Hardcore Gyms

[Wasteland]

We on the east coast have a couple to brag about... Seems like the old school, hardcore gym is going the way of the dinosaur. Damn shame. Any still left?

[Hercules]

I lift in MY gym. OK, so I don't own it, but I set everything up and buy new shit with someone else's money (new power rack coming soon!). The only posters on the wall are 2 Animal posters ("Why am I Here?" and "Shut Up and Train."). Animal stickers from the tops of my Animal products (Pak, Pump, and Nitro) are stuck on the only mirror in the joint. Loud hardcore metal music and loud bangin' plates. Yes, I use chalk and there's no one around to bitch at me for it. I affectionately called it 'The Dungeon.'

[Freakshow]

We on the east coast have a couple to brag about... Seems like the old school, hardcore gym is going the way of the dinosaur. Damn shame.

sad but true. this entire country is being over run with Ballys and 24 Hour Fitness.

When I was growing up I had a Golds Gym open right down the street from my high school, and after 2 years it was torn down and a 2 story YMCA was built in its place. I tried working out there but I had little 5 year olds running all over the place. Really distracting.

[Bear]

There are not many here in the west coast.. But of course there is still the mecca down south which is Golds. I use to train at a really hardcore place when I first got started at 13. It's called MuscleHouse gym... It was a place where no one took any short cuts or pissed around (Primarily dominated by powerlifters, but bodybuilders also frequented there as well.). I miss that place. It was an atmosphere you just can't touch anymore.

[ironWarrior417]

I might be an optimistic sonofabitch, but if I've learned anything from animalpak.com, it's that you can reach your goals if you don't let anyone stop you...

My dream after I get out of school is to open up a gym. But the thing about it is, I don't want all the glitz, glamor, and guys that sit on a machine shooting the shit with their buddies, pretending to get a lift in. I want it to have second-hand equipment and rust on the bent bars because, in a way, everything is cyclical. Eventually us younger guys are gonna be the older ones, looking down and wanting to help up those young fellas that have an "itch they can't stratch" (to quote Wrath.)

So brothers, what's YOUR idea of the perfect gym?

[Hulk]

Yeah it does suck the gym I am forced to go to is full of back street boys and only has three flat benches

[Hulk]

My idea of a perfect gym would be open 24 hours every weight possible,minimal "high tech" machines. Only allows us animal brothers.

[MELTDOWN]

A friend was in from Utah over new years. we popped into the local Peak "Fitness" for a week's comp on training. Hadn't been there 10 minutes (long enuff to change and walk to the lat station) when this unknown punk guy person thingy strolls past and says" nice workout attire". He has his x armor and bikers shorts on carrying his gatorade towel and bottle of super water. Kevin and I both had cut off sweat pants and a banged up old tee. We both just snarled and carried on to the lat station. Kevin had just hit his warm up set when manager "debbie" asked us to change or please remove ourselves from the building...and I quote "this is a fitness facility...NOT A GYM". We rolled out and headed up to the local Gold's. Just had a few stares but did get to lift.

[Big Jawn]

I workout at University of Alberta gym in Edmonton. We (the powerlifters) have 10 grand worth of calibrated Ivanko plates, 2 ER equipment adjustable squat/bench racks, a bunch of olympic lifting bumper plates, 4-5 texas power bars, shitload of bands of various tensions, chains etc etc....its a nice little haven in a side room of a hectic YMCA type Uni gym.

[Freakshow]

I workout at University of Alberta gym in Edmonton. We (the powerlifters) have 10 grand worth of calibrated Ivanko plates, 2 ER equipment adjustable squat/bench racks, a bunch of olympic lifting bumper plates, 4-5 texas power bars, shitload of bands of various tensions, chains etc etc....its a nice little haven in a side room of a hectic YMCA type Uni gym.

Sounds real nice man

[Big Jawn]

Gets the job done for sure, nothing better then the looks you get with a couple mini bands/chains wrapped around the bar with a squat suit on.

[Thorgrym]

I workout at University of Alberta gym in Edmonton. We (the powerlifters) have 10 grand worth of calibrated Ivanko plates, 2 ER equipment adjustable squat/bench racks, a bunch of olympic lifting bumper plates, 4-5 texas power bars, shitload of bands of various tensions, chains etc etc....its a nice little haven in a side room of a hectic YMCA type Uni gym.

That sounds really sweet man.

I live in Montreal and I train at a gym called Power Gym. They are still doing some upgrades to the place, but there are still beat up dumbells and bars. Older benches and tons of miss matched plates everywhere. I love it. Not too many people go, so its never overly crowded and its 24 hours during the week and closes at 10:30 on weekends. Price is great and the atmosphere is great (just wear headphones if you dont like techno, the new guy loves the shit and plays it all the dmaned time) cause nobody bugs you if you make noise or wear beat up clothes to train in. Its a little piece of paradise.

Thor

[nphocus]

I'm in Richmond, VA and the only gym that I've found that isn't dripping with tits and ass is Body Creations. The place smells like rust. It's a hole in the wall with a pothole parking lot and $30.00/month no contract membership. I have a buddy that's been lifting for years that won't touch the place for fear of tetanus.

I like it because I can walk in, hang my keys on the wall, and not have to say a fucking word to a fucking person. No smiles. No small talk.

[Maharg]

Yeah it does suck the gym I am forced to go to is full of back street boys and only has three flat benches

My gym has just one flat bench and on monday night u have to reserve a spot on it

[RedIron 392]

Family Fitness in Pontoon Beach IL. is hardcore to the max. DB's to 200 lbs., a long row of flat, incline and decline benches. Three hacks, three leg presses, power racks and 100 lb. plates in the leg area. Hammer Strength, Cybex, Smith and more than I can list. More free weights than Gold's, Bally's and all the Y's in the area combined. Bring your chalk and puke in the trash cans, it's all good.

Later

[Mr.Totality]

When I lived on long island there were a few. I started out in the late 80's at Olympic Health Club in Hicksville NY. I remember some of the larger lifters at the time would frequent there when they were in town. I know Bev's is still huge there and rightfully so. However, with the movement of people towards "toning" the hardcore gym is an animal of the past

[bigjay]

That sounds really sweet man.

I live in Montreal and I train at a gym called Power Gym. They are still doing some upgrades to the place, but there are still beat up dumbells and bars. Older benches and tons of miss matched plates everywhere. I love it. Not too many people go, so its never overly crowded and its 24 hours during the week and closes at 10:30 on weekends. Price is great and the atmosphere is great (just wear headphones if you dont like techno, the new guy loves the shit and plays it all the dmaned time) cause nobody bugs you if you make noise or wear beat up clothes to train in. Its a little piece of paradise.

Thor

Hey, bro i'am over at monster gym d.d.o montreal, is your gym in lasalle, it sounds fimilar. Chech us out monstergym.net, we have web cams

[TheNaturalG]

Long Islands got plenty. We even got the East Cost Mecca which is Bev Francis Powerhouse gym.

[BritishTang]

I just got back from my honeymoon in Kauai, and the only gym there was this dingy place built in a storage hanger on the out skirts of town. Walked in with my wife and the place smelled like rot and dust, metal and rust. My wife was horrified, I was thrilled. I had the most hardcore workouts there ever.

Wish we had something like that where we live now.

[Freak]

Check this out fellas... Anyone been to? Are they still around?

http://www.animalpak.com/html/article_details.cfm?ID=40

[rcrott1]

As of last summer B&W in chicago is still around

[Thorgrym]

Hey, bro i'am over at monster gym d.d.o montreal, is your gym in lasalle, it sounds fimilar. Chech us out monstergym.net, we have web cams

Yup, the gyms in lasalle. I work not far from monster but the hours id be training its too crowded. Im not a fan of crowded places. I need the solitude to focus more.

Ill be sure to check it out at lunch and see what they've done with the place. I checked it out a couple of years back but back then I was training at 6am and it started to get filled up really quick with alot of people so I went to a less crowded, albeit less equipped gym.

Later man,


thor

[IRBS]

Bring your chalk and puke in the trash cans, it's all good.

That is the best line I've seen on here yet....

[jatta palu]

Nothing hardcore near me but reading some of your descriptions brings a tear to the eye.

I'm jealous

[dmnspdg]

As far as Hardcore Gyms....around here...If starbucks could make money from it, they'd start marketing their own "gyms"

[BigAnt]

Check this out fellas... Anyone been to? Are they still around?

http://www.animalpak.com/html/article_details.cfm?ID=40

Diamond Gym in NJ is hard core, so is Steve and Bev's Powerhouse in NY. The Training Center in DE is also very hard core! In S. Philly Body World is hard core! I trained at all of them!

The money makers are the "Family Fitness Centers"

It is hard to find "good gyms" to train at now, I miss the chalk boxes, the old York metal plates, power cages and the 3/4 inch thick 4x6 black rubber matted floors.

[axp817]

I live in Southern NH and train in Southern NH during the week, but on the weekend ( I train Tue, Thurs, Sat.) I drive 50 miles to Worcester, MA to train with my training partner who lives there. We train at Baystate gym, a place like none other I've seen.

All the old school, hardcore equipment, chalk, a powerlifting room, the buffalo squat bar, a ton of equipment i don't even know the names of, they have it all.

No nonsense, serious business only, it is housed in a facility which used to be an old factory. Tons of pictures of old, veteran bodybuilders. The "leg room" entrance has a portrait of Tom Platz's legs and says 'Welcome to Quadsville, MA'.

All this makes it very unattractive to the Bally's spandex crowd, and you only see serious people here. Prices are the lowest, since they don't spend money on treadmills and bikes with in built flat screen TVs.

Check out their website (look at the photos page too), and if you are in the Central MA area, do give it a try. Day passes are only $5.

http://baystategym.com/default.shtml

Off to bed, have a 50 mile drive tomorrow morning :)
-axp817

[LuvsThePain]

The Gold's gym here in Spokane has got a pretty decent group of hardcore followers, "including myself". There's a respectable amount of powerlifters and amature body builders that i see on a regular basis in the mornings. I love it becuase the treadmills and such are out of sight and on the other side of the gym from the free weights and machines. There's about 6 flat benches and 6 inclines, 1 decline. Dumbells go up to about 185 (something like that). Plenty of smith machines and power racks, a good cable setup, etc. etc... It's my second home.

[Punisher]

If you are ever down at the jersey shore in the summer time, Jersey Shore Fitness is pretty hardcore and open 24 hours. Gritty atmosphere oldschool equipment and its all in an old firehouse.

[Punisher]

I live in Southern NH and train in Southern NH during the week, but on the weekend ( I train Tue, Thurs, Sat.) I drive 50 miles to Worcester, MA to train with my training partner who lives there. We train at Baystate gym, a place like none other I've seen.

All the old school, hardcore equipment, chalk, a powerlifting room, the buffalo squat bar, a ton of equipment i don't even know the names of, they have it all.

No nonsense, serious business only, it is housed in a facility which used to be an old factory. Tons of pictures of old, veteran bodybuilders. The "leg room" entrance has a portrait of Tom Platz's legs and says 'Welcome to Quadsville, MA'.

All this makes it very unattractive to the Bally's spandex crowd, and you only see serious people here. Prices are the lowest, since they don't spend money on treadmills and bikes with in built flat screen TVs.

Check out their website (look at the photos page too), and if you are in the Central MA area, do give it a try. Day passes are only $5.

http://baystategym.com/default.shtml

Off to bed, have a 50 mile drive tomorrow morning :)
-axp817


I would like to know if Cutler ever trainer there back in his day, I believe he is from that part of Mass.

It looks like JSF sweet, if im ever up in that area I must check it out.

[Toni69]

Diamond Gym in NJ is hard core, so is Steve and Bev's Powerhouse in NY. The Training Center in DE is also very hard core! In S. Philly Body World is hard core! I trained at all of them!

The money makers are the "Family Fitness Centers"

It is hard to find "good gyms" to train at now, I miss the chalk boxes, the old York metal plates, power cages and the 3/4 inch thick 4x6 black rubber matted floors.

I am actually getting ready for Bev Francis' show in Syosset this coming June.
I am looking very foward to this event and checking out her gym.
My gym here on the military base (UK) is as old school as you can get. Usually all the gyms on bases are really nice and full of fluff..you know, plasmas everywhere and state of the art equipment..which is cool..but this gym I train at everyday is just an old building where they kept bombs or whatever back in the day. I am sure there is asbestos and who knows what else crawling through the walls.

You walk in and its dark and dingy...freezing during the winter and hot as hell in the summer. It has these huge sliding doors on both ends of the building and funny enough...if I can properly describe this...there is a space in the ground where these doors slide back and forth...and its filled with the nastiest water...I guess it has no place to drain itself so it just sits there. I have to look at it every time I do dips.

During the summer, the place has these "pincher bugs" (they actually pinch you..not totally caught up on my entomology here, but they are some creepy looking insects), everywhere..if you set your bag down, they get in your bag and creep up on ya when your driving home..freaks me out every time too.

Anyway, the gym is filled with benches, db's, 1 incline bench, 2 flat bench presses, a squat rack with a small mirror in front, leg press, hack squat, the oldest smith machine in the world..it may have been handed down by Arnold!
We have a cable seated row, another seated row, couple hammer strength machines, a dip/pull-up stand, a wobbly cable crossover stand..couple preacher curl benches and a couple other small cable stand thingys to do pressdowns and whatever else.

One other small room has an old calf machine, leg extension, lying hammer curl, sit up benches and a hyperextension...some cardio equipment and that is all.

It's always dusty and the walls are in need of some major work. Oh, there is a chalk bowl there but its gross..the pincher bugs seem to like to nest in it...and they wind up dieing in it so this guy has to come and sift it I guess. Regardless, its a far cry from a fluff gym and I am very comfortable here, I really love this gym.

[axp817]

I would like to know if Cutler ever trainer there back in his day, I believe he is from that part of Mass.

It looks like JSF sweet, if im ever up in that area I must check it out.

I don't think Cutler trained at Baystate, they don't have pictures of his, and if he did, I'm sure they would (they have pictures of other BBers on the wall).

Also, i had read somewhere that his first competition was at the Gold's gym in Worcester, which is probably where he trained too.

[Powerfreak]

We on the east coast have a couple to brag about... Seems like the old school, hardcore gym is going the way of the dinosaur. Damn shame.

I train at Nazareth Barbell in Nazareth,Pa.
Definitely a powerlifting gym, but everyone is welcome. We train about as hardcore as it gets.

[pump or die]

gone are the days of underground hardcore gyms, sigh...and im only 17, i train at a golds, pretty basic, quite a few die-hards there, as well as the usual fitness clowns too. in my town there is one gym left that is rumored to cater to hardcore lifters, i want to check it out. other than that the only "iron dungeons" left are my garage gym, or the weight room at school which has the basics, old worn benches and racks, worst weight room out of all the area high schools but it gets the job done.

[Achilles]

I live in Shinnston West Virginia and the gym in the basement of the local moose lodge is pretty hardcore, it's $50.00 the first year & $30.00 every year after .. it's basic and it smells like mildew .. thats where I torture myself. Then theres "the pit" in fairmont and it's a hardcore gym with plenty of animals .. when I start to feel big I go there and get humbled down .. lift harder ..

[jatta palu]

If you are ever down at the jersey shore in the summer time, Jersey Shore Fitness is pretty hardcore and open 24 hours. Gritty atmosphere oldschool equipment and its all in an old firehouse.

Will be in the area this summer!

[spartan300]

To have a few of what I consider to be truly hardcore gyms. One such place is Quads. This place is synonymous with the word "hardcore" Dave and Tom (rest in peace Tom you were taken from us way too soon!) managed to create an atmosphere that very few places have (Gold's included!) In a matter of fact the only other place I experienced this feeling was in Turner's gym back in the 70"s.

[kw88]

I work out at my college gym, not bad some bigger guys there. But before I worked out at the dreaded "fitness center". If i saw one more fat lady rolling around on a blown up ball with pink dumbbells I was gonna crack. So I left.

[Greg_G]

I work out at the Air Force gym here on vbase. It is broken into two, free weights and exercise machines. When I go there is only MAYUBE 5 other people there so I get to do whatever I want. Not too hardcore, but good enough. Dumbbelkls up to 200, few benches, squat rack, etc...

[tek52086]

as far as that list goes i've trained at diamond gym in maplewood and its pretty badass. ive trained at man's world gym in trenton nj which is in a league of its own oldschool bodybuilding wise. Skiba's Barbell Club in Carteret NJ should be the westside barbell club of new jersey.

[Kish]

You are right , all the gyms are softening up...don't bang weights...no chalk...no loud music...soon no heavy weights...it reflects society...Our town can't field a mini- football team yet we have 5 fuckin soccer teams. Don't want the kids getting hurt. I hire young guy and they (with some acceptions) are getting more lazy and worthless every year.

[Panzer]

Nazareth Barbell Is the baddest gym around.
http://www.nazbar.com/

[djlr42789]

paramount fitness- cincinnati, ohio.

hard core atmosphere, yet still anyone can train there.
Its in a older kind of warehouse...but has anythin ya need.

[NeverGonnaStop]

i go to purdue university and just found quite possibly the best gym i have ever seen. it is in a basement of the indoor track, and it looks to be about 50 years old, concrete floors covered with rubber mats in most places, pipes running through the uncovered cieling with leaks. rusty plates everywhere u look. power racks as far as the eye can see, and the best part is it is nearly always empty (except for during the crew team's practice). it may be the happiest place on earth :) sadly a lack of heavy DB's leads to creativity at times, but still i love it

[bigbadwolfe]

Check this out fellas... Anyone been to? Are they still around?

http://www.animalpak.com/html/article_details.cfm?ID=40

Hey Freak!!!

Westside Barbell is still kicking STRONG!!! That is my home gym in Columbus Ohio. It is the Powerlifting Mecca of the World!!! You go to any powelifting meet and I guarantee you that you will see at least 1 Westside Barbell shirt there.

Wolfy!!!!

[Big Al]

I say The Training Center in NewCastle,DE is hardcore.I love training there.BigAnth and PowerFreak have both trained there also.
185lb DB's and 100lb plates,monolift, chalk,dirty what else can you ask for.

[grizzed]

Tampa, FL - Power House Gym

This place is about lifting. There is a varied crowd, but the regulars are there for the iron. No fancy crap or capachino bar.

I've heard plenty of stories about friends who brought their wives and girl friends to check it out and the girls said they were scared to go back. This place is about muscle and iron.

If anyone else knows about any good tampa bay gyms let me know ... I'll shoto myself before I go back in a lifestyles family fitness.

[Young&Hungry]

Southside Gym, Stratford, Connecticut.
I can guarentee any powerlifters that have been around the block have been here. It's one of the best powerlifting gyms on the East Coast. They've got an 800 pound bencher and a 1,000+ squatter, along with a guy who shurgs over 1,500.

Holes in the walls, no heat or a/c, porn in the bathrooms, blood from nosebleed deadlifts all over the floor, broken and flickering lights, chalk flying around in the air, beer and pizza in the fridge. It's a hell of an experience. I've only had the pleasure to lift there one time.

[dIdDy]

I'm gonna make my own when I retire from the Air Force. Only 12 more years left...

[Shrug]

Zest Power Gym. Totally hardcore, powerlifting gym where all the top name powerlifters here in the Philippines train. There's more testosterone in that place than a Mexican vet clinic.

All the olympic bars and plates you can lift. Bathroom is a stinky outhouse with cobwebs everywhere, toilet has no flush and there are no lights.

Free chalk. No music. Slam and drop the weights as much as you want. Wanna scream while lifting? Feel free.

This is the best part: Monthly fee is P400 (about $8)... day pass is P50 ($1). =)

[Mauricio]

Yeah it does suck the gym I am forced to go to is full of back street boys and only has three flat benches

Shit, mine has two of those but 1000 mirrors and a poster of a skinny guy eating salad.

[peterpyper]

still got a hardcore gym around here in brookly called details arnold was once there aswell as lou ferrigno,pretty cheap place 125 bucks for 15 months,only got 2 treadmills and 2 bikes the rest is all freeweights dungeon hardly any girls are there,concrete floors its in a basement a place where u can work out on the downlow

[hitEMhard]

the golds gym i used to lift at in alexandria, ky was great. ... it was a real old golds, not like the modern hight tech golds gyms. everyone new everyone by name but when we were working out we all mean business. i make my best games when i go home for the summers

[Richard]

Coming from england we don't have many gyms as you do in the states. Let alone hardcore gyms. But back when i was at uni in the west country, i trained at a pretty hard core gym. We had commonwealth athletes, boxers and world class powerlifters there.

Every xmas there would be a powerlifting contest, i learnt a great deal from those guys. Always humble, always approachable.

But you know what i am currently training at a commercial gym and its not bad. They pretty much got most of the basics i need. Barbells, dumbells, benches, squat racks etc.

The atmosphere in a hardcore gym is great. But in essence, as an athlete, hardcore is the lifestyle and the mindset, not necessarily the gym.

[jeff00z28]

i wish i could find one of these hardcore gyms. Mine has maybe 50 serious lifters at the very most. We only have 2 power racks in the whole big gym yet theres 2 smith machines. Hardly any1 deadlifts or military press or any of the real hard exercises. They just mainly do the pretty boy excersices for arms and chest. and i hate the soft music. The pencil necks there claim 'steroids' to any1 that is strong.

[karthik]

folks i never thought I would say this but i actually found a gym that is more hardcore than METROFLEX GYM at ARLINGTON, TX! I wouldn't even call it a gym actually it is more like a training compound. There is no gym membership or anything like that because according to the warriors/strongmen that train there, the place does not exist! This gym is located in the middle of nowhere by the very end of Page Industries Blvd. by the railroad tracks in Saint Louis. Right behind a small factory called Emco Refrigeration, there is a garage door. When you open that garage door, you will see a warehouse loaded with strongman equipment, log press, conan's wheel, atlas stones, 1000 pound tires, power stairs, hammer of strength, fingal fingers, axle bars, weighted sleds, a bench and a squat rack with several hundred pound plates. There is also a huge stereo system where they play Heavy Metal, Hard Rock, and Rap. There is no air conditioner, heater, water fountain, or bathroom in this training compound. It doesn't matter if there is a blizzard outside, or burning hot at 110 degree plus temp, this place is always open. They also have a 30 second rule in this area which basically means from the moment you enter the facility you will immediately either stretch out or warm up by working out. Absolutely no small talk is allowed whatsoever, or bullshiting about stuff not related to working out, those doing so will be told to get the fuck out! and absolutely no cameras or video camcorders allowed! They are not trying to make this place mainstream and you can only train there if they allow you to!

[IMBACK]

I had the opportunity to lift there a few times, however i would no way consider myself a member of the gym. These guys are the icons of hardcore. Since I have been there they have moved locations to a warehouse like gyme. Still located around central ohio, and still very hardcore. www.westside-barbell.com Gym owner Lou Simmons is a great enovator in routines and equipment.

[Lawman]

I was lifting in a YMCA in Surrey BC(which will actually drive you insane if you're not careful...little kids and soccer moms), but I just found a place called Garage Fitness. I walked in and it was like paradise filled with old weights and agression. No soccer moms, no teeny boppers, no thigh masters; just a couple pictures of Arnold and Franco, sweat, blood, and Iron. I was so excited about my first workout there today that I couldn't sleep. So now we can say that there is a little old school out there somewhere.

[OSUrookie]

I go to Ohio State and there's three "recreational facilities" to choose from, no actual gyms. I just go to the one of the older ones because the largest one is brand new and is way too clean. After using a machine you have to spray it with cleaner and wipe it clean. its drives me nuts. But the worst is the amount of people. It gets so crowded you cant even move. I like going home to my old, hole in the wall gym I used while in high school.

[Jewfro]

Does anyone know of any hardcore gyms in MA? I did have a worlds gym and a golds gym right by my house but they changed to choice fitness and latitude. Pretty lame.

[jeff00z28]

folks i never thought I would say this but i actually found a gym that is more hardcore than METROFLEX GYM at ARLINGTON, TX! I wouldn't even call it a gym actually it is more like a training compound. There is no gym membership or anything like that because according to the warriors/strongmen that train there, the place does not exist! This gym is located in the middle of nowhere by the very end of Page Industries Blvd. by the railroad tracks in Saint Louis. Right behind a small factory called Emco Refrigeration, there is a garage door. When you open that garage door, you will see a warehouse loaded with strongman equipment, log press, conan's wheel, atlas stones, 1000 pound tires, power stairs, hammer of strength, fingal fingers, axle bars, weighted sleds, a bench and a squat rack with several hundred pound plates. There is also a huge stereo system where they play Heavy Metal, Hard Rock, and Rap. There is no air conditioner, heater, water fountain, or bathroom in this training compound. It doesn't matter if there is a blizzard outside, or burning hot at 110 degree plus temp, this place is always open. They also have a 30 second rule in this area which basically means from the moment you enter the facility you will immediately either stretch out or warm up by working out. Absolutely no small talk is allowed whatsoever, or bullshiting about stuff not related to working out, those doing so will be told to get the fuck out! and absolutely no cameras or video camcorders allowed! They are not trying to make this place mainstream and you can only train there if they allow you to!

thats crazy im in st. louis i never heard of that

[Millhouse]

I moved up to Minnesota to go to school and I left behind a pit of a gym...The 4 Star Gym in El Segundo CA. Placed on the Main Street in town. Old school pics of the fromer members, dues were 25 bucks a month (honor system) and they GIVE you a key to the place. The weights have been the same since I went there in high school and I dont think they will ever change. 1 old school bike (schwin) for cardio...no electronics on it only a dial. Everyone knows ya by name and cement and chalk meet you at the door. Ya far from "4 star" to most but gold to me.
Love liftin there when I am home.

[pdiesel]

just got bak to school tonight..damn it feels good to be home..when i say home i mean my gym here..i went today and got hit with a hard dose of reality..it's always the same feeling..walking down the steps..2 flights down..then down the long hallway with silence..as i get closer i can hear the music playing and can smell the mustyness in the air..it's always the same smell..i stay focused..focused..i walk in and it's a shithole in there..the floors are fucked up, the machines are all from the 80s, and the dumbells are the ones with THICK ass handles and are one solid piece..what feels like 80 pounds at home feels like 85 here, and it's not all in my head..just balancing the weight is a whole new challenge in itself, not to mention dangerous..last year a db head fell off as a kid was doing incline press..lucky he didnt bust his face with that..anyway down there, it's hot as balls, even in the winter theres only one fan, and way too many kids..i did some dls today and had trouble gripping the damn bar bc it was so old..later i hit some db rows and i could barely hang on to the damn dbs--they were so hard to grip..at the end of the lift it was hard to get a breath in my lungs bc the air is so thick down there..i gotta say though, that atmosphere kicks me into high gear and i love it..

any of you guys go to a harcore gym and what's yours like?

[Arbalest]

No... I wish! I'm envious of your gym.

[doomsdaylover]

Man, I have the lamest gym in the whole Northwest. When I was a fat fuck drinking soda and pizza all day, my friend's dad bought me and his equally obese son a gym membership back in '99. So almost 8 years later, my rates are so low and I don't know of any hardcore gyms in all the 503.

My gym is the reason why I don't do any machines and use almost 100% freeweights. There's nothing more annoying then bieng on an ab or leg machine next to some pasty yuppie doing the same thing.

But try doing a 315 barbell Roman Deadlift, grandma.

[M60]

Its not really all that hardcore. When I walk in the weight room it smells like brick and sweat. The equipment is beyond broken in and the benches have been reupholstered a few times. The barbells and dumbbells are nice and rusted from all the sweat. Occasionally there'll be some chalk residue left on some of the equipment. Thats when you know some of the big dogs have been around. Hell, its alot better than Bally's, cept they got hammer strength machines, but screw Bally's my place is at the good 'ol YMCA right now.

[WaNNaBeSoLDieR]

Metroflex. I don't get there as much as I'd like to, but when I do...oh man...I love that place.

[Mento]

I'm not too sure if my gym classifies as hardcore but I workout in my garage. I have just free weights, a power rack, and a bench. Well the thing that sucks about my gym is when it is cold it is freezing and when it is hot it is scorching. Like I said, I don't know if that classifies as hardcore but I put in my work whether it is burning or freezing.

[Gas Can]

iam going to have to say that i might possibly have the best hardcore gym its an abandon wherehouse it was a training center for law enforcement and firefighters it has all free weights you could think of when you slam the weights you rust clouds this place is lit with hanging light bulbs the funniest thing bout this gym is the only cardio equipment it has is a bike with its back wheel propped up this place is prob my fav gym the best part is the door is locked with a password and i reset it so that i am the only one who uses (not like anyone goes anyway) thats my home

[gymboy]

I'm way out in the country,like 50 miles from a real gym so i built my own in my barn/storage area.I just wish it was bigger,but it'll do for now;don't have to put up with the spandex crowd


http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p139/jnichol3_photos/DCP_0842.jpg
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p139/jnichol3_photos/DCP_0843.jpg
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p139/jnichol3_photos/DCP_0839.jpg
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p139/jnichol3_photos/DCP_0836.jpg

[Maharg]

My gym sucks pretty bad. the cardio and weights are within 3 feet of each other. But we got dbs that go up to 120lbs. However when i can i go to springfield to lift at St johns fitness center, i know it sounds week but this place is awesome. Dbs up to 150lbs, a squat rack, a powerrack, self spotting benchs rfom incline to decline, chalk, and a deadlift station. Me and the old man go there for our leg days and on saturdays at noon its a grave yard and we just take the puke bucket and go at it. They keep the free weights in the basement past the lockerrooms, and bath rooms.

[combatwombat]

I'm way out in the country,like 50 miles from a real gym so i built my own in my barn/storage area.I just wish it was bigger,but it'll do for now;don't have to put up with the spandex crowd


http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p139/jnichol3_photos/DCP_0842.jpg
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p139/jnichol3_photos/DCP_0843.jpg
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p139/jnichol3_photos/DCP_0839.jpg
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p139/jnichol3_photos/DCP_0836.jpg

Thats gotta be the nicest barn I have ever seen. ;)

THats a nice setup.

[Hollywood]

Yo gymboy, thats a pretty nice setup you got there for all your own money.

My gym is pretty new, built about 5 years ago for my football team when I was a junior. My coach opened it open to the public, but its really only full of the high school sports teams. At night I have a bunch of friends that stayed local for school who are freakshows, so we really get hardcore...

[niladmirari88]

My gym is not a hole in the wall and not all the guys that go there are serious and lift with perfect form, but it is a great atmosphere for getting things done. Pictures of Arnold and other bodybuilding greats on the walls. Bodybuilding and powerlifting trophies everywhere. The weights are old and rusty. There is a seperate room for leg training and there is a larger than average step that seperates itself from the rest of the gym. I've come close to falling flat on my face getting a drink in another room after a burnout set on extensions. My gym isn't the hardest of hardcore, but it is definately old school.

[M60]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v353/IronButterfly/Old_Gym.jpg

This was my gym before I got a membership down at the Y.

[Lethal_Banana]

I'm happily (?) working out at one of these huuuuge centers with spas and saunas and steam baths. They do have a buttload of weights and machines, but the "spandex crowd" as you guys so nicely put it, is starting to tick me off slightly :)

[BrokenShell]

I wish I had a hardcore gym closer to me. I think the closest one is probably a 25 min drive, which isnt' horrible. My gym is ok though, there's some pretty big guys in there and a few powerlifters just started training there. I'm thinking about opening one when I get my full time job settled. I just want a unit in an industrial mall, small office, bay door, loud music and lots of weights.

[rose07]

You know that gym that at one time you were a member to or currently are that makes you wanna lift everything you see. That due to the enviroment you have no distractions. There are no girls, no tv's, no fancy floor mats. Your biggest luxury is an old speaker spittin' out Metallica. Just hardcore equipment that is beat to shit from bears throwing weight around. My favorite gym just closed. It was down on the wrong side of town and i loved every second of it. Going into my freshmen year of high school i lifted a fancy gym with nice basketball courts, and pretty raquet ball courts. My buddy came and lifted with me one day and told me to take a trip down to his gym. Thank God i listened. We rode our bikes down and i was amazed. Some bear sitting at the front desk just let me in to check it out. It was all crumbling brick inside. No floor matts... Just big slabs of concrete with plate scratch's all over it... The closest thing to air conditiong was the garage doors they opened up and two huge industrial fans. Not one hot babe in sight. The closest thing to some ass was a 6'1'' chick who repped 185. I went back to the squat rack and there on the wall where the etches of someone who was trying to add up weights. The total was 820. I lived in that place for 4 years. Now i go to a decent place. Still some hardcore lifters but noone really knows each other and it isn't like it was. At the old place i could never talk to a guy but know everything about him from just watching him train. I knew some guys in there for 4 years and never had to say a word to them.... That's what hardcore living is all about...

[vIShuS]

I hear ya bro. Its umcommon today to find one of those gyms where it actually means something to go in there and lift. Now-a-days its all about how many TV's, speakers, and mahcines with 10 pulleys on it you can find in the prissy smelling squaeky clean "fitness centers". I have a weightroom in my school thats shoved in the corner of the school down a small, dark hallway that I head off to everyday after school. It doesnt have all the machines, A.C., TV, or hott chiks that are found in the other 'gyms' out there. The only matter to be found in there are dumbells, free weights, chalk, and the wonderful smell of sweat n puke. after I graduate im going to end up in your situation kind of, not knowing where to find one of those places where its all about the weights and not the showy stuff. Hope your search wont be for long and you find another gym you can call home.


-SiSu

[SAMSON]

i wish that i could find a hardcore gym. i live in columbus and have not been able to find a gym that i actually like. i that westside barbell would be sweet but i dont have the credentials to make it in there. i used to love my high school's gym. it was in the basement under the old basketball gym. it was dimly lit with nothing but the essentials, lots of plates, power andsquat racks and a few machines. it had the old reciever and speakers from the 70's and a CD player full of metal. add in my powerlifting coach that sat in the corner and yelled at me all the time and it was perfect. i lifted during school and everyday when that final bell rang i went straight to that basement to work my ass off. i have never found another gym that motivated me to get in there and work.
i feel the pain of your loss, brother.

[born0withno0soul]

Hi guys, i wanted to know if anyone was from the denver, colorado area why knew of any bodybuilding and powerlifting gyms. i currently use a 24 hour fitness gym and they have good equipment, and the staff does not bother me no matter how loud i am at times. but the atmosphere is not right for me. i want to step it up and be around people who understand what lifestyle i have chosen.

[Big Brad]

I joined this gym not knowing that men are only aloud to work out on monday's wednesday's and fridays. what about the other days when i need something to take my anger out on? This place only has one bench and it is a machine bench. so just incase someone cant handle the 185 pounds that they are putting up then they wont get squished like a pancake. everyone stands around watching the t.v. and asking me how to do all these (crazy) exercises. um actually it's called focusing on a body part and beating the living shit out of it.

[Dingo06]

I joined this gym not knowing that men are only aloud to work out on monday's wednesday's and fridays. what about the other days when i need something to take my anger out on? This place only has one bench and it is a machine bench. so just incase someone cant handle the 185 pounds that they are putting up then they wont get squished like a pancake. everyone stands around watching the t.v. and asking me how to do all these (crazy) exercises. um actually it's called focusing on a body part and beating the living shit out of it.
didn't they give you a tour before you signed the contract???

[spartan300]

As of last summer B&W in chicago is still around

The gym is still in existence. They recently put a fresh coat of grey paint on the concrete floor. NICE TOUCH GUYS!

[Hans]

As soon as I am done school, and have some money I am going to start building my own hardcore gym... Fuck I am sick and tired of these sisy ass gyms where they ask you why you doing what you do... I have never found a hardcore gym here in my town, but the one that I am going to comes pretty close.

[Young&Hungry]

Any hardcore gyms in Fairfield County, Connecticut other than Southside?

I hate that fucking Planet "Fitness" is anti-bodybuilder, nothing but smith machines and 80 pound dumbbells are the heaviest, and how I'm 15 and I'm one of the big boys in the gym.

[Mean Machine]

The gym at the university I went to was amazing. Down in the basement, not very good lighting, ancient equipment and most days you could hardly see through the dust from all of the chalk. It was hardcore in every sense of the word. The only people that used it were football players and the real hardcore lifters. That was where I really got into this game. Sure I lifted before then but I had no idea what I was doing.

Now all I have is some fitness center to workout at. It makes me sick everytime I walk in there and think about how good I used to have it.

[MUSCLE HEAD]

Im in FL, on the west coast , iwant to open my own gym here in cape coral. Looking for some way to come up with the money. Does anyone have any ideas on this . Im looking for all the help i can get. Thanks The MUSCLE HEAD

[anievan]

when i was going to college in albany i found a great gym, a powerlifters dream. this shit is strictly hard core, loud music and big lifts....if your ever up there check it out....http://albanystrength.com

[karthik]

if any of you stop by the st.louis area, be sure to check out Eagle's gym on Woodson, Rd. It is beyond hardcore, and has very powerful equipment that has withstood the test of time. Dont believe me, ask Jeff00z8(The Legion), I believe that is close to his username, he has trained with me at Eagle's gym.

[BigAnt]

I would like to know if Cutler ever trainer there back in his day, I believe he is from that part of Mass.

It looks like JSF sweet, if im ever up in that area I must check it out.

Right before Jay turned Pro, he trained in a old "pool house" at his buddy's place..was like a full hard-core comercial gym....

[HardcoreB52]

A Hardcore gym is going through an evolution. I found a great 4 month old gym here at Hill AFB. I would say that Hardcore can now be defined as the type of equipment, setup of the floor, and gym staff. i.e. deadlift stations, power racks, as compared to a whole gym floor loaded with simple cybex equipment. Here is to all the gyms who know what a power rack is and have 200lb dumbells, Hell Yea.

[SLEDGE]

I have my own hard core gym. I have my own equipement and weights. I set it all up in my basement. No distractions. I've kept it very simple. 2 olympic bars, leverage squat machine, olympic bench, flat bench, roman chair, pull-up bar (coming soon), about 1000 lbs of plates, preacher curl station, and dumbells. I can do just about everything I want/need to do. There isn't anything fancy, just me and the weights, and a whole lot of sweat.

[dIdDy]

as hardcore as it gets....

http://youtube.com/watch?v=BWtBFJuCMl4

[JChrontron]

Hey, do any of you guys live in the area, or know of any half way decent places to train in the Milwaukee area? I just had to move out here and thus far have found nothing. Thanks Brothers.

[JChrontron]

Bump**

[benmatthews90]

as hardcore as it gets....

http://youtube.com/watch?v=BWtBFJuCMl4

where is it?, no seriously im moving there now

[bharatoza]

Anyone know good gyms in Toronto/Scarborough?

[Hikeon3]

Iron Bodies Gym in Costa Mesa, CA.

I don't have any pics of it, but needless to say they polished the place up quite a bit to take these:

http://www.ironbodiesgym.com/about.html

I walked into it two weeks ago, thinking it was going to look like it did in the pictures. But all I saw was 4-5 weight belts scattered behind the dip bar and the chin up bar, a chalking station, and more iron piled near the cage than I'd ever seen before. Not to mention a bunch of hard looking grapplers practicing in the boxing ring and the owner, Larry, who is JACKED.

Nice find. I started lifting there the next day.

[jeff00z28]

if any of you stop by the st.louis area, be sure to check out Eagle's gym on Woodson, Rd. It is beyond hardcore, and has very powerful equipment that has withstood the test of time. Dont believe me, ask Jeff00z8(The Legion), I believe that is close to his username, he has trained with me at Eagle's gym.

ya its pretty sweet i've been there twice

[Roland]

Iron Bodies Gym in Costa Mesa, CA.

I don't have any pics of it, but needless to say they polished the place up quite a bit to take these:

http://www.ironbodiesgym.com/about.html

I walked into it two weeks ago, thinking it was going to look like it did in the pictures. But all I saw was 4-5 weight belts scattered behind the dip bar and the chin up bar, a chalking station, and more iron piled near the cage than I'd ever seen before. Not to mention a bunch of hard looking grapplers practicing in the boxing ring and the owner, Larry, who is JACKED.

Nice find. I started lifting there the next day.

Nice bro, fellow Animal on the west coast, gotta hit that gym up wit ya one day, haha. peace.

[Toni69]

Vinny G. and I trained at this sick gym..it was like a huge auto garage and it had a huge garage-like door (the kind that rolls up like a typical garage door does with chains), and it was always left half open so it was just blazing hot inside. This place is called Appolon (spelling)...its all red inside with pics hanging everywhere. The owner was cool too..had a juicebar. very cool, hardcore gym.

I will go back there.

[WillWest]

plenty in the UK but you've got to hunt for them. Couple i've been to are CEYMS in Norwich and Powercraft in Luton. Proper no frills gyms.

Mine is a half and half. Its the heaviest in the area and has all the decent equipment, squat rack, half power rack etc but also caters for everyone is so the machines and cardio is there too. Its not a bad thing as half the people there dont squat or deadlift the racks & bars are free for me.

[dexz101]

anyboyd know of any hardcore or ol skool gym in MD area? Currently lift at home, about to start payin dues at Golds if can't find one.

[Powerfreak]

anyboyd know of any hardcore or ol skool gym in MD area? Currently lift at home, about to start payin dues at Golds if can't find one.

Brickhouse fitness in perryville md phone 410-642-0020. Ask for Jimmy and tell em' i sent ya.

[Big Wides]

don't know if this gym has been said Iron Sport Gym in Glenolden, PA.

[Machine]

I have trained all over the world. My jump off point and the place where I stepped up my game was Bev Francis Golds gym as it was called then. Those people treated and still do treat me like family. The champions from all walks of life and every sport have stepped across that welcome mat , and if you go there without a plan of attack and a set of nuts you will be rolled over. There is venom in the air from the competition...training alongside guys you will see onstage at the end of the year...what a mind fuck. If you dont have what it takes you will find out quick. And anyone who knows Bev's other half will tell you...DO NOT ask him for an honest answer if you arent ready to hear the TRUTH..."you fat fuck ,what have you been eating , crisco sandwiches?" " you look like absolute shit, do not compete in that show and do not write down the name of this gym if you do" If you know Steve You will know I am telling the truth here. It forces you to up your game and focus...no room for pretenders there...and Dont you never , ever drop a 185 pounder on the floor...cause Steve will come out of his office with a baseball bat. You pick it up , rep it , and put it down nice and sweet. Thank you Bev and Steve for all you have done for this sport.

MACHINE

[herdz]

Hey guys, was wondering if theres any hardcore or bodybuilding gyms in ontario?

[girlbdybldr]

don't know if this gym has been said Iron Sport Gym in Glenolden, PA.

I trained once at Iron Sport. Very Hardcore.

The gym I train at is a dungeon and I love it. It is Basic Fitness in South Jersey, and it's open 24 hours.
You can wear what you want, use chalk, scream ... anything goes. It has the old arnold leg press, 100lb plates, the old rusty york plates, and I believe the dumbbells go up to 185 ... lots of old school equipment. Of course no air conditioning, but a big garage door for circulation.

[H Bomb]

My gym has one power rack that I had to beg for, and you might as well say it's mine because I am one of a handful that makes full use out of it. The dumbells only go to 150, so I had to get my own that goes up to 215 for my one arm rows. Hardcore is what you make of what you got.

[hjayss]

My boy trains at the ymca buy his house...I went with him on sunday the shit was like a dream hardcore as fuck the old tbar row machine iron weights not that shit that has the rubber around it they actually have 100lb plates what 100 lbs that was unreal to me..I can not weight to go back they even have a punching bag its called get this the bears den lots of old school chicago bears stuff on the wall hard core as hell....

[Maharg]

My gym has one power rack that I had to beg for, and you might as well say it's mine because I am one of a handful that makes full use out of it. The dumbells only go to 150, so I had to get my own that goes up to 215 for my one arm rows. Hardcore is what you make of what you got.

Only up to 150? I would love for my gyms DBs to go up to 150.

[MeatZatk]

I miss my high school weight room so much. There was an old wooden sign made by the shop class that read "4th quarter room" that hung on the wall. During my four years there, we all thought it was a piece of shit and were a little embarassed of it. The room was located behind the bleachers of the school gym, was about 20 feet wide by 200 feet long. Old wrestling mats covered the pothole ridden wood floors in the power clean area. Every bench had stuffing ripped out of random spots. Squat racks with rust, paint chips and even dried blood. I watched a guy lose part of a pinky on one of them. About thirty feet up on one side of the room there were these plastic "windows" if that's what you want to call them, but they didn't open. All they did was fry the fucking place. We got to check our form in cracked mirrors while lifting weights with spray paint on them indicating the actual weight. Most 45's were painted 47 or 48. Half of our collars worked, the other half would just fall off in the middle of our lifts. Lemme tell ya guys something, when you're going for a 1rm on the bench and one of the 2.5lb collars falls off, it really fucks with your mind. I went back to my high school to lift one summer only to find out that they opened up a brand new gym with new equipment. It broke my heart. Looking back at the high school days I could tell you guys that we didn't have the nicest gym, but we did have some fucking animals lifting in it!

[Big Wides]

another gem i dont know if it has been mentioned... Mans World Gym in Trenton, NJ

[bobbymart]

Ha my gym is hardcore when I lock the door at night simply because of the market I can't allow people to drop weight's I can't allow LOUD gruntin now if somthing is heavy it's heavy you have to make some noise however the money is with the flat screens and the pop music the 50 pieces of cardio there is a reason all the hardcore gym's have closed now im not saying it is right but you open a gym to make money!!!! unless you already have money then you open it for whatever reason!!! Now when I lock the doors at night and me and a select few train we tear it up, we crank up the metal and go to work!!!!

[Honor]

Mack's Gym in Toronto Canada, totally old school, hardcore, the guy welded half the machines himself. 50+ year old weights too. Its too bad but it closed down..

[Stiff]

Hey guys, was wondering if theres any hardcore or bodybuilding gyms in ontario?

Yeah man, Hard Knox. Send me a pm and we'll train together. Screw that, I'll sen you a pm now.

[rogan181]

So brothers, what's YOUR idea of the perfect gym?

Black walls, Flat/Incline and Decline BB Benches, Flat/Incline and Decline DB Benches, Racks of DBs, Trees of the plastic weights, An Area of matting to do cleans, DLs, rows etc on, and a wall of squat racks

I hope to have a gym like this when i'm older...rent out a storeage dock and build it...i'll name it "Hypertrophic Hell"

[bobbymart]

ok what about a hardcore gym in NC the Raleigh area?? anyone know of any?

[Erik]

I just joined Dumbell's health and fitness in North Bergan NJ and all I can say is wow!! The place is huge, has db"s up to 150, 100lb plates,allows chalk, is open 24hrs and has autographed pics on the wall of Arnold, Lou ferigno, Dorian yates and our animal brother Vinny Galanti ! I dont even mind the 35 min bus ride.

[Pizzalamp]

wow
sounds sweet
congrats

[excessive endorphins]

how far from me?

springfield,nj,union county 07081


do they allow guests?

[Torque757]

Awsome brother, I wish my gym allowed chalk...

[excessive endorphins]

bally's doesnt allow it,ask if i care?

not pullin 500+ w/o chalk...

just clean up after myself

[Torque757]

bally's doesnt allow it,ask if i care?

not pullin 500+ w/o chalk...

just clean up after myself

Well, this is at the campus "HPER" fitness center... two employees up top in the weight room, and I go early when hardly anyones there so their eyes are on ME the whole time. Since I do have chalk though, I think I might try to sneak some by anyways.

[Cstlfx]

Sounds real nice bro. Have fun tearin up the iron.

[Erik]

how far from me?

springfield,nj,union county 07081


do they allow guests?

They do allow guests! Im not sure how far it is from you, But I am always down to train with a fellow animal!

[IRN-NML]

Check out this list if it already hasn't been mentioned; emphasis on powrelifting but the good thing, many of them have websites so you can take a look at the gyms.

http://www.powerliftingwatch.com/gyms

[excessive endorphins]

They do allow guests! Im not sure how far it is from you, But I am always down to train with a fellow animal!

awesome,pm me bro tell me about yourself,maxes and training technique and a lil background ill be sure to do the same

[Wasteland]

I posted this question in another thread, but I thought I'd ask here--anyone know if Ocean State Gym is still around in RI?

[Genetix]

Hard Nock's Gym in AMesbury Ma, still my stomping grounds after all these years. 150lb dumbells, plenty of plates and nothing too fancy for equipment.

[BamBam92]

"WESTSIDE BARBELL"...Dunno if anyone has said that but shit dude...the 2 most hardcore gyms I have ever seen or read about would have to be Metroflex and Westside...places are just sick...

[hjayss]

USA GYM CHICAGO...7621 W 100TH Pl
Bridgeview, IL 60455-2432
Phone: (708) 598-3846

[walkintobattle]

I lift at my schools Rec Center, it is set up for some hardcore training. 4 Squat Racks, a 6 or 8 Benches and Big Dumbells.

I go at 6:30 a.m. Only a couple people lift this early, and we all stay out of eachothers way. If you go later than noon, it is so packed you can't move. Not sure if thats a problem at alot of schools or not.

[sanga]

I train in a gym where there are no women, well you get the odd one wander in, smell the sweat/farting and hear the swearing and go out again, lol The gym is mainly builders/construction workers who are into bodybuilding or powerlifting, no posers, no get biceps and abs for the summer trainers and we can do what we like, chalk, drinks, the lot.

The only one downside is the crap trance music they play, hence I use an I-POD.

One of he best gyms I`ve seen is Metroflex in Texas, hardcore and plays good heavy music, see Branch Warrens DVD.

I hate the chrome palaces where you can`t take drinks in, no chalk, no swearing, have to use a towel on all the equipment, women posing and men looking at them all the time, no boots, have to wear trainers/sneekers that are not for street wear, unreal, give me a good old dungeon gym anytime.

[MassMan]

I train in a gym where there are no women, well you get the odd one wander in, smell the sweat/farting and hear the swearing and go out again, lol The gym is mainly builders/construction workers who are into bodybuilding or powerlifting, no posers, no get biceps and abs for the summer trainers and we can do what we like, chalk, drinks, the lot.

The only one downside is the crap trance music they play, hence I use an I-POD.

One of he best gyms I`ve seen is Metroflex in Texas, hardcore and plays good heavy music, see Branch Warrens DVD.

I hate the chrome palaces where you can`t take drinks in, no chalk, no swearing, have to use a towel on all the equipment, women posing and men looking at them all the time, no boots, have to wear trainers/sneekers that are not for street wear, unreal, give me a good old dungeon gym anytime.

Man, I hear ya. I used to train at Metroflex when I lived in Arlington, but now since I moved to Maryland, I have yet to find a gym with that sort of intensity and insanity. I wage war with the weights in my garage, so its not that bad.

[sanga]

I`d fucking love to train at Metroflex, not because of who trains there as I couldn`t care if I was the only one training but because of what the gym means.

[prowrestler]

I`d fucking love to train at Metroflex, not because of who trains there as I couldn`t care if I was the only one training but because of what the gym means.

i would love too actuall train along side ronnie coleman or brach but i think branch trains at his own gym now. but i would love metro flex so much more then my gym. my gym aint bad, fairly hardcore inside but poisned with assclowns who come into it. it has an olympic section, chalk is aloud, drinks, the towels are technically mandatory but no one says somethin if you forget them. there is like 6-8 power racks and 4 smith machines. dumbbells up to 175 pounds. aint to bad but metro flex is where i wanna be.

[TXPWRLFTR]

If you guys ever come this way out in West Texas or drive by on business or whatever, stop by our gym, The Gym. It is hardcore...chalk...metal music...no posers...various lifters from all walks of life...We have boxers upstairs along with MMA fighters...everyone is very supportive and pushes the next person or helps out...
The Gym
2617 N Golder
Odessa, TX 79761

It is small but very hardcore!

[MassMan]

Yeah, the best thing about Metroflex is that nobody gives a shit how much you can bench or squat. You could have a worldclass powerlifter squat 700lbs raw and they could care less. You just go on about your business. God, I already miss Texas. Too many pussies and posers in the DC area. Need to book a trip to Texas sometime soon. Damn man, you got me homesick!!!

[Ed_UK]

sanga what gym do you train at?

I used to train at Atrium A-max in cambridge UK for abit, that was good

now I just train near windsor Uk, the gym isnt great but a couple of the trainers know there shit and are more than happy to let you train in or help out if there know your serious

[callme47]

My idea of a perfect gym would be open 24 hours every weight possible,minimal "high tech" machines. Only allows us animal brothers.

i agree

[sanga]

sanga what gym do you train at?

I used to train at Atrium A-max in cambridge UK for abit, that was good

now I just train near windsor Uk, the gym isnt great but a couple of the trainers know there shit and are more than happy to let you train in or help out if there know your serious


whoa, what gym? You have The Gallery Gym and Castle Gym in Windsor mate.

I`m at Bodyzone in Bracknell at the moment but will be moving to Gallery soon as I`m moving house over that way.

[Ed_UK]

fuckin hell mate! bracknell, im in Egham at the moment, im only here for a year though, love the place, tons off countryside and miles of river and roads for running and biking.

yeh Ive heard about the gallery, in dedworth isnt it?

I train at Egham Leisure Centre, basically im off work with an ankle break now, but im gonna be back by the end off march, and hopefully after a few weeks rehab (loads of swimming at windsor probly haha), then trying to get back into some sort of weights by april.

Ed :)

[sanga]

fuckin hell mate! bracknell, im in Egham at the moment, im only here for a year though, love the place, tons off countryside and miles of river and roads for running and biking.

yeh Ive heard about the gallery, in dedworth isnt it?

I train at Egham Leisure Centre, basically im off work with an ankle break now, but im gonna be back by the end off march, and hopefully after a few weeks rehab (loads of swimming at windsor probly haha), then trying to get back into some sort of weights by april.

Ed :)


I`m moving to Egham within the next 4-6 weeks I hope, selling my house and I`ll be training at the Gallery or Castle, yes The Gallery is near Dedworth.

Small world eh mate?

[Enforcer]

The gym I train at is hardcore- Bridgewater Sports Arena in Bridgewater, NJ and also World's Gym in Dunellen, NJ. Two of the most hardcore gyms in Central, NJ.

[Shaffer_515]

Is it me or is the East coast really the last of the dying breed?

[Ed_UK]

I`m moving to Egham within the next 4-6 weeks I hope, selling my house and I`ll be training at the Gallery or Castle, yes The Gallery is near Dedworth.

Small world eh mate?

haha yeah indeed!

yeah i wanna pop over to the gallary at some point to check it out, though l be the littlest guy there lol :)

[sanga]

Oh there are some big boys in there mate.

[MassMan]

The gym I train at is hardcore- Bridgewater Sports Arena in Bridgewater, NJ and also World's Gym in Dunellen, NJ. Two of the most hardcore gyms in Central, NJ.

You are lucky. I wish I had access to a gym like that.

[JUGGERNAUT]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcAbFDQ3TrY

[Matt Dickerson]

Here is my gym fellas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtNt8wx2yKY

[BrotherInArms]

No joke.. I'm trying to build one in my garage. The gym I work at did some expanding and got rid of a whole bunch of inventory.. Squat racks, bars, mats, benches, all that.

[newbreed]

The gym for the ABC today Strong and Shapely in E. Rutherford was fucking HARDCORE! Best gym I have ever seen. Couldn't imagine a more hardcore one.