Got the news today that the gym I'd just joined recently is closing down! Was devastated when I heard, it's been such a good gym over the time I've used it for all the reasons I've detailed in the past (quiet, easy to do vids, good space for vert stuff), but the gym industry is a struggle I guess. It's not a commerical chain gym, just one guy running it and they just couldn't keep up any more without jacking up memberships by 30-40% so that's that.
On the plus side, I went today just after the owner emailed everyone about the closure and I was able to talk to him about buying some of the equipment. In the end I was able to grab:
- The squat rack
- 20kg Bar
- 180kgs of plates (2x25, 4x20, 2x15, 2x10)
- Incline adjustable bench
- Back extension bench
- Spin bike (gf wanted one but I'll prob use it as well)
All that for $1200AUD! Might also get some other cheap stuff like the ab wheel and one of the smaller bodypump barbells with 2x5/2x2.5kg plates. Pretty good deal really. It's all quality equipment, no cheap crap and it's stuff that'll last me awhile. I really have almost everything I use regularly, and enough weight plates to keep me occupied for a few years at least. Eventually I'd get a few dumbbells and maybe some bands and something for pullups but you can do so much with just a good squat rack and a barbell obviously. At the moment I can't set it all up where I live in Melbourne but I'll keep the squat rack/weights etc. at my parents' place in Geelong (about an hour away from Melbourne). So whenever I go home there'll be stuff I can use, and when I get a place with a bit of room I'll have the foundations of a good home gym.
Gym:
Just messed around with UB and core stuff, legs pretty dead from yesterday. Pullups, DB bench press, DB shoulder press, dips, front squat rack holds with 70kgs.
BW: 78kgs