Towel-less gym goers

Huckster

I started going to a Ben Dunne gym in Dublin and am getting to grips with gym etiquette and whatnot. This morning I was on an exercise bike (the one with backs on them... excuse the lack of terminology!) when the girl beside me, sweating profusely, just got up and left hers without wiping it down. It was then that I realised she had no hand towel and I felt pretty grossed out as I watched her go from machine to machine sweating her butt off and simply hopping onto the next one. I mentioned this to a member of staff, and they seemed rather miffed that I was bringing it to their attention. I said it in a pretty reasonable way, saying that I don't mean to be a whinge, but there's a girl in a green t-shirt without a hand towel and it's pretty gross for the other gym users.

Was I wrong to point this out? Do people normally wait for staff to deal with these things themselves? Personally I felt they were rather understaffed and just wanted to bring it to their attention

What would ye have done?

biko

Ask if there is a policy for this.
Gyms should have these policies because it's a bit gross to use a sweaty machine.

Huckster

biko wrote: »

Ask if there is a policy for this.
Gyms should have these policies because it's a bit gross to use a sweaty machine.

There are signs on every pillar saying something along the lines of "you must have a towel" so they do have rules on it, just wondering if it's out of line to call someone else out on it or what's the done thing?

Dotcomdolly

The staff member should have followed up on policy insisted she buy a hand towel or leave the floor. I'd speak to the duty manager (name will be on locker room door).

Alf Veedersane

Some gyms provide tissue and a cleaning spray to wipe down machines. But I'd be more concerned about the number of people who's put their hands on the handles after scratching their holes...

Nate--IRL--

Dotcomdolly wrote: »

The staff member should have followed up on policy insisted she buy a hand towel or leave the floor. I'd speak to the duty manager (name will be on locker room door).

They did have a guy dedicated to this in another Ben Dunne Gym, drove home the message, and nearly everybody uses a towel now.

Nate

avfc1874

Huckster wrote: »

I started going to a Ben Dunne gym in Dublin and am getting to grips with gym etiquette and whatnot. This morning I was on an exercise bike (the one with backs on them... excuse the lack of terminology!) when the girl beside me, sweating profusely, just got up and left hers without wiping it down. It was then that I realised she had no hand towel and I felt pretty grossed out as I watched her go from machine to machine sweating her butt off and simply hopping onto the next one. I mentioned this to a member of staff, and they seemed rather miffed that I was bringing it to their attention. I said it in a pretty reasonable way, saying that I don't mean to be a whinge, but there's a girl in a green t-shirt without a hand towel and it's pretty gross for the other gym users.

Was I wrong to point this out? Do people normally wait for staff to deal with these things themselves? Personally I felt they were rather understaffed and just wanted to bring it to their attention

What would ye have done?

i'd get in touch with ben dunne, and tell him the problem, then he could make an ad telling the sweaty fcukers to cop on.and play it on repeat over the speakers( in that lovely voice of his that you never get sick of hearing):D

will56

Huckster wrote: »

There are signs on every pillar saying something along the lines of "you must have a towel" so they do have rules on it, just wondering if it's out of line to call someone else out on it or what's the done thing?

Ben Dunne gyms also have signs up that weights must be returned to racks or weights will be removed, even the personal trainers don't follow that one :rolleyes::rolleyes:.

Need more staff walking round enforcing their signage :mad::mad:

Huckster

Couldn't believe it, but I saw the same girl doing the same thing this morning! Hopping from machine to machine with the sweat dripping off her- it was absolutely disgusting.

I complained again to the same guy as yesterday and he replied “oh, I told her to get a towel yesterday” to which I replied that if she doesn’t buy a towel, she shouldn’t be allowed to use the equipment. He then halfheartedly pulled out a towel from plastic packaging, went over and simply handed it to her.

No wonder she’s not bothering to bring a towel when she can simply pick them up for free!

Very annoying…

d15ude

been to a few gyms in ireland and non has enforced either their towel nor their put back free weights to racks policies.

well, i you can't beat them join them...:cool:

Gummy Panda

d15ude wrote: »

been to a few gyms in ireland and non has enforced either their towel nor their put back free weights to racks policies.

well, i you can't beat them join them...:cool:

In fairness, Westwood in clontarf does seem to try.

I remember I was in Ben Dunne in Jervis and a guy brought in a tea towel as his gym towel. There was another guy who came in smelling of week old sweat. He wore a shabby T-shirt, ripped jeans and runners. Long hair and beard. Never had a gym towel and use to stink out the equipment area.

Said it to a mate and he thought it was a homeless guy who wandered in out of the cold

Crooked Jack

Gummy Panda wrote: »

In fairness, Westwood in clontarf does seem to try.

I remember I was in Ben Dunne in Jervis and a guy brought in a tea towel as his gym towel. There was another guy who came in smelling of week old sweat. He wore a shabby T-shirt, ripped jeans and runners. Long hair and beard. Never had a gym towel and use to stink out the equipment area.

Said it to a mate and he thought it was a homeless guy who wandered in out of the cold

The towel thing I get but getting on like you want a dress code enforced just sounds like snobbery. Also, if you have a sensitive nose a room full of people exercising probably isnt the best place to be. Maybe go out for a run

Gummy Panda

Crooked Jack wrote: »

The towel thing I get but getting on like you want a dress code enforced just sounds like snobbery. Also, if you have a sensitive nose a room full of people exercising probably isnt the best place to be. Maybe go out for a run

Snobbery?

Crooked Jack

Gummy Panda wrote: »

Snobbery?

He wore a shabby T-shirt, ripped jeans and runners

The impression I got from that was "you can only come into my gym if you're in the shiniest, most expensive lycra."

Alf Veedersane

Lycra isn't all it's cracked up to be.

Especially if it's being worn by someone who's doing RDLs in front of you as you squat...

Huckster

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

Lycra isn't all it's cracked up to be.

Especially if it's being worn by someone who's doing RDLs in front of you as you squat...

Depends on what shape they're in :P

People seem to spend more time texting on their phones and staring into space while on the machines than exercising in this gym

Mr. Manager

I read it as the guy just seemed like a hobo

Gummy Panda

Crooked Jack wrote: »

The impression I got from that was "you can only come into my gym if you're in the shiniest, most expensive lycra."

I never said that. I didn't mean he trained in old clothes and should be in latest nike. I mean he came in manky.