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Just curious as to what everyone’s gym of choice is. I know that a large percentage of people choose a chain club like Bally’s, Gold’s Gym or 24 Hour Fitness but I want to know where the hardcore lifters choose to do their training. My personal choice is 24 Hour Fitness, but I also haven’t ever taken the time to look around and see if there are any small specialty gyms close to me. I do like the convenience of the late hours and many locations that 24 Hour offers…

i train at a group of gyms called Touchstone, a group of rock climbing gyms in the Bay Area. the primary focus at these gyms is rock climbing, which i do 3-4 times a week, but they also have full gym facilities including benches, free weights, racks, and things like bumper plates for pretty much any type of lifting you could want to do. i used to use 24 hour fitness, but because of the lack of things like bumper plates and olympic platforms and the plethora of douchebags that go to those gyms, i switched.

i also train at California Strength Academy from time to time. the coaches there are top notch and have really helped me to improve my form on Olympic lifting.

i’m fortunate that there are a lot of gyms to choose from in the bay area.

Sometimes the 24 hour gyms are all that can fit your schedule so you have to suffer through. I personally Like the westside columbus YMCA. Believe it or not they have a good dungeon setup from texas power bars to all YORK plate Nebula,Hammer and Forza equipment. Plus with the AM crew its our team and two to three regulars down there so noboby gets in each others way. I also don’t really care for the atmosphere at commercial clubs you really here anyway seem to have to watch what you say. And are extremely limited in what you can do NO CHAINS, NO HEAVY BANDS, NO CHALK, NO BENCH SHIRTS. And Always somebody telling you that your bench form is off and your elbows should be flared square with the shoulder. I got so annoyed guest lifting at @#$%^ gym with one of there trainers starting on us with bench form we up and left after telling him to hit the pipe some more.
Thanks
Butch

I go to New York Sports Club
 
 I go there for convenience because it is literally 2 minutes away from my house. 
 
If I had a preference I would go to a gym were dedicated bodybuilders train and don’t bother you in the middle of a set. It would also be nice to have more girls in the gym lifting heavier weights and actually use the squat rack.  As on know there are maybe 4 girls in my gym (me included) that actually squat and dead lift… It’s pathetic. 
 
I feel that my gym lacks motivation and I certainly don’t look for advice from anyone in my gym … they are clueless!!!

I too use 24HR a lot and LA Fitness too. They are not “Hard Core” yet work well for me as I travel a lot and it’s convenient. I train all over the county and both these clubs have been good to me.

I trained at 24 Hour for a few years, but I decided to open my own studio cause I always liked training outside and doing more class oriented stuff than dragging clients around the weight floor and dealing with all that crap. I started Gym Class Fitness in Oakland and we do a lot of bootcamp type classes. I agree with everyone here about not liking the atmosphere in commercial gyms, although I did make some really good friends who I still see and train and some who still work in those gyms. Guess it all depends.

CALIFORNIA STRENGTH!   

 

LOL, I walked around New York Sports Club, I am fairly certain, last time I was in NY.  Just to make sure, how close is it to the New Yorker hotel?  The one I am thinking of was in manhatten, but was a good walk from my motel, which was the New Yorker…  am I thinking of the right place?

LOL, I walked around New York Sports Club, I am fairly certain, last time I was in NY.  Just to make sure, how close is it to the New Yorker hotel?  The one I am thinking of was in manhatten, but was a good walk from my motel, which was the New Yorker…  am I thinking of the right place?[/QUOTE] 
  
 
 

They have them all over NY NJ and Boston .. they have many in manahatten so it is very possible.. Its your typical commercial gym

  
  
  The only place in NY that I know of that is worth a damn is Lost Battalion Hall.  I doubt anyone would bother you there, as long as your snatches are hitting high on the hip, and your jerks arent pressed out.




They have them all over NY NJ and Boston .. they have many in manahatten so it is very possible.. Its your typical commercial gym[/QUOTE]

i know you will all be interested to know (especially you, glenn—i know you’re a big fan) that the material girl herself will be opening her new gym, “Hard Candy” this month:

http://www.muscledog.com/blog/view/329/MADONNA_GYM_OWNER

I’ll only train at small, powerlifting-friendly gyms. Recently I decided to open my own place…Ironworx Gym. Rented a 1700 sq-ft building and started acquiring equipment. Power rack, incline, decline, DBs to 100, a couple Hammer Strength items, preacher, cable, lat, 2 benches, leg machines…and growing. Open 24/7 via a punchcode lock and only $20 a month. I welcome chalk, swearing, bands, chains, loud music, and the desire to move more weight. Of course, anyone can join, but they have to be willing to accept this is not like the big gym chains

Awesome! jonE.. Do you have a website or photos of your gym? 
 
What type of equitment do you have there?  You should post it in muscledgos listings sections.. The link is located on the top right!! def add  your info, i would love to see it