Few questions about the gym(s)

Aspiring

I've been reading up on here trying to get as much info as I can about the gyms in UCD, but a lot of the information is outdated or doesn't address some questions. It's looking like I'll be starting in UCD come September, and hope to use the gym while there.

A few questions I have:
1. Does the normal gym (Sport and fitness gym) only have cardio equipment or does it also have free weights. Also, does it have treadmills.
2. What are the hours students can use the sport and fitness gym and the performance gym.
3. What is the best time of day to go to the gym to avoid huge crowds.
4. Which gym tends to be busier, the sport and fitness gym or the performance gym

Most of what I want to do is strength training with a little bit of cardio so I'm just trying to figure out what's the best way to go with the gyms.

Thanks

Durz0 Blint

Aspiring wrote: »

I've been reading up on here trying to get as much info as I can about the gyms in UCD, but a lot of the information is outdated or doesn't address some questions. It's looking like I'll be starting in UCD come September, and hope to use the gym while there.

A few questions I have:
1. Does the normal gym (Sport and fitness gym) only have cardio equipment or does it also have free weights. Also, does it have treadmills.
2. What are the hours students can use the sport and fitness gym and the performance gym.
3. What is the best time of day to go to the gym to avoid huge crowds.
4. Which gym tends to be busier, the sport and fitness gym or the performance gym

Most of what I want to do is strength training with a little bit of cardio so I'm just trying to figure out what's the best way to go with the gyms.

Thanks

1. Both gyms have free weights and cardio equipment.

2. Not fully sure (someone correct me if im wrong) but I think the sports gym doesn't admit students from 17:30 until I think around 21:00 and I think the performance gym always lets students in - both are really busy later in the day so I don't go then.

3. Mornings, otherwise the gym is packed.

4. Both seem to be equally busy, but performance gym would have more weight lifitng equipment.

Kiltennel

Aspiring wrote: »

I've been reading up on here trying to get as much info as I can about the gyms in UCD, but a lot of the information is outdated or doesn't address some questions. It's looking like I'll be starting in UCD come September, and hope to use the gym while there.

A few questions I have:
1. Does the normal gym (Sport and fitness gym) only have cardio equipment or does it also have free weights. Also, does it have treadmills.
2. What are the hours students can use the sport and fitness gym and the performance gym.
3. What is the best time of day to go to the gym to avoid huge crowds.
4. Which gym tends to be busier, the sport and fitness gym or the performance gym

Most of what I want to do is strength training with a little bit of cardio so I'm just trying to figure out what's the best way to go with the gyms.

Thanks

1) All gyms have free weights and treadmills plus a load of other cardio equipment. The selection of free weights in the performance gym is better.

2) Health & Fitness opens at 6 am, Performance gym opens at 12pm. Students can't use the Health & Fitness gym from 6 - 8pm I think but can use the Performance gym during this time.

3) Early. If you want to use the Health & Fitness get in there in the morning. If you have a 9am lecture get out of bed an hour earlier and get there at 8, otherwise you'll be waiting around to use equipment. Alternatively you can go into the performance gym at 12 when it opens and it wont be too bad then but it fills up quickly.

4) Both get very busy, I prefer the performance gym as it's larger and has a better selection of equipment. If you join a sports club in college and compete for them you'll get access to the Team gym which is pretty good and normally quiet throughout the day as long as staff are enforcing club members only (can often be lax on it which is very annoying). If a team has it booked for training (normally in the evenings after 6) the coaches often wont let you use it at that time unless you compete for that club as well.

UCDCritic

Aspiring wrote: »

I've been reading up on here trying to get as much info as I can about the gyms in UCD, but a lot of the information is outdated or doesn't address some questions. It's looking like I'll be starting in UCD come September, and hope to use the gym while there.

A few questions I have:
1. Does the normal gym (Sport and fitness gym) only have cardio equipment or does it also have free weights. Also, does it have treadmills.
2. What are the hours students can use the sport and fitness gym and the performance gym.
3. What is the best time of day to go to the gym to avoid huge crowds.
4. Which gym tends to be busier, the sport and fitness gym or the performance gym

Most of what I want to do is strength training with a little bit of cardio so I'm just trying to figure out what's the best way to go with the gyms.

Thanks

I'd advise you to join a sports team that gets to use the team gym which is a third gym that is available. The team gym has a lot of good strength and muscle building equipment and is used far less than the other two gyms.

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Aspiring

Thanks for all of the answers. If I'm going to the gym it'll be as early as possible anyway. I do play GAA but I wasn't planning on playing for UCD. However, if it would grant me access to this team gym it could be worth it :rolleyes:.

The green and red

Aspiring wrote: »

Thanks for all of the answers. If I'm going to the gym it'll be as early as possible anyway. I do play GAA but I wasn't planning on playing for UCD. However, if it would grant me access to this team gym it could be worth it :rolleyes:.

Out of interest, why not play for UCD?

Aspiring

The green and red wrote: »

Out of interest, why not play for UCD?

Just the time it'd take up I suppose.

The green and red

Aspiring wrote: »

Just the time it'd take up I suppose.

Thats fair enough, the lads over the teams are fairly accommodating though so Id stick your head in during Freshers week anyway. It was well worth signing up this year imo, even if it was just having the craic on the thirds

Aspiring

The green and red wrote: »

Thats fair enough, the lads over the teams are fairly accommodating though so Id stick your head in during Freshers week anyway. It was well worth signing up this year imo, even if it was just having the craic on the thirds

Maybe sure I may wait and see what the workload of my course is like first tho. Another reason I wasn't really planning on playing is because I was planning on building up strength and fitness over the Autumn/Winter in the gym then go back playing club GAA in the spring, and I was worried any sport would cut into recovery time. But sure I'll wait and see

The green and red

Ah yeah, you know yourself anyway lad! Ypu wont be stuck for something to do anyway

eclectichoney

The gym seems pretty packed in the evenings now I thought students could not use it after 5pm (and had to use the performance gym) but they seem to be using the gym whenever I am there at half 5 or 6??

Aspiring

eclectichoney wrote: »

The gym seems pretty packed in the evenings now I thought students could not use it after 5pm (and had to use the performance gym) but they seem to be using the gym whenever I am there at half 5 or 6??

Maybe its because the performance gym was too busy or something so they lifted the ban (unlikely). Went in there yesterday and it seemed every piece of equipment in the place was in use haha.

changepartners

Another sports centre related question... is there any good time to go during the day to swim a few lengths in peace or is it always pretty crowded?

eclectichoney

The gym is absolutely jammed these days Could not even find a spot to stretch in this evening - Wondering if the performance gym is any quieter at all?

Aspiring

eclectichoney wrote: »

The gym is absolutely jammed these days Could not even find a spot to stretch in this evening - Wondering if the performance gym is any quieter at all?

Depends when you go, also depends on what you want to do in the gym.

eclectichoney

Free weights mainly - early evening or lunchtime (12:30-1:30ish)
Thanks!

Aspiring

eclectichoney wrote: »

Free weights mainly - early evening or lunchtime (12:30-1:30ish)
Thanks!

The performance gym is definitely better for free weights imo. I've never been at that time tho so I couldn't be sure. I go in the evening time and it'd be rare that everything would be in use, and that'd when it's at its busiest. I'd say it'd be quieter at the time you mentioned, pop in and have a look to see but I'd say it'd be grand. Best of luck.

malibu4u

Doctor Jimbob wrote: »

I've been to the gym at a load of different times and I'd say the times you mentioned are the busiest. Early morning or late evening seem to be better in my experience.

+1. Friday afternoons are sometimes quiet too for some bizarre reason.

convert

malibu4u wrote: »

+1. Friday afternoons are sometimes quiet too for some bizarre reason.

I think it's because most students head home for the weekend. Campus always seems dead on a Friday.

caviardreams

Hey guys
Just wondering if anyone knows if staff can use the Performance (not the fancy one with the pool!) gym for free or do you need to be a member?

Thanks