Going crazy in Dublin: GYMs are SO BAD

luckysetter · 03-05-2008 8:01pm #1

Hello people,

I've been going to a gym since 2004 regularly. Initially I was a member to a few gyms in Istanbul, later in the UK I was going to Fitness Exchange(now Fitness Exchange in Godge St/London) , Virgin Active(Colliers Wood/London) thereafter in JJB Sports(Limerick)... In meantime during long holidays I'm proud to have been able to go to gyms in Lithuania(Forum), Latvia & Estonia(Old soviet gyms)

Everywhere the gyms were well equipped and large.. But now I've moved to Dublin specifically MILLTOWN and I'm unhappy about the gyms in the centre of Dublin. So far I've checked out:

Jakie Skelly(ballsbridge): Nice pool, not bad machinery but very very limited free weights

Jakie Skelly(paralel to grafton st): Very cramped, nearly no free weights

YMCA(augnier st): Small, dirty, not enough free weights, benchs

Iveagh Fitness(Bride St): Rundown equipment, not enough free weights

Pinnacle(near harcourt st): Well equipped but very cramped, smallish, doesn't have a quality feeling to it. Though I might join it.

LA Fitness(Cowper): Not bad equipped but free weight are very very limited. Quality is there though.

What I want is? 15 min cycle distance from Milltown or 1-2 stops LUAS+ 10 min walking from Milltown or 15 min walking from Harcourt St.

It must have 2 benchs at least, Incline bench, 3 benchs for dumbell traning, cable cross, new machines for most things. plenty of treadmills,rowers. clean quality feel

I'm gonna check ONE ESCAPE and recheck Pinnacle and make my decision..

PLEASE HELP MEEEEEE find a good gym

agentgreen · 03-05-2008 8:12pm

Hi,

you should look into David Lloyd Riverview. It's expensive but it has everything you seem to be looking for.

JayRoc · 03-05-2008 8:21pm

Pinnacle, though admittedly not huge, actually very rarely feels cramped,
and the atmosphere is excellent and the staff bang on. I've no stake in it but I still say it's one of the very best gyms in Dublin.

You might also consider The Hercules Club in Lurgan St. I'm not a member myself but it's been recommended (ad nauseum!) by those who know what they're talking about;)

tribulus · 03-05-2008 8:52pm

I don't think Hercs would be big enough for him tbh, the equipment is at least 2 years old as well, bit of a disgrace like.

Hanley · 03-05-2008 11:39pm

tribulus wrote: »

I don't think Hercs would be big enough for him tbh, the equipment is at least 2 years old as well, bit of a disgrace like.

Yeah, all rusty and sh!t too.

spottykatt · 04-05-2008 3:43pm

Hi OP,
Id recommend westwood sandymount, less than 15min bike from milltown and has all your looking for.:)

WHIP IT! · 04-05-2008 3:52pm

spottykatt wrote: »

Hi OP,
Id recommend westwood sandymount, less than 15min bike from milltown and has all your looking for.:)

You sure now? Has it got gold-tipped leaves of toilet paper and your own sweat-towel wench to pat your forehead after each set?? :rolleyes:

spottykatt · 04-05-2008 4:03pm

WHIP IT! wrote: »

You sure now? Has it got gold-tipped leaves of toilet paper and your own sweat-towel wench to pat your forehead after each set?? :rolleyes:

Ha ha funny guy!
No I was more thinkin it has...

It must have 2 benchs at least, Incline bench, 3 benchs for dumbell traning, cable cross, new machines for most things. plenty of treadmills,rowers. clean quality feel

Kinetic^ · 06-05-2008 11:07am

Bar Pinnacle (which I'll be joining today or tomorrow), you listed all the turd gyms in Ireland. You seemed to have missed out on using Total Fitness, Westwood or David Lloyd all of which are decent gyms.

Al_Fernz · 06-05-2008 12:23pm

OP you might want to check out Crunch in UCD. It seems to tick most of the boxes you're after.

luckysetter · 06-05-2008 11:53pm

Additions & Comments:

I know it may seem like a bit of a snob talking but if you are serious about fitness & use the gym 5 times a week spending 10 hours there... I think it is important to go and be relaxed while pushing yourself.

I have a knee injury which prevents me doing a lot of exercises standing up; so for example pinnacle is very well equipped but there isn't much space to do dumbells... there aren't many benches for dumbell training. I'm still thinking about joining.

DAVID LLOYD RIVERVIEW: IS awesome.... but prices me out with a 700 euro joining fee. 115 per month is acceptable but that joining fee is very very expensive. they have behind the bench free weight frames/machine and other similar machines which I love. Benchss.. bench for benchpress etc.. 10 min walking from my flat.

ONE ESCAPE: Has bags of space.. but not much equipment. Nice combination 150 joining fee with 1 month FREE.. also 79 euro per month. no contract.. 3 months notice though.. good but 20 min walking to harcourt st my work place

I'm gonna check out CRUNCH & All other places..

FITNESS DOCK: Near harcourt ST.. is a place to think about Cheap.. moderately equipped. I don't know.. maybe here is good.

tribulus · 07-05-2008 12:39am

Pinnacle has 3 flat benches I think as well as 2 bench stations and a hammer strength machine, loads of space for DB work.

Dragan · 07-05-2008 7:41am

Every gym will always have something about it that pisses you off.

When i was a kid i was pissed during the winter because the bars in our shed would be freezing and sometimes the plates would need to be peeled off the ground.

When i was a local gym i thought it was cramped, the staff in Westwood are morons, TF is a messy gym, UL was always full of morons...... etc etc etc

Just join a gym and ignore whatever it is that is bothering you. In my experience no gym will ever be perfect. There will always be at least a small reason to say "i wish this gym,......."

WHIP IT! · 07-05-2008 7:54am

Dragan wrote: »

Every gym will always have something about it that pisses you off.

When i was a kid i was pissed during the winter because the bars in our shed would be freezing and sometimes the plates would need to be peeled off the ground.

When i was a local gym i thought it was cramped, the staff in Westwood are morons, TF is a messy gym, UL was always full of morons...... etc etc etc

Just join a gym and ignore whatever it is that is bothering you. In my experience no gym will ever be perfect. There will always be at least a small reason to say "i wish this gym,......."

AaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaMEN!!

Kinetic^ · 07-05-2008 8:23am

luckysetter wrote: »

Additions & Comments:

I know it may seem like a bit of a snob talking but if you are serious about fitness & use the gym 5 times a week spending 10 hours there... I think it is important to go and be relaxed while pushing yourself.

I have a knee injury which prevents me doing a lot of exercises standing up; so for example pinnacle is very well equipped but there isn't much space to do dumbells... there aren't many benches for dumbell training. I'm still thinking about joining.

DAVID LLOYD RIVERVIEW: IS awesome.... but prices me out with a 700 euro joining fee. 115 per month is acceptable but that joining fee is very very expensive. they have behind the bench free weight frames/machine and other similar machines which I love. Benchss.. bench for benchpress etc.. 10 min walking from my flat.

ONE ESCAPE: Has bags of space.. but not much equipment. Nice combination 150 joining fee with 1 month FREE.. also 79 euro per month. no contract.. 3 months notice though.. good but 20 min walking to harcourt st my work place

I'm gonna check out CRUNCH & All other places..

FITNESS DOCK: Near harcourt ST.. is a place to think about Cheap.. moderately equipped. I don't know.. maybe here is good.

A friend is in Fitness Dock, from what he says it's oversubscribed......by a lot.

Anything over 60 euro per month is a rip off for a gym imo.

+1 to what Dragan said.

BaZmO* · 07-05-2008 8:46am

luckysetter wrote: »

....115 per month is acceptable.....

Really? I'd want a steak dinner and a jockey back home off the owner after each session for 115 per month. That's ridiculously expensive.

the drifter · 07-05-2008 9:07am

Dragan wrote: »

UL was always full of morons...... etc etc etc

"

Hey now wait just a minute here..........................................................................ok i got nothing UL is full of morons...but as the lads said just ignore them and train on...ive lost the head in there a few times though...

aye · 07-05-2008 9:23am

luckysetter wrote: »

DAVID LLOYD RIVERVIEW: IS awesome.... but prices me out with a 700 euro joining fee. 115 per month is acceptable but that joining fee is very very expensive. they have behind the bench free weight frames/machine and other similar machines which I love. Benchss.. bench for benchpress etc.. 10 min walking from my flat.

Awesome?? really? with such a small cramped weights section?
3 benches which are always in use every time i am there.
Riverview, great facility tennis, pool, squash all that. the actual gym section, especially the weight section is quite poor compared to the likes of TF or westwood.

gabgab · 07-05-2008 10:33am

I heard a funny stor about Limerick, lad went in that I know, he is samll but was a professional swimmer and is a machine, load of huge dudes there shouting and being twats, he asked them if they were finished, they did that ego thing and asked did he need plates removed, he politely said no I will use these thanks,

Went at his squats, much to the group of lads complete shock as they must of been convinced the weight was going to cripple him based on his size,

Would of loved to of been there,

:D

t-ha · 07-05-2008 10:53am

gabgab wrote: »

... load of huge dudes there shouting and being twats, he asked them if they were finished, they did that ego thing and asked did he need plates removed, he politely said no I will use these thanks

Obviously I wasn't there so I don't know exactly how that went down or why your friend did no warm-up sets, but in most places it's just considered good manners to strip the plates off the bar when you're done - at least down to 60kg anyway. Alot of places actually have that rule written up on the wall. I'd have asked it out of courtesy - of course I could see how someone would pick it up the wrong way if they had an inferiority thing going on, but like I say, I wasn't there.

gabgab · 07-05-2008 11:13am

I think from my recollection, the weight they were using is his warmup weight, thats why he said it was grand,

Ah yeh I agree and I strip stuff off too, but it was not the way it was asked by them, it was said in a very patronising way, that sort of hey everyone look at this because he has a big group of lads around him,

And I dont think inferiority complex had anything to do it, he just disliked the way he was spoken too and thought it was funny, it was more the bigger guys trying to show how brillaint they were, like I say, being a novice, I often find the best skilled and most efficent fella's or girls at a lot of things are the most pleasant in any walk of life,

anyway not important, just thought it was a funny anecdote

the drifter · 07-05-2008 11:26am

gabgab wrote: »

I heard a funny stor about Limerick, lad went in that I know, he is samll but was a professional swimmer and is a machine, load of huge dudes there shouting and being twats, he asked them if they were finished, they did that ego thing and asked did he need plates removed, he politely said no I will use these thanks,

Went at his squats, much to the group of lads complete shock as they must of been convinced the weight was going to cripple him based on his size,

Would of loved to of been there, :D

that happens alot in UL....

Mickk · 07-05-2008 12:17pm

luckysetter wrote: »

Additions & Comments:

I have a knee injury which prevents me doing a lot of exercises standing up; so for example pinnacle is very well equipped but there isn't much space to do dumbells... there aren't many benches for dumbell training. I'm still thinking about joining.

DAVID LLOYD RIVERVIEW: IS awesome.... but prices me out with a 700 euro joining fee. 115 per month is acceptable but that joining fee is very very expensive. they have behind the bench free weight frames/machine and other similar machines which I love. Benchss.. bench for benchpress etc.. 10 min walking from my flat.

Hi Luckysetter,
I own pinnacle gym and I know what you mean, the one thing I wish I had is more space, unfortunately rent in the city centre is just so expensive. These days the shutters onto the outside are up and it does open up the place alot. If you drive you should check out total fitness sandyford. Before they moved the weights it was probably the best gym in Ireland, when they get the layout sorted it should be great again. I wasn't impressed with David Lloyd, very small weights area for the size of the gym. They do have an elite training gym but its only open to leinster, small long room with 4-5 power racks and platforms along one wall and racks of dumbells and adj benches along the other. Now thats a proper gym.

luckysetter · 08-05-2008 10:40pm

BaZmO* wrote: »

Really? I'd want a steak dinner and a jockey back home off the owner after each session for 115 per month. That's ridiculously expensive.

I think if they are going to keep the gym quiet at all times which it appeared to be & top level 115 is a fair price....

But they could make it a lot better with a 10K investment. Not a lot for them/

Hanley · 09-05-2008 2:12am

You should start your own gym.... Seriously. You seem to have a good idea of what it takes, it might be something to consider. And at least you'd have somewhere to train that ticked all your boxes!!

Mickk · 09-05-2008 8:34am

Hanley wrote: »

You should start your own gym.... Seriously. You seem to have a good idea of what it takes, it might be something to consider. And at least you'd have somewhere to train that ticked all your boxes!!

****in hell man do you ever sleep?

Kinetic^ · 09-05-2008 9:12am

115 is an outrageous price for a gym per month. I'd want playboy bunnies drying my brow after I'd finished a set and also after my shower. I've been to see David Lloyd as I used to work beside it so I considered it up until the point when she told me the cost. If you're going to spend that amount of money, why not join 2 gyms? You could join somewhere like Pinnacle for some serious lifting and somewhere for doing your cardio.

Hanley · 09-05-2008 9:33am

Mickk wrote: »

****in hell man do you ever sleep?

I don't sleep. I wait.

(what actually happened was that it was our end of exams night out last night and I'd been so busy all day that I hadn't been online so I figured a quick check of all my regular haunts was in order)

WHIP IT! · 09-05-2008 1:23pm

Hanley wrote: »

I don't sleep. I wait.

Chuck Norris, that you?? :pac:

luckysetter · 09-05-2008 5:07pm

Hanley wrote: »

You should start your own gym.... Seriously. You seem to have a good idea of what it takes, it might be something to consider. And at least you'd have somewhere to train that ticked all your boxes!!

I joined UCD Belfield Crunch Fitness GYM for 260.

They have nearly enough things there but the problem is the people just don't keep the dumbells organised.. it is a little busy too.

If I opened or reorganised or managed a gym, I think the profits would hit the roof. I really know what I gym should have, and how they should control their traffic. For example, I've never done a class in my life.... but the best way for results would be classes. They just have to group people into classes appropriate ones & then make them come to these orbit classes leaving them free for their own workout. Everyone wants to woek with others as long as they are using similar weights. The big gyms spend too much money on stupid threadmills loads of them instead of buying 5-6 extra benchs which can be used for loads of fantastic exercises.

Clean, Wisely equipped, Spacious & Tracked(they must benchmark individuals) the mix isn't difficult.

Crunch at UCD.... has a very good oppourtunity but they are blowing it... using a tricycle advertisement isn't going to get more members...

Hanley · 09-05-2008 5:13pm

luckysetter wrote: »

If I opened or reorganised or managed a gym, I think the profits would hit the roof. I really know what I gym should have, and how they should control their traffic. For example, I've never done a class in my life.... but the best way for results would be classes. They just have to group people into classes appropriate ones & then make them come to these orbit classes leaving them free for their own workout. Everyone wants to woek with others as long as they are using similar weights. The big gyms spend too much money on stupid threadmills loads of them instead of buying 5-6 extra benchs which can be used for loads of fantastic exercises.

Lol Colm is that you??? I didn't realise you'd changed your stance on benches...

Personally I'd pick squat racks over benches but to each their own.

eclectichoney · 09-05-2008 5:20pm

Sorry first you're saying it's a little busy and then you're saying they need more members??

Malteaser! · 09-05-2008 9:32pm

luckysetter wrote: »

I joined UCD Belfield Crunch Fitness GYM for 260.

They have nearly enough things there but the problem is the people just don't keep the dumbells organised.. it is a little busy too.

If I opened or reorganised or managed a gym, I think the profits would hit the roof. I really know what I gym should have, and how they should control their traffic. For example, I've never done a class in my life.... but the best way for results would be classes. They just have to group people into classes appropriate ones & then make them come to these orbit classes leaving them free for their own workout. Everyone wants to woek with others as long as they are using similar weights. The big gyms spend too much money on stupid threadmills loads of them instead of buying 5-6 extra benchs which can be used for loads of fantastic exercises.

Clean, Wisely equipped, Spacious & Tracked(they must benchmark individuals) the mix isn't difficult.

A lot of people join gyms because they're looking to loose weight, I'd hazard a guess that that's the main reason the majority of people join. So if you're opening a gym you want to target those people coz they're going to be your biggest source of income.

It's all well and good to say that you would reduce the amount of threadmills and increase the number of benches, but you've got to ask, who will this appeal to? And how will it increase your profits? (since you've made the claim you'd put them thru the roof). I think you're approaching this from a very idealistic standpoint. You do know the best way to train (ie weights over cardio), but unfortunately popular media's ideas have infected peoples minds and they think cardio and hours on the threadmill is the only way.

Like it or not, this is what peole are looking for when they join gyms. For the ordinary punter on the street walking into a gym and seeing nothing but weights and benches, the initial reaction will probably be "oh no, home of the meatheads". It's an unfortunate sterotype, but it does exist. Also, when you look at what the likes of TF are offering (pool, LOADS of cardio machines, a good serving of resistance machines, classes et al AND a really well equipped weight room) you need to ask how you're going to stand out from the crowd. What's going to make customers come to you.

People don't mind paying €700+ for a yearly membership when they get all of the above, but if you take away 90% of that you're not going to get away with charging much. I even doubt the small class idea would work because you'd need too many instructors (generally the spin or pump and tone classes have a large number of people in them, which would be impractical with free weights). This would in turn increase wage costs without adding anything back to the bottom line. So the ideas would lose money. In addition, not everyone wants to work out at the same time or with someone. I know gyms already run classes, but for the training group idea to work they'd have to be relatively small which would probably lead to schedueling difficulties.

Of course you can come back and say that you'll save huge amounts on the cardio machines since you won't be "wasting" money on them, but I still think you'd alienate such a large percentage of your potential customer base in doing this that it would be impractical. I think your idea would work if you were doing it on a small scale like Image Gym in Swords or Hercules in the city (which btw doesn't make "profits". It's a members club for members benefit). BUT I don't think it's workable on a large scale. It would be foolish to expect OAP's, 40something mothers, 20something lads and guys hitting their midlife crisis to all be facilitated within one narrowly focused envirnoment.

I do think there'd be alot of people who in much better shape if you could achieve what you've set out, but in business, sentiment means jack sh!t.

Slutmonkey57b · 10-05-2008 8:53am

^^ +1

Classes are a great idea - the problem with classes is that you have to pay instructors and you have to keep the classes full (or close to it) all week all year. That's really not compatible with the way most gym members approach it - regimented and reliable at the start of the year, after which they all either disappear or become unreliable (never mind whether or not your trainers are reliable, which is another kettle of fish altogether). Benchmarking your classes is all well and good until a few people start missing a class here and a class there, and you're having to swap people between classes to keep them with a group of similar ability. Scheduling nightmare.

Johnny Storm · 10-05-2008 9:21am

I know nuthin' about the practicalities / economics of running a gym but it has always seemed to me that at any one time a fairly high proportion of the regularly paying members of a gym never, ever actually show up at the gym.
I.E. that if all the paying members of a gym actually started showing up a few times a week the facilities of the gym would be totally overcrowded.
Analogous to the way a bank could not give you back your money that is on "deposit" if everyone wanted it back at the same time.
True or false?

Slutmonkey57b · 10-05-2008 9:50am

True. That's why gyms are always crowded in january. It's not quite as bad as the banks in that even if all the members turn up, there'll be enough space for them spread out over the week, but at peak times, it's queueing time.

luckysetter · 12-05-2008 12:40am

Malteaser! wrote: »

A lot of people join gyms because they're looking to loose weight, I'd hazard a guess that that's the main reason the majority of people join. So if you're opening a gym you want to target those people coz they're going to be your biggest source of income.

It's all well and good to say that you would reduce the amount of threadmills and increase the number of benches, but you've got to ask, who will this appeal to? And how will it increase your profits? (since you've made the claim you'd put them thru the roof). I think you're approaching this from a very idealistic standpoint. You do know the best way to train (ie weights over cardio), but unfortunately popular media's ideas have infected peoples minds and they think cardio and hours on the threadmill is the only way.

Like it or not, this is what peole are looking for when they join gyms. For the ordinary punter on the street walking into a gym and seeing nothing but weights and benches, the initial reaction will probably be "oh no, home of the meatheads". It's an unfortunate sterotype, but it does exist. Also, when you look at what the likes of TF are offering (pool, LOADS of cardio machines, a good serving of resistance machines, classes et al AND a really well equipped weight room) you need to ask how you're going to stand out from the crowd. What's going to make customers come to you.

People don't mind paying €700+ for a yearly membership when they get all of the above, but if you take away 90% of that you're not going to get away with charging much. I even doubt the small class idea would work because you'd need too many instructors (generally the spin or pump and tone classes have a large number of people in them, which would be impractical with free weights). This would in turn increase wage costs without adding anything back to the bottom line. So the ideas would lose money. In addition, not everyone wants to work out at the same time or with someone. I know gyms already run classes, but for the training group idea to work they'd have to be relatively small which would probably lead to schedueling difficulties.

Of course you can come back and say that you'll save huge amounts on the cardio machines since you won't be "wasting" money on them, but I still think you'd alienate such a large percentage of your potential customer base in doing this that it would be impractical. I think your idea would work if you were doing it on a small scale like Image Gym in Swords or Hercules in the city (which btw doesn't make "profits". It's a members club for members benefit). BUT I don't think it's workable on a large scale. It would be foolish to expect OAP's, 40something mothers, 20something lads and guys hitting their midlife crisis to all be facilitated within one narrowly focused envirnoment.

I do think there'd be alot of people who in much better shape if you could achieve what you've set out, but in business, sentiment means jack sh!t.

I appreciate the amount of detail you've put in to analyse my statement but the fact is that 'it can be done' & I never said there shouldn't be different pricing options.

For example: I was using the BEST GYM in the UK and still was positive about personal training but was just not well off enough to commit to them. The world needs more personal trainers because we need to be fitter. And classes will make sure people get fit & make sure there are more & more members.

I paid 259 for UCD gym... but I'd pay 700-1000 if it was organised better, and they were gonna place me into appropriate groups that would help me reach all my targets.

About the treadmills... They should put people into spinning classes at different times; it is better than freelance treadmill use; it is toning, burning and social pressure ensures perfomance.

On a large scale my desire can be done, and clubs are going to have to go that way or go bust.

The reality is most large scale gyms don't make fab money; because they don't know what to sell.

I used to work in photography... and once a guy came in the store to have some prints from his negatives... he ended up buying a 2500 euro scanner. because I assured him it was he needed. the core element was. he could afford it, and it would get him to his target. my company never had a policy of pitching this 2500 euro device... because they were interested in getting a white border on the print to make an extra 50cent... they missed the actual picture though.

I haven't been to TF... but I can imagine.. that is an ideal venue... but still isn't optimising the purpose or profits.