Quiet Times at Gym...?

WetDaddy

I'm thinking of joining the gym as a graduate, but am curious about the busy periods. I would only be using it during the week and almost certainly between the hours of 10 and 4.

I'd probably be doing all around weights / machine training and possibly the treadmill (if the weather's bad outside). Does anyone know if these times are typically busy or not? I wouldn't even be using the shower / changing room as I'd be changing / showering in my office afterwards.

Thanks in advance!

UnholyGregor

WetDaddy wrote: »

between the hours of 10 and 4.

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTG3mEZuzW7KmAMMSOF2o8vuPIfPhwztqIrgBLQrjUbWc34ZhmR
this picture describes tcd gym at those hours better than any words can...

10am isnt tooooo bad, but it starts filling up around then, fast...

WetDaddy

Oh dear

So, are they pretty much the WORST times for busy-ness? What would be considered the best times?

Thanks for the reply!

stealinhorses

Today, on a Saturday, between 12:30 and 13:30 the gym looked like the picture posted above. It's not any better during the week, especially if the rugby guys come in, as they usually work out in groups of at least 5.

They also got rid of one of the squat racks now, so queues are starting to set up to do squats/bench, etc.

Any time before 12:00 should be manageable. However, one Tuesday at about 11:00, I counted 33 people just on the weights. That was during the academic year though :P

UnholyGregor

stealinhorses wrote: »

They also got rid of one of the squat racks now, so queues are starting to set up to do squats/bench, etc.

what the ****. you serious? jesus, what now, more room for the 60kg monsters to do bicep curls? jesus that gym is a disaster

stealinhorses

Yeah, I'm not sure what the deal is. At first I thought they are replacing it (it's the one beside the leg press machine), but no sign of a new rack for about a week now...

MrPain

stealinhorses wrote: »

Yeah, I'm not sure what the deal is. At first I thought they are replacing it (it's the one beside the leg press machine), but no sign of a new rack for about a week now...

They are planning on replacing it with one that takes up less room since no one ever used it's keiser functionality. They are also getting in a "few other things".
Shame they could not wait till they got the new one to get rid of the old one though.

hangover14

How busy is the gym after 5/6PM? Also, does anyone know what the "fitness centre" at Trinity Hall is like? Are there any weights or weight machines?

Jonnykitedude

OP how about you pop down and ask for a tour during the times above?

hangover14

I would but I live across the pond haha

fishtastico

This is the main problem with requiring every student to join the gym; plenty decide to get their money's worth and pack the place out! Not a fan of 4-5 lads using the same piece of equipment at a time. It really slows things down with all the chatting.

GodlikeRed

The size of that the weight & weight machine section in the gym is tiny, the floor space for the gym is just too small and should have been maximised rather that letting it over look the pool.

fishtastico wrote: »

This is the main problem with requiring every student to join the gym; plenty decide to get their money's worth and pack the place out!

Relatively few people use the gym in comparsion with membership. IMO considering the size of the sports centre, they should have made the gym bigger and not leave so much of dead space (i.e reception area is HUGE)

Rainbow CatMagic

If you know how to swap excercises to get the same or similar movements in, you should never find yourself waiting around to use equipment. Unless you're doing squats.

There's still 3 pull up bars, 5-6 barbells, plenty of floor space if you're willing to forgo a cushy floor mat and more than enough free weights.

UnholyGregor

Rainbow CatMagic wrote: »

If you know how to swap excercises to get the same or similar movements in, you should never find yourself waiting around to use equipment. Unless you're doing squats.

There's still 3 pull up bars, 5-6 barbells, plenty of floor space if you're willing to forgo a cushy floor mat and more than enough free weights.

5 or 6 barbells are useless if theres only room for 2 people in the gym to deadlift at the most at any one time. there's no power rack, so you cannot bench heavy without a spotter. and there's only one of each dumbell weight. so if somebody's using the 30's, you have to wait til theyre finished to use them.

Eg; you want to do dumbell flat bench. You have to ask the guy using the 30's if he's nearly finished, then he gives you the dumbells after his set. Then you need to find a free bench after that. Its a lot of hastle just for one exercise

Rainbow CatMagic

So learn how to do one-arm pushups, or planche pushups. That's what I mean by swapping exercises.

I want to re-word my previous comment as well. Deadlifts are the only exercise you can't properly substitute with a bodyweight excercise. Squats can be replaced with pistol squats or sissy squats.

stealinhorses

Yeah, but you're going to the gym in order to use the barbell. You can do pistol squats at home, but you go to the gym in order to use the equipment and there isn't enough space to do that.

UnholyGregor

Rainbow CatMagic wrote: »

So learn how to do one-arm pushups, or planche pushups. That's what I mean by swapping exercises.

I want to re-word my previous comment as well. Deadlifts are the only exercise you can't properly substitute with a bodyweight excercise. Squats can be replaced with pistol squats or sissy squats.

so, what youre saying is, that i need to change my workout and try find the next best exercises to replace my programmed ones, due to a lack of space and/or equipment in the college gym. sounds cool.

Rainbow CatMagic

Well first, you should'nt assume you're current program is the best one, apart from doing deadlifts and squats.
Second, mixing up excercises is good because you keep forcing muscles to work together in different ways.
Third, it's a college gym.. and for €70 a year it's unreasonable to expect it to be as accomadating as a €400 a year gym. (I know it's €70 from every student on campus but it's still plenty of bang for your buck)

UnholyGregor

Rainbow CatMagic wrote: »

Well first, you should'nt assume you're current program is the best one, apart from doing deadlifts and squats.
Second, mixing up excercises is good because you keep forcing muscles to work together in different ways.

clutching at straws.
either way, the gym is a joke during term time, which is what this thread is about. And the routine im doing, though irrelevant, is definitely better than some substitute home workout callisthenics routine...