesii I would agree that there are a lot of guys there who don't have a clue what there at, but you'll get that everywhere and as karmabass said at least they are trying. When I started off I hadn't a notion what I should do, but I learned over time by researching and asking questions. And with an attitude like that you don't seem to willing to help anyone else out, which I think is pretty ****ty!

I'm on hand to help anyone that asks. I have no problem with that at all. Its the lack of etiquette in use up there that really gets to me. Guys using the squat rack for things other than squats or using the bench press for tricep extensions. Ive been in queue for that thing and its just baffled me how ignorant people can be. Sitting chatting with their mates when they can see someone is waiting to use the equipment. Not everyone is a student with all the time in the world on their hands.

Zamboni

I go alone at 7 in the morning.

The guys there at that time are genuine blokes just doing their workouts.
Sure, there is no-one to impress at that time anyway.
You can get your workout done without waiting on anything.

There is one numpty though and the way he does deadlifts guarantees a dodgy spine for the future.
I think he likes the sound of the bar crashing to the ground.

You can learn a lot from one or two of the guys in there.
There is this one guy who is there religiously and I have to say his technique is spot on.

Crunch should be ashamed of themselves when it comes to gym supervision.
There are never gym instructors on the gym floor. Just the odd receptionist checking her emails.
I would hate to have an accident downstairs if there was no-one around because the cctv only covers about 30% of the weights area.

mloc

forbesii wrote: »

Guys using the squat rack for things other than squats or using the bench press for tricep extensions.

I'd disagree about that; there is no power rack in Crunch and sometimes its necessary to use the squat rack for exercises that one would normally use a power rack for. Similarly if there are no adjustable benches free I wouldn't see a problem with someone using a bench for another exercise.

AlphaMale 3OO

Anyone know where one of the Olympic bars is gone? Its really starting to annoy me!

farva

Yeh, I saw Gav(the gym instructor) and the eastern European cleaner dude bringing it up from the weights room about 2 weeks ago and it was snapped. One of the sides where the weights go on was completely broken off!! Completely agree with you that its really annoying with 1 less bar, and knowing crunch it'll probably be months until its replaced.

mloc

they are down to two lights in the bench press room... bet with one of my friends they'll have to get down to one before they replace it.

prob we'll both be wrong, get down there and find it lit by candles.

Red Alert

Where exactly do I find the free-weights room? Down that corridor between the two sports halls?

johnathan woss

When you enter crunch turn left and walk all the way around until you're in the room where the spinning classes are held, then just go down the stairs to the free-weights area.

There are other free weights rooms hidden away in the sports centre but they are only for people involved with the elite athlete program ....

PennyLane

Out of curiosity, are there ever girls down there? I've heard it referred to as the men's area by a Crunch staff member (with the women's being that awkward alcove in the cardio area), and I was wondering how true that is...

Thomas_S_Hunterson

I've never seen any girls down there, but I presume there wouldn't be a problem if they went down.

mloc

I train there regularly with my girlfriend. More often than not she's the only woman down there. It's just a matter of ignoring the stares and getting on with your own workout.

PennyLane

It's a bit annoying that there are stares to begin with; I feel a bit looked at just using some of the machines on the main floor. Good to know that the option's available, though.

phantomwolf

With the outfits alot of the girls wear in the gym, I cant be blamed for sneaking a peek:D

Bui

PennyLane wrote: »

Out of curiosity, are there ever girls down there? I've heard it referred to as the men's area by a Crunch staff member (with the women's being that awkward alcove in the cardio area), and I was wondering how true that is...

I train there regularily with my boyfriend, as mloc mentioned, usually about 4 times a week and to be honest, 99% of the time I am the only girl down there, but the odd time there are one or two other girls I have seen down there (there was one today!). Really its not a problem, unless you are exceptionally self-conscious, you do get a few looks but if you're down there Im guessing you're in some way serious about your work-out and its just a case of getting on with it and what you're doing.

You're be supprised at the amount of guys down there who dont know what they're doing (poor form, technique etc) which you will be able to pick out yourself, and are standing around looking at each other as well as you, so its not just subject to you! To be honest, any of the guys down there who are in any way serious themselves about what they are doing are concentrating on what they are down there to do, and are also very encouraging and helpful if you need a hand with anything. Its not so bad dont let it put you off!!

KiwiChick

Bui wrote: »

I train there regularily with my boyfriend, as mloc mentioned, usually about 4 times a week and to be honest, 99% of the time I am the only girl down there, but the odd time there are one or two other girls I have seen down there (there was one today!). Really its not a problem, unless you are exceptionally self-conscious, you do get a few looks but if you're down there Im guessing you're in some way serious about your work-out and its just a case of getting on with it and what you're doing.

You're be supprised at the amount of guys down there who dont know what they're doing (poor form, technique etc) which you will be able to pick out yourself, and are standing around looking at each other as well as you, so its not just subject to you! To be honest, any of the guys down there who are in any way serious themselves about what they are doing are concentrating on what they are down there to do, and are also very encouraging and helpful if you need a hand with anything. Its not so bad dont let it put you off!!

I am down in the weights room 4 times a week to and I hardly see any girls either. There will be a few stares but don't let it put you off, the ones doing the staring are the same guys that aren't able to lift weights to save themselves!
I find it pretty friendly down there, if you need to work in with someone or need help with an exercise then just ask and you'll have no problems. In saying that make sure you pick someone that looks like they are actually working out and making an effort, you don't want advice from some of the weeds that have the really bad technique.

KiwiChick

mloc wrote: »

I'd disagree about that; there is no power rack in Crunch and sometimes its necessary to use the squat rack for exercises that one would normally use a power rack for. Similarly if there are no adjustable benches free I wouldn't see a problem with someone using a bench for another exercise.

I get the point about the squat rack but I don't think it's fair that someone puts a bench in the middle of it and starts to do shoulder presses while the bar and rack are there and it needs to be used. happened to me before) Also have been in Crunch and needed to do bench press and there were 2 guys doing one arm rows on it, again the bar was just waiting there. I didn't bother to ask to work in, I was too annoyed.

BobbyOLeary

I go at about ten o clock in the morning on wednesday and thursdays with a friend of mine. I've had to wait for the squat rack once or twice since January so its not too bad!

Everyone's pretty friendly down there, if its busy I just ask can I work in with them, I've yet to have someone refuse!

On the squat rack, I use it for Squats (obviously) and the shoulder press. I like the height of the pins for racking the bar after a set, makes the whole thing nice and easy! I think its just gotten busier since they took away two of the olympic bars. I asked one of the staff and she just laughed and told me that I must have missed it down there. Yes love, I somehow missed a seven foot piece of shiny steel.

My favourite and most hated thing about Crunch is the multitude of guys who squat in the smith machine (bad enough) and then go down about a foot when they actually do start squatting!

comewatmay

IT Loser wrote: »

Yeah, upstairs machines....

I found the back machine very good.

I have to agree with most of the opinion, Sundays is best. Most people go and get wellied on Saturday.

Join the boxing club if you want to be fit. Only a few quid per year and you ge t fit in no time.

How would one go about joining the boxing club, never done it before but would like to join

Zamboni

PennyLane wrote: »

Out of curiosity, are there ever girls down there? I've heard it referred to as the men's area by a Crunch staff member (with the women's being that awkward alcove in the cardio area), and I was wondering how true that is...

To be honest if I heard a Crunch staff member referring to it as the mens area I'd have them fired.

More women should train down there. If you have paid your gym membership you have as much right to be down there as the rest of us.
If women spent more time doing weights and less time on cardio they would be in far better condition.
There is one girl that trains down there on her own regularly, does her own thing with her mp3 player and she is in far better condition than most of the guys there. Her technique is decent too.

I'd rather see ten girls lifting weights down there than 3 idiots in rugby socks chatting on the bench press.
Seriously lads. Rugby socks, in the gym?

Anyway ladies, lift weights and get your moneys worth out of Crunch.
The weights in the upper section are about as much use as rugby socks in a gym.;)

PennyLane

Well, as my starting point was basically blubber, maybe I'll make the move downstairs once 2 kgs stop producing results.

KiwiChick

The 'ladies area' in Crunch is a joke, if you want to get anything out of your workout stay away from it.
When I first joined I was told about the ladies area and got my hopes up but when I saw it I didn't know what to think. How could anyone expect to any results from working out with those little dumbells?

I guess everyone still has the mind set that if women lift weights they'll get too muscley(not true!)
The staff at Crunch don't help matters if they're giving out directions to the 'ladies area' and telling women that down stairs is where they'll find the mens area - the cheek of it!

PennyLane

My favorite part is that I've been noticing a bunch of guys working there recently, so I'm assuming the idea of gender segregation was just a figment of that particular staff member's imagination. But yeah, I can get a decent workout from the "ladies" area (as evidenced in part by my sore arms this morning), but probably only because, as I said, I started out with the strength of your average two-year-old.

AlphaMale 3OO

by the way will everybody start complaining to the main desk about getting that olympic bar replaced. ive complained twice now with no reaction and am going to complain every second day I'm there from now on. if nothing is done im going to complain every day. also wouldnt it be great if they marked the dumbells so you know what the hell weight your actually lifting. complain about that too. just inundate them with complaints!

mloc

anyone up for starting a sort of members union?

I was thinking about it for a while, getting a few regulars together and gettings issues sorted.

Sangre

Oh god, forgot about the dumbells, god they're useless. I can never find any weight even close to what I'm looking for and if I do, I can only find the one.

farva

forbesii wrote: »

by the way will everybody start complaining to the main desk about getting that olympic bar replaced. ive complained twice now with no reaction and am going to complain every second day I'm there from now on. if nothing is done im going to complain every day. also wouldnt it be great if they marked the dumbells so you know what the hell weight your actually lifting. complain about that too. just inundate them with complaints!

Tell me about it! Since they got those "new" dumbells (clearly cast offs from another gym) there isnt enoght room to store them and its near impossible to find the matching dumbell as they have no markings and all look so similar!! The lack of the 5th olympic bar is getting a bit annoying at this stage. Admittedly I dont squat or deadlift, but for my benching/incline benching its very irratating at peak times!

AlphaMale 3OO

well if we all nag the absolute sh1te out of them constantly theyll get so pissed off theyll do it.

farva

forbesii wrote: »

well if we all nag the absolute sh1te out of them constantly theyll get so pissed off theyll do it.

Yeh fair point. I might start complaining too. But I guess that its a cheap and cheerful gym, what we get for €160/year!

KiwiChick

farva wrote: »

Yeh fair point. I might start complaining too. But I guess that its a cheap and cheerful gym, what we get for €160/year!

I know people don't pay much for membership (non-students pay a bit more) but equipment still needs to be replaced and maintained. If something breaks it should be replaced, if someone complains and wants the weight marked properly on the dumbells then it shold be done. I'm all for giving them a hard time if it needs to be done. If enough of us complain then they're going to have to something about it eventually.

Bui

forbesii wrote: »

by the way will everybody start complaining to the main desk about getting that olympic bar replaced. ive complained twice now with no reaction and am going to complain every second day I'm there from now on. if nothing is done im going to complain every day. also wouldnt it be great if they marked the dumbells so you know what the hell weight your actually lifting. complain about that too. just inundate them with complaints!

To be honest the state of the place is dreadful. Aside from the mood lighting effect they are going for in the bench press room, between the missing and broken equipment they're really adding a whole new challenge to your workout! Especially at busy times where you might be waiting for ages to get onto a bench/rack, or more notably, to get your hands on one of the olympic bars, you then have to try figure out what you're lifting cause nothing is marked properly. The other day I turned my back on the bar I had FINALLY managed to comandeer for deadlifts to get some more weights and someone ran off with it! Also some of the older lighter sets of dumbells are literally falling apart. We are actually paying to use this "facility", its not like its a free service!

Zamboni

I like the idea of everyone constantly complaining to them.
I nagged them for weeks when the lock on the gents locker room was 'gone'.

I'll happily do a sneak survey of the place and take a note of everything wrong and date it.

I mean, with the dumbbells, all it takes to tighten them, is like a small hex key.
And print some new sticker labels.
All the weights are in lbs ffs. It's like the mid 20th century.

Crunch UCD is where all the other branches equipment goes to die...

I don't buy that attitude - You only get what you pay for....
Crunch UCD owe its clients a service in a safe environment, irrelevant of how much the membership costs.

KiwiChick

I fully agree with that! Cost of the gym membership is not the issue, they should be doing the basics and keep everything running properly.

It's not just the weights thats a problem either.
A couple weeks back I was on a dodgy treadmill and the mat kept stopping and I almost came off it, I told the girl at reception that it needed to be turned off because it was unsafe and she said that she couldn't do it or put an out of order note on the treadmill but I could leave a note for a trainer. I went and found a trainer and told them the problem and they said they'd do something about it.......
Surprise! 2 nights later I went back to the treadmill and it was still on and still dodgy!

Would it be worth trying to get in touch with the owner(s) and let them know whats going on? Obviously nobody is getting anywhere complaining to the staff there so that might be the next step since a lot of people are getting fed up?