New Gym Layout, whats your view?

Boston

So apparently the new layout is final. When they said they were adding more space for weights they actually meant for weight machines not free weights. The area has supposedly been "professionally designed".

Problems I have with it

• Free weights area is actually smaller then before. You used to have people doing free weights from one end of the gym to the other and if machines weren't in use then people could use that space for free weights.
• They removed the free standing bench press area. This area was used for a combination of bench presses, deadlifts, and military presses or variations there of. Now people are using the single squat rack for all these exercises.
• They removed a squat rack and replaced it with this kieser bollix. Now I've used the kieser machines in the past and can have a roll to play, but they won't replace youe squats, deadlifts or benches.
• Theres a complete lack of understanding the resistance "elite" weight lifters have to using machines. Yes you can pack more machines in for a given area then you can free weights, but they're not interchangeable, I'm not going to switch from doing the squat to feicing about on some inclined press.
• The place is cramped for the space it has. So cramped its dangerous in fact. I've stopped using the gym because it has such a horrible vibe, if there's five people using the weights then you're on top of each other.

As you can tell, I couldn't care less about the cardio stuff. They should dump half of it out and to make room.

Anyway, opinions?

Jock Strap

You've listed only problems, in your opinion, as a result of the change around. Have you anything positive to add?

Boston

Well, I've more free time now that the gym has been rendered useless.

Note:

They're closing the mens changing rooms this week and maybe next week as well due to structural problems.

Jock Strap

Boston wrote: »

Well, I've more free time now that the gym has been rendered useless.

More time to piss about on boards, no doubt!



Also, they can't please everyone.

amacachi

Changing rooms closed? FFS. Less free weights sounds like a bollocks as well.

Boston

yea, you'll have to use the ones down stairs which have basically no showers.

cruizer101

Wait do you mean have to go down to the ones in swimming pool area?

I don't used the weights much tbh, mainly rowing and elliptic, but I agree the gym is too packed, if they had a decent track around campus they could get rid of half the treadmills anyway.

Futurism

Haven't had a look yet but I'm not happy about the free weights.
I had hoped there would be enough of them. Only one squat rack?
I strolled into the place the other day and saw nothing of use, and ended up leaving confused.

Can anybody tell me if there are many people in the gym from 10 - 12?

GlasnevinRed

The changing rooms are closed due to flooding afaik.

Not really too fussed with the new layout, only ever use the bikes and treadmills etc so no problems there.

oceanclub

The place is a f**cking disaster:

* Men's changing room is closed due to a leak. So they're now trying to get everyone to change in the wet changing room, which means the entire area is saturated in muddy water you're meant to tread through in bare feet. Why you would bother showering before you do this, I don't know. There's barely any room to put your stuff and the lockers are two floors up. Oh, and there's a confusing "Staff Only" notice which means people who aren't familar with the area end up milling outside it, wondering if they're meant to strip off in a corridor.

* There's several leaks in the main gym, including a huge hole in the ceiling.

* There's some new-fangled pneumatic Smith machine that has been sitting there for, what, 2 months, taking up a large proportion of the free weights area, wrapped in tape. Any question about when it will be ready is greeted by "next week". Similar with the "normal" Smith machine beside it, which is hardly ever used.

Meanwhile, the two squat racks are hogged by guys doing supersets who get irate when you point out that using a machine for an hour is pretty unreasonable. Oh, and mention this to the staff and they'll say "oh, I was just about to do something" followed with "why don't you use the Smith machine, it's safer", an answer that should get any fitness trainer disqualified.

* No signs with rules for the free weights area (de-rack after your exercises, stack your weight back, don't leave dumbells all over the place, maximum of <n> minutes on racks.

I've given up putting notes in the suggestion box; I presume they're only used for plugging yet more leaks.

P.

Larianne

Haven't been in but had a quick look and was disappointed at size of free weight area. I don't do a big mad work out but I like doing a few weights.

When are the quieter times to go at? Looks like you'd be nearly falling over people if busy.

Boston

It mainly fluctuates between 70% and 200% capacity. If you're in there more then an hour changes are you'll hit one of the 4 busy periods.

8am - 9.30

12:45-2pm

5pm - 7pm

8pm - close

Futurism

Boston wrote: »

It mainly fluctuates between 70% and 200% capacity. If you're in there more then an hour changes are you'll hit one of the 4 busy periods.

8am - 9.30

12:45-2pm

5pm - 7pm

8pm - close

Thanks. Looks like I'll be alright - didn't want to make a show of myself lifting small weights.

GodlikeRed

The heat in the basement changing rooms is unreal, almost like a sauna.
Total 'mare going down there to shower and change.

Larianne

Think I shall be giving it a go then tomorrow. I've LOADS of hours to kill.

How much are the locks and do you have to buy them or bring your own. (sorry OT)

RD77

If I want to start going to the gym is it possible to have showers? Where are they? Men's changing rooms? (after flooding fixed)

Marathon Man

I'm just wondering why the so-called 'improvements' to the gym were implemented. They ruined it imo. The weights area is so cramped now.
It was way better last year.
Anybody know?

Tar.Aldarion

Glad I wasn't around to see this better gym, I'd be pissed off. Not much free when I was there so just went running/cyclying/rowing.

Didn't know where to go to change, dowstairs was confusing. When is the mens changing rooms open again?
So best time to go is 2-5?

Nietzschean

either 9:30 - 11:45 or roughly 2 - 5 tends to be the best, but it varys all of the place...

and i agree Boston, i've more or less given up on using it...its just dark and cramped trying to use the free weights now.... gone in there a few times since the change but i've always left quick enough. Feel like i'm standing ontop of people....

and another peeve is the lack of mirrors near the free weights, was very handy when doing things like squats for ensuring one has the correct form....

Becky_Boo

Larianne wrote: »

How much are the locks and do you have to buy them or bring your own. (sorry OT)

The locks are 10 quid, you can get away with using your own one though but it mighn't necessarily fit the locker.
As far as the gym goes, where did all the rowing machines go...i was sure there was more of them last year and also could do with more actual bikes, not the ones that look like chairs (with the backs) or the spinning ones. Personally I don't use the weights downstairs, the Keiser room is good enough for me.

Gloom

*Still hasn't set foot in the gym*

I think I was warned not to go in there for a while (by Boson(?) ?.

€12 thing sounds good. LC has made me soft!

Marathon Man

Is there anything that can be done? Lots of posts in the suggestion box? I'm considering joining somewhere else.
Last year was brill- lots of space for everyone. Now they have a useless beginners area. Someone will be injured in that cramped space soon i reckon.

oceanclub

Anyone know has it improved this week? Any sign of the men's locker room reopening? Have they even started work on it?

REPSOC1916

How long are the changing rooms out of action for? Frankly its a complete crock that we have to use those purgetory changing rooms in the swimming pool.

The whole set-up in the gym is a disaster. Also has anyone else noticed that they've gotten rid of some of the bikes and have added more treadmills?

Edwardius

The lack of space is ridiculous, it's almost impossible to do oly lifts in there now. That big keiser spaceship thing can be used as a normal power rack though so it's not all bad. They need more pullup bars too. Three ain't enough, especially since the non-assisted one doubles as a cable thing. I think there's just not enough space for what they want to do with it. Still though, it's decent for what I pay.

thebossanova

Ive avoided the place since the mens changing rooms were closed but was planing on going this week... Are the changing rooms still ****ing closed!?:mad:

Futurism

Weights section is definitely too small and changing is a hassle.

Anyway, how big is the Fitness Studio? Boxing training is moved there for tomorrow. I thought it was to small for that.

oceanclub

I rang today and they said that the men's changing room would be finished by this week, hope that's right!

P.

Aldito

The changing room set up is an absolute joke. The building is only what, 3 years old?

The showers downstairs are just useless, you come out sweatier than you go in. The changing room by the pool can fit around 8 people, I was in there this week and there was pretty much two people getting changed per bag space, it was a joke.

As for the new gym setup, last year's was far better. They spent about 6 weeks over the Summer with the weights area around half the size it is at the moment, just to extend the gym by about 10 sqm, and have a "beginner area" which is just a treadmill and a bench. Madness. And as for that Keiser machine, takes up half the weights area.

I really miss the bench press racks, because now you have to do them on the squat racks or the smith machine, which is hardly ideal, and usually very busy.

Torque

i think everyone should put a few suggestions in the suggestion box . i wonder if they'd listen to about 30 odd people all suggesting the same thing.

Lame Lantern

So hang on, the men's locker room has been closed for the last week? I have friends that have been walking around with gym bags on their backs telling me they just came from a workout every time I've run into them since term began. I need to know fewer arseholes.

Aldito

Torque wrote: »

i think everyone should put a few suggestions in the suggestion box . i wonder if they'd listen to about 30 odd people all suggesting the same thing.

I think I'll put a piece of paper with a link to this thread in, that would be easier.

Jack Sheehan

Can anyone tell me what the Pool is like in there. I'm thinking of taking up swimming again and I want to know when it will be packed.

Aldito

Lame Lantern wrote: »

So hang on, the men's locker room has been closed for the last week? I have friends that have been walking around with gym bags on their backs telling me they just came from a workout every time I've run into them since term began. I need to know fewer arseholes.

Yeah the upstairs ones are, meaning everyone has to use the swimming pool changing rooms downstairs. So no you're friends aren't lying about using the gym

Lame Lantern wrote: »

Can anyone tell me what the Pool is like in there. I'm thinking of taking up swimming again and I want to know when it will be packed.

Yeah it's good, 25m long nice and airy, nice temperature, decent steam and sauna rooms.
Here's the lanes timetable:

http://www.tcd.ie/Sport/2009.pdf/pooltimetable28sept.pdf

Marathon Man

Torque wrote: »

i think everyone should put a few suggestions in the suggestion box . i wonder if they'd listen to about 30 odd people all suggesting the same thing.

I for one am doing this on Monday. But we have to be clear- its nothing to do with the changing arrangements- that is a temporary problem. There is deffo room. All they have to do is get in more rubber floor and remove those spinning bikes that nobody uses.
Its common sense really. I saw a guy nearly get a barbell in the head off somebody deadlifting (he was on a bench) on friday. Someone will be hurt.
What seemed like a good idea during the summer with no team training- rugby guys for e.g. being around, is now a shambles with casual users and sports people all competing for less space than before.
Maybe eliminate the beginners area and put in 2 more racks instead.

RD77

Sorry about this just want to make sure! My first time to the gym in the morning where are the changing rooms and showers? Do you have to use that small area down at the swimming pool where there are barriers to change and shower?

oceanclub

Just to note that the upstairs changing rooms will be open Mon - Fri, 5pm to 10pm but without shower facilities. I guess that's something at least.

P.

swingking

I was swimming today in the sports centre but I noticed that there were loads of people using the gym who were also changing in the swimming pool mens changing rooms. It became extremely packed and just wrong. WTF is going on there?

Iamcharlie

swingking wrote: »

I was swimming today in the sports centre but I noticed that there were loads of people using the gym who were also changing in the swimming pool mens changing rooms. It became extremely packed and just wrong. WTF is going on there?

Perhaps they were fondling eachother lol.

Jonathan

Threads Merged.

Futurism

I almost killed some poor guy whilst doing deadlifts the other day.

Lame Lantern

Futurism wrote: »

I almost killed some poor guy whilst doing deadlifts the other day.

Yeah, went in to have a look around today and the whole free weights section looks like a disaster waiting to happen.* There's not enough room for more than a couple of people working with barbells at a time.

I suspect they want to encourage people to work more with the resistance machines for safety's sake. Most of the denizens of trinity's gym work out very casually so might not be the most outrageous move in the world, but it's certainly annoying.



or should I say weighting to happen. Sorry.

irishbran77

I know it's quite off-topic and probably makes me look like a grumpy crank but does anyone else find some of the gym staff to be rude? I normally never bother much with how people act and whether people or rude or not but these last few weeks I've found one or two of the people in that place to be verging on obnoxious.

If people disagree I'll gladly keep an open mind the next time I deal with them in there!

tabouli

irishbran77 wrote: »

I know it's quite off-topic and probably makes me look like a grumpy crank but does anyone else find some of the gym staff to be rude? I normally never bother much with how people act and whether people or rude or not but these last few weeks I've found one or two of the people in that place to be verging on obnoxious.

If people disagree I'll gladly keep an open mind the next time I deal with them in there!

I was in there once last year trying to go to training in the Ancilliary Hall, it was my first time ever being in the place and I hadn't a clue where the hall was so I asked the woman at the desk for directions. She was unbelievably ignorant and told me that I'd obviously made a mistake and under no circumstances was I to go near the hall incase I disturbed whatever club she said was using it.

I wouldn't have minded only I came back an hour later to find that I'd missed the training because of her.

Boston

tabouli wrote: »

I was in there once last year trying to go to training in the Ancilliary Hall, it was my first time ever being in the place and I hadn't a clue where the hall was so I asked the woman at the desk for directions. She was unbelievably ignorant and told me that I'd obviously made a mistake and under no circumstances was I to go near the hall incase I disturbed whatever club she said was using it.

I wouldn't have minded only I came back an hour later to find that I'd missed the training because of her.

If you go in looking like a lost sheep one or two of them will take the opportunity show off the chip they have of their shoulder. I'd put money on which one of them you're talking about.

That said, I've got on very well with the two duty managers down the years who have gone out of their way to help me out. Theres also a number of extremely helpful sports helper people around the place.

irishbran77

Boston wrote: »

If you go in looking like a lost sheep one or two of them will take the opportunity show off the chip they have of their shoulder. I'd put money on which one of them you're talking about.

That said, I've got on very well with the two duty managers down the years who have gone out of their way to help me out. Theres also a number of extremely helpful sports helper people around the place.

Boston, I agree completely. I think it's really mostly down to one individual who has been there for decades (or so it would seem!). But some of the others in there are among the friendliest I've met in Dublin gyms. It's a strange mix...

oceanclub

I've never found them actively rude, just completely unknowledgable. The fact that one started recommending a Smith machine to me over using a rack by saying it was safer and the fact she didn't appear to understand when I meant when I said they can cause chronic problems, appalled me.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_machine#Controversy

P.

Boston

The sports department and DUCAC are strongly pushing the smith machine. I listened to their brainwashing spiel at one stage and I guess some of the propaganda has sunk in. Notice that you'll never see the sports staff who train use the thing for squatting or benching.

oceanclub

Boston wrote: »

The sports department and DUCAC are strongly pushing the smith machine. I listened to their brainwashing spiel at one stage and I guess some of the propaganda has sunk in. Notice that you'll never see the sports staff who train use the thing for squatting or benching.

Any idea why? Do they sincerely think it's safer?

When my wife started the gym, they had her doing those ridiculous squats where you roll a rubber ball up and down against a wall with your back. Maybe they're getting payola from rubber ball manufacturers.

P.

Boston

oceanclub wrote: »

Any idea why? Do they sincerely think it's safer?

They are safer, you're far less likely to drop a weight on some else or yourself. You can exercise without a spotter. Besides that, the people who ok the equipment are have bought into the whole resistance machine circuit line and that free weights are bad, the smith machine must seem like a perfect balance of both worlds to them.

oceanclub wrote: »

When my wife started the gym, they had her doing those ridiculous squats where you roll a rubber ball up and down against a wall with your back. Maybe they're getting payola from rubber ball manufacturers.

P.

Thats actually a great exercise for someone starting out and to learn proper technique while maintaining balance. You're not meant to trade in your squat bar for a rubber ball, its just a starter.

It's been months since I squatted and that fuking sucks.

oceanclub

Boston wrote: »

They are safer, you're far less likely to drop a weight on some else or yourself. You can exercise without a spotter. Besides that, the people who ok the equipment are have bought into the whole resistance machine circuit line and that free weights are bad, the smith machine must seem like a perfect balance of both worlds to them.

Safer only for catatrophic failures. Far unsafer in the long run (I should know, I used to use one for squats and wondered why I was having bad shoulder problems - stopping using Smith machines and most of that problem went away).

Thats actually a great exercise for someone starting out and to learn proper technique while maintaining balance.

But I don't see how you can learn proper techique _without_ learning how to balance. I can only see this exercise encouraging people to progress to heavier weights, thinking they know how to squat, and then when they try a real unsupported squat, find that either their back is too weak or they are not relying on pushing through their heels rather than through their toes.

P.