The one thing I’d say is advantage to a commercial gym over home based, park based, even strongman gym based (to some degree – despite atlas stones) training is the sheer quantity of options for angles whilst training back.
Yeah, you can do some pullups, a bunch of band pull aparts, and get real creative with dumbbell and barbell options – it’s still simpler to jump on a bunch of machines and use the cables as conventionally or unconventionally as you want.
(In addition to barbell pulls, pullups, preferably weighted, and dumbbell options.)
I miss the seated row, and I miss the concept2 erg.
Even with my current economics the $1045 price tag sounds more and more reasonable.
I always believed there to be some hypertrophy stimulus from the rowing erg – it’s not “just” a cardio machine.
Notably I’ve seen a bodybuilder type use a ski erg as a triceps tension exercise one arm at a time.
Two more things equipment wise – 7ft 45lb axles and 7ft 45lb ez curl bars.
I know both to be in existence, though they both should be, and are not, a common sight.
This society, in a far more awesome – imaginary utopian version, would have a strongman type gym, culture and equipment, be the norm instead of the mamby pamby no chalk, shoes on, shirt required, mirrors everywhere, pop “music” playing, overly cleaned, to use Brooks Kubik’s term “chrome and fern” type travesties that are common.
…..
12/11/22
Today I did not lift.
I had the time yes, though ended up spending the day with food and a nap.
It’s fucking bullshit how much my psyche has been conditioned to “need” a gym to commute to, to function more powerfully at life.
The yard doesn’t cut it!
Yet The Cold Air Barbell Club is a gift!
I have to make shit happen with it, whatever it is.
…..
Tomorrow I lift, buy groceries, etc.
My psyche has this deep yearning to do “bodybuilder” properly.
My take that is.
(Natural, “powerbuilding”, a bunch of unconventional training with it – weighted pushups, every strongman implement, etc)
Persistence & Tenacity