No gym in UCD

mloc

Crunch Fitness UCD closed today, for the last time.

As of now, as far as I am aware, there is no general access gym in UCD.

It's nothing short of an embarrassment.

Any idea when the new gym in the new student centre will be up and running?

graduate

What's embarrassing about it? UCD not having enough money for library books or tutorials is an embarrassment.

Dublin is full of gyms and they are not that busy.

beardedmaster

New gym is open at the end of June.

WeeBushy

As beardedmaster said, the new gym is opening opening next month. Hardly an embarrassment.

mloc

It's totally unacceptable that the largest university in Ireland does not have a functional gym.

beardedmaster

mloc wrote: »

It's totally unacceptable that the largest university in Ireland does not have a functional gym.

For less than two months? At the very end of the second Semester, a very off-peak time? Just before huge, free, new student centre building, packed with facilities is about to open?

If you say so I guess..

spudington16

mloc wrote: »

It's totally unacceptable that the largest university in Ireland does not have a functional gym.

Do you get what a university actually does? How about focusing on the services it does have, rather than the absence of one non-core part of its functioning, which in any case will only be gone for a matter of weeks? Here's a little something to make life easier for you...

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=gyms+south+dublin

AodhDub

It's not great I agree. In the middle of exams the gym can be quite good for relieving some stress now that most of the clubs have stopped their training. We'll just have to settle with going for a run on the atheltics tra...oh.

A bog standard run on the grass will have to do for now it appears.

Raphael

The likely reason Crunch fitness closed now is because they won't get enough business between now and June to justify keeping the lights on. Campus is a hell of a lot quieter over the summer (it's awesome), and the postgrads and staff that'll be around are most likely not the people using an oncampus gym, for the most part.

There'll be a free, brand new one open at the end of June - as people have said, 2 months in the summer without a gym isn't even remotely a big deal.

mloc

Raphael wrote: »

The likely reason Crunch fitness closed now is because they won't get enough business between now and June to justify keeping the lights on. Campus is a hell of a lot quieter over the summer (it's awesome), and the postgrads and staff that'll be around are most likely not the people using an oncampus gym, for the most part.

There'll be a free, brand new one open at the end of June - as people have said, 2 months in the summer without a gym isn't even remotely a big deal.

I just don't understand how college authorities didn't manage to plan for this. There are in reality very few alternatives close by to UCD that offer a membership of duration two months or so.

OneOfThem Stumbled

mloc wrote: »

I just don't understand how college authorities didn't manage to plan for this. There are in reality very few alternatives close by to UCD that offer a membership of duration two months or so.

It won't kill you. :pac:

WoollyRedHat

You'd swear he was training for the olympics and was using Crunch gym.

Blut2

WoollyRedHat wrote: »

You'd swear he was training for the olympics and was using Crunch gym.

Plenty of UCD students play sports (football and rugby most notably) or athletics to a high level. You can say "ah shure its only 2 months, youll manage like" but its still a complete disgrace for such a large university to not have any gym available for any length of time. When added to the tearing up of the running track it just shows a complete lack of respect for any athletes in UCD.

Maldesu

The gym build went over schedule as far as I remember. Crunch agreed to stay on for a limited time. The alternative was that you had no gym.
For the most part, students who used the gym will probably return home with only a fraction staying in the area - keeping it open isn't in their interest.

Replacing the track isn't feasible right now and probably won't be replaced for some time. It's not high on the priority list as the few track users are not considered more important as the student body as a whole.

WoollyRedHat

Blut2 wrote: »

Plenty of UCD students play sports (football and rugby most notably) or athletics to a high level. You can say "ah shure its only 2 months, youll manage like" but its still a complete disgrace for such a large university to not have any gym available for any length of time. When added to the tearing up of the running track it just shows a complete lack of respect for any athletes in UCD.

I understand that, I aprpeciate that... but is the season not over for such teams. Surely there is a gym that is offering two month membership or what have you in Dublin.In fact, I think a gym in Donnybrook is doing just that from what I can remember. I think disgrace is harsh, is it ideal? No. But considering the reason it's closing down, to be replaced by a state of the art student centre, with an olympic pool, well I think people will appreciate the wait. When the new gym and pool are done, correct me if I'm wrong someone, but UCD will have the best facilities in the country.
I agree with you about atheletic track though.

HavingCrack

Ben Dunne Gym in Sandyford allows you to pay by the month. Pretty cheap as well. There's also that Friarsland gym on the Clonskeagh Road than allows monthly subscriptions as far as I know.

mloc

HavingCrack wrote: »

There's also that Friarsland gym

It closed down a few months back.

Blut2

WoollyRedHat wrote: »

I understand that, I aprpeciate that... but is the season not over for such teams. Surely there is a gym that is offering two month membership or what have you in Dublin.In fact, I think a gym in Donnybrook is doing just that from what I can remember. I think disgrace is harsh, is it ideal? No. But considering the reason it's closing down, to be replaced by a state of the art student centre, with an olympic pool, well I think people will appreciate the wait. When the new gym and pool are done, correct me if I'm wrong someone, but UCD will have the best facilities in the country.
I agree with you about atheletic track though.

The season isnt over for every athlete. And beyond that, anyone who participates at a decent level will be training year round, making it somewhat irrelevant if its in-season or out of season.

Its also not really about the practicalities of other gyms existing in the area, or whats going to follow the closure, its more about what having massively reduced facilities on campus says about long-term planning in UCD. If I was a 17 year old prospective international student researching multiple universities and I saw the disaster that is UCD's sporting facilities this year it would certainly make me ask questions about how the college is run.

Admittedly a lot of other areas of UCD are just as badly managed, generally one has to be a current student to gain first hand experience of admin/various faculties/the library etc though. The gym/running track situation is one thats highly visible to the outside world and as such really is disgraceful.

WeeBushy

mloc wrote: »

I just don't understand how college authorities didn't manage to plan for this. There are in reality very few alternatives close by to UCD that offer a membership of duration two months or so.

Flyefit in Ranelagh is €29 a month, can sign up monthly. Done. And its better than the dump that was Crunch.

Crunch is a business, they had planned to stay open until the end of April as that was when the new place was due to open but it ran over a small bit. It would not be in their interest to stay open as very few people would sign up for the two months. Most will have gone home.

UCD are about to open one of the best sports facilities in Ireland, give em a break! Is it ideal? No. Is it really that big a deal? No.

Raphael

mloc wrote: »

It closed down a few months back.

Seriously? Huh, Looked to be doing fine last time I was in there (~2 months ago)

mloc

Raphael wrote: »

Seriously? Huh, Looked to be doing fine last time I was in there (~2 months ago)

Yeah, my mom and sister were members and it's apparently wrapped up business recently.

asdf1234

mloc wrote: »

It's totally unacceptable that the largest university in Ireland does not have a functional gym.

You think thats bad - the largest ice cream shop in the world doesn't even have a ****ing library!

IveSeenFire

I saw there was some large viewing opening to alumni on Sunday- does anyone know if it's actually open now though?

delta_bravo

Ring them but I believe it's opening today

IveSeenFire

delta_bravo wrote: »

Ring them but I believe it's opening today

Thanks man

bnt

It is open today - I've been in, had a quick tour, and have an appointment for a fitness assessment later today. You have to fill in a standard application form first (health & safety), then after you've had a look around you can say Yay or Nay. Current students may use it at no charge till September.

I hope the air conditioning is good there - it looks like it will turn in to a greenhouse when the sun shines, with all the heat from the machines and people working out. It's a "green" building, so I expect they'll use all that hot air to heat the pool. :cool:

errlloyd

IveSeenFire wrote: »

delta_bravo wrote: »

Ring them but I believe it's opening today

Thanks man

Just back, open 6am-11pm. Still ambiguity over the cost, myself and a friend got in free, but another friend got charged a short time later... may i also add, its ****ing incredible.

IveSeenFire

errlloyd wrote: »

IveSeenFire wrote: »

delta_bravo wrote: »

Ring them but I believe it's opening today

Thanks man

Just back, open 6am-11pm. Still ambiguity over the cost, myself and a friend got in free, but another friend got charged a short time later... may i also add, its ****ing incredible.

Haha I'm going in now. Sounds like it was worth the wait!

Do you just need your student card to get in?

errlloyd

AdamD wrote: »

Do you just need your student card to get in?

Presumably normally you do, but today a student number seemed to suffice.

WeeBushy

The swipe system isn't functioning yet, it will be working by Wednesday they said. So for the moment you just fill out the form and use your copy of that over the next few days to enter.

I must say the gym disappointed me a little. It's fairly standard. I was expecting it to be better. Granted they are still waiting on some more equipment and weights, but it was still only grand. Similar to any other gym. I was expecting bigger things tbh.

The pool is immense, however, and the whole building is really really nice, but I was a bit underwhelmed by the content of gym.

errlloyd

WeeBushy wrote: »

The pool is immense, however, and the whole building is really really nice, but I was a bit underwhelmed by the contents of gym.

Yeah the Gym and debate chamber are both pretty disappointing. The rest of the building is sweet. I dunno how much time you spent in the jacuzzi area, but i cant work out how they ever economically justified the small mountain of crushed ice, the scented showers and the two seat jacuzzi.

WeeBushy

errlloyd wrote: »

Yeah the Gym and debate chamber are both pretty disappointing. The rest of the building is sweet. I dunno how much time you spent in the jacuzzi area, but i cant work out how they ever economically justified the small mountain of crushed ice, the scented showers and the two seat jacuzzi.

Didn't check out the jacuzzi. They should have forgone the crushed ice and bought some feckin clips for the olympic bars in the gym, they have none!

I asked one of the guys who works there what the story was and he said the order hadn't come in yet. But its a bit ridiculous, head down to Elvery's and pick up a set for a tenner - its stupid/dangerous not having any.

But I don't want to be completely negative, it's a very cool building.

mloc

I'm off to have a look now!

RMD

The gym is good but for a university of 24,000 students who have free access it is far too small. 2 racks and a fairly small selection of weights just doesn't cut it for a university of that size. I head to college early each morning (usually there by 8.30) so I'd assume it's quiet then but for those who plan to go during the day and want to use free weights, they could find themselves waiting quite a while.

Also the lack of clips is ridiculous albeit short term I'd assume. All it takes is someone to lift to heavy, lose their control of the bar and off goes a plate or 2. Serious injury potential which could be rectified as said by a quick trip to Elverys. The building as a whole though is seriously impressive.

LifesaverNiall

Id say itll be the opposite.. I can see it being fairly busy in the morning.. i plan on getting up early and heading to the gym and for a swim before lectures anyway..

errlloyd

LifesaverNiall wrote: »

Id say itll be the opposite.. I can see it being fairly busy in the morning.. i plan on getting up early and heading to the gym and for a swim before lectures anyway..

Yeah, i can see myself heading in for 8am so I get parking for the day, then using the gym between then and my lectures.

WeeBushy

Had clips for the bars this morning. Happy days.

[Jackass]

I reckon I'd be using it in the evenings, hopefully a quiter time of day, after lectures and hopefully many people gone on the piss. Looking forward to seeing it.

bnt

If I have one complaint so far, it's that there's almost no space for weights and general exercises such as stretching. A lot of machines, but the machines are fancy. Bring a USB key with some music, plug it and some headphones in to the machine: you can play the music on the machine while getting audio alerts through the headphones. You can also save your workout data to the key afterwards and upload it to LifeFitness to track it.

RMD

[Jackass] wrote: »

I reckon I'd be using it in the evenings, hopefully a quiter time of day, after lectures and hopefully many people gone on the piss. Looking forward to seeing it.

Students can't use the gym between 6.15PM and 8.15PM due to it being peak time.

LifesaverNiall

bnt wrote: »

You can also save your workout data to the key afterwards and upload it to LifeFitness to track it.

Thats kinda cool.. might be a bit of a hassle though if youre waiting for a machine and someones there not using it but saving their data or doing something else..

mloc

RMD wrote: »

Students can't use the gym between 6.15PM and 8.15PM due to it being peak time.

This is madness, especially for postgraduate research students like myself who are generally working/studying until after 6pm.

stop

mloc wrote: »

This is madness, especially for postgraduate research students like myself who are generally working/studying until after 6pm.

Yeah but for the place to be viable they need to attract full fee paying members who are paying €800.

Mardy Bum

stop wrote: »

Yeah but for the place to be viable they need to attract full fee paying members who are paying €800.

Its actually just another way to shaft students and make a tiny bit of money relatively compared with the amount 22000 students will pay. UCD is run on margins and students are but a second thought. How many people will be arsed paying an extortionate amount for a gym that they are aware 22000 people are members of? I can't see UCD attracting many outside members.

LifesaverNiall

Mardy Bum wrote: »

I can't see UCD attracting many outside members.

Which will be good.. they might cut that down to only an hour when they realise the place is just empty then.. theyll be a bit more lenient towards people who try to chance their arm aswell if the place is empty..

WeeBushy

Mardy Bum wrote: »

Its actually just another way to shaft students and make a tiny bit of money relatively compared with the amount 22000 students will pay. UCD is run on margins and students are but a second thought. How many people will be arsed paying an extortionate amount for a gym that they are aware 22000 people are members of? I can't see UCD attracting many outside members.

Students aren't really being shafted, they get access to a fantastic facility for €150 (€250 with the pool). You won't find value like that anywhere else. And to have a couple of hours concession so that they can fund the place it quite reasonable imo.

The money they get in from private members will be very significant. It will add up to almost a million a year.

Mardy Bum

WeeBushy wrote: »

Students aren't really being shafted, they get access to a fantastic facility for €150 (€250 with the pool). You won't find value like that anywhere else. And to have a couple of hours concession so that they can fund the place it quite reasonable imo.

The money they get in from private members will be very significant. It will add up to almost a million a year.

Of course you won't find better value anywhere else because it has been paid for by students for the past eight or nine years, the large majority of which will gain no value from its existence. If the case was otherwise I could understand a higher price and need for extra custom.

Chucky the tree

WeeBushy wrote: »

Students aren't really being shafted, they get access to a fantastic facility for €150 (€250 with the pool). You won't find value like that anywhere else. And to have a couple of hours concession so that they can fund the place it quite reasonable imo.

The money they get in from private members will be very significant. It will add up to almost a million a year.

lol, it's gone up €150 already? What a joke.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056662759

LifesaverNiall

I think the €150 is our reg fee and then the extra €100 for the pool bringing the total to €250...
yes?

errlloyd

Chucky the tree wrote: »

WeeBushy wrote: »

Students aren't really being shafted, they get access to a fantastic facility for €150 (€250 with the pool). You won't find value like that anywhere else. And to have a couple of hours concession so that they can fund the place it quite reasonable imo.

The money they get in from private members will be very significant. It will add up to almost a million a year.

lol, it's gone up €150 already? What a joke.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056662759

Hold on, nothing is 150. The levy has increased to 188, its not optional. The pool membership is still 100.

Lads the place is wonderful. Were gonna have a cinema showing normal films 6 wks after release for like 2e. Gonna have an unreal, and i mean unreal theatre and we have one of three olympic pools in Ireland.

Ive been in 7am the last two mornings and there are either lots of paying staff, or lots of private members, cause it aint students.