Equipment Crew- Part II

[ExtremistPullup]

Great photo!

Did you put the turtle on a mirror?

Anyway, I really like the reflection and the otherwise dark background.

Ya the flash caused it to go dark

[vodorod33]

Sup brethren.

I'm prob the only crew member without a GHD. I'm considering building one, but those huge pads are a problem. Do you really need those anyway to do the exercise? I did some ghetto-ing and it seemed to me that I needed padding underneath me knees....not some big ass pads in front of them. Thoughts?

Picking up some steel today to start a pendulum leg press project. I wish I could afford a Hammer Strength unit. I love those.

[AttyGuy]

Sup brethren. I'm prob the only crew member without a GHD.

I'm not sure which is more interesting: that you are a crew member or that you are 6'9" and 600 lbs.

[KBKB]

... even if my knee was 100%.

How's the knee doing?

[Keetman]

I'm not sure which is more interesting: that you are a crew member or that you are 6'9" and 600 lbs.

I think it's most interesting that he is the only crew member without a number

[Northernmoris]

Thought this was interesting. Gonna post pics. Here's the link: http://hudsonvalley.craigslist.org/spo/3198551729.html

[dumb.bell]

Sup brethren.

I'm prob the only crew member without a GHD. I'm considering building one, but those huge pads are a problem. Do you really need those anyway to do the exercise? I did some ghetto-ing and it seemed to me that I needed padding underneath me knees....not some big ass pads in front of them. Thoughts?

Picking up some steel today to start a pendulum leg press project. I wish I could afford a Hammer Strength unit. I love those.

In my opinion the ghetto is a totally different exercise, much harder and yes the padding is definitely needed under the knees for those. With regards to a proper GHD, yes you want the big rounded pads. You can build those pads with flat padding, you just need to build some wooden arches. Cut two pieces of plywood with the desired arch. With the arches up, connect the pieces with 2 x 2s.

I couldn't find a picture of what I'm describing but this should give you an idea. You would cut your plywood the shape of the cutout in this picture but the 2 x 2s would be put in place like the 2 x 4s in the picture.

[nflan113]

I think it's most interesting that he is the only crew member without a number

Wait a second....[checks sig]. How do I get a crew number?

[yankeemarko1]

How's the knee doing?

The knee is doing better. Thanks for asking. I'm no longer using the leg brace for everyday activity. The doc released me with no restrictions on July 30th. The only restriction is my common sense. I go in on Tuesday to be fitted for a custom ACL brace. Since my ACL is still completely torn, I'll need to wear it if I hike or do anything off the normal paved world. He suggested I use it for a year and see how I feel. If I'm good, then I will not get the ACL repaired. He was really pleased with how my knee is doing and said I'm months ahead of schedule. I've worked hard at the physical therapy and it definitely pays off.

I started lifting again 2 weeks ago and it's been going well. I'm doing my normal 5 day split. The only difference is on leg day, I'm still just doing bodyweight exercises. The doc said if I can do 15 bodyweight squats, I can start adding weight slowly, but I feel that I need to strengthen my leg through normal use first. It's still pretty skinny.

I'm in no hurry and am not going to hurt myself trying to do too much too soon. Hopefully, the stiffness will get better over time. I have to get up about every 30 minutes at work and walk around. Sitting at a desk seems to make it stiff as hell.

[Northernmoris]

Wait a second....[checks sig]. How do I get a crew number?

The magic crew fairy nominates at random. Only good little equipment whores stand a chance. No rhyme, no reason. Once your in your in for life.

[animalfan]

I think it's most interesting that he is the only crew member without a number

Thought this was interesting. Gonna post pics. Here's the link: http://hudsonvalley.craigslist.org/spo/3198551729.html

That's pretty cool, but I don't know how easy that will be to use for a rack. The j-hooks would be hard to get the bar out of without standing on the platform for the "squat machine". I do like the idea of it, just need some better hooks and safeties.

The magic crew fairy nominates at random. Only good little equipment whores stand a chance. No rhyme, no reason. Once your in your in for life.

For life, btches!

[KBKB]

The knee is doing better.
...
I'm in no hurry and am not going to hurt myself trying to do too much too soon. Hopefully, the stiffness will get better over time. I have to get up about every 30 minutes at work and walk around. Sitting at a desk seems to make it stiff as hell.

Glad to hear that your knee is doing better.

The invite to go hiking sometime still stands if you're interested. No hurry though and no pressure...

[AttyGuy]

For life, btches!

Exactly.

[nflan113]

The magic crew fairy nominates at random. Only good little equipment whores stand a chance. No rhyme, no reason. Once your in your in for life.

Ok.... and so I wait....

[MC707]

Ok.... and so I wait....

I reckon nflan should be accepted into the equipment crew. He's helped me and many others in our home gym equipment pursuit. Plus he's a fairly veteran BB member. He deserves it IMO.

[daniel327]

Ok.... and so I wait....

Your chances will be significantly enhanced if you forward a monetary donation to each existing equipment crew member.

[Hishiad]

The updates...


I've gotten a ton done on the caprice, but no longer have plans to sell it. So unless something changes (wife starts work, or I get more $$$) no idea when I'll be getting the weight set I've been looking for...granted if something shows up on CL that's a stellar deal I'll have the extra $$$ in my budget, but no luck yet.

[nflan113]

I reckon nflan should be accepted into the equipment crew. He's helped me and many others in our home gym equipment pursuit. Plus he's a fairly veteran BB member. He deserves it IMO.

Thanks for the recommendation... Btw, your gym came a long way in the recent couple weeks, nice job with the build so far!

Your chances will be significantly enhanced if you forward a monetary donation to each existing equipment crew member.

Damn, all my money is being spent on equipment for the final part of my gym build... I'm broke.

[yankeemarko1]

Glad to hear that your knee is doing better.

The invite to go hiking sometime still stands if you're interested. No hurry though and no pressure...

I'll remember that. I won't be doing any hiking till at least late October and then it will be the easy trails. I want to see how I feel in sand, dirt, hard scrabble etc... I think any kind of climbing will be an issue at first. I just started walking down the stairs normally. Well, kind of normally. I still have to hold the railing and concentrate on each step. Going upstairs is much easier. Who knew?

[animalfan]

Ok, not sure if I've ever mentioned this. My wife and I named our 5 year old son after a former Detroit Tigers catcher (Vance Wilson). He was a backup for the Tigers, but played for the KC Royals for a long time before coming to Detroit. Anyway, we bought our son one of his game used bats last Christmas, and he loved it. He wished it was autographed, so we sent an email last week to the team he manages (minor league team in Delaware). He called us and left a voice-mail the next day, and we called him back this afternoon. He talked to my son, left an address to sent the bat so he could sign it.

It's cool to me that he took the time and offered to sign the bat and send a few other things to my son. He also asked for a couple pics of my boy, so I emailed him a few tonight. He said a couple times that he was "humbled and honored" that we would name our kid after him, seems like a genuinely nice guy.

[animalfan]

I'll remember that. I won't be doing any hiking till at least late October and then it will be the easy trails. I want to see how I feel in sand, dirt, hard scrabble etc... I think any kind of climbing will be an issue at first. I just started walking down the stairs normally. Well, kind of normally. I still have to hold the railing and concentrate on each step. Going upstairs is much easier. Who knew?

I work with a guy that walks down the steps backwards because of previous knee surgeries. It's kind of odd, but makes sense. They don't like him to do it at work though.

I'm glad that you are healing up, yankee!

[yankeemarko1]

I work with a guy that walks down the steps backwards because of previous knee surgeries. It's kind of odd, but makes sense. They don't like him to do it at work though.

I'm glad that you are healing up, yankee!

I was butt walking up the stairs for over 3 months. What a pain. Then, I could walk up and down, but only one step at a time. I never thought about walking down backwards. It's probably good that I didn't. No doubt I would have fallen ass over teakettle and been balled up in a lump at the bottom.

[KBKB]

I want to see how I feel in sand, dirt, hard scrabble etc... I think any kind of climbing will be an issue at first. I just started walking down the stairs normally. Well, kind of normally. I still have to hold the railing and concentrate on each step. Going upstairs is much easier. Who knew?

That brings back memories. I broke my left ankle and shattered my right heel in the early nineties. I found it difficult to walk downstairs too. Walking, even slowly, on uneven terrain was very challenging, even when I used a walking stick. It took me several years before I started trying to hike over four miles at a time.

Many times, my foot hurts when I finish a hike, but trigger point therapy has helped a lot. It used to be that I'd never know if I could put weight on my right foot when I got out of my vehicle after driving home - often it would hurt too much to fully weight it. These days, assuming that I've kept up on the leg massages in the days preceding, my foot is usually good for some fairly long hikes and I'm able to weight that right foot without much pain at all after driving home.

[Northernmoris]

Ok, not sure if I've ever mentioned this. My wife and I named our 5 year old son after a former Detroit Tigers catcher (Vance Wilson). He was a backup for the Tigers, but played for the KC Royals for a long time before coming to Detroit. Anyway, we bought our son one of his game used bats last Christmas, and he loved it. He wished it was autographed, so we sent an email last week to the team he manages (minor league team in Delaware). He called us and left a voice-mail the next day, and we called him back this afternoon. He talked to my son, left an address to sent the bat so he could sign it.

It's cool to me that he took the time and offered to sign the bat and send a few other things to my son. He also asked for a couple pics of my boy, so I emailed him a few tonight. He said a couple times that he was "humbled and honored" that we would name our kid after him, seems like a genuinely nice guy.

It's nice to know that there is guys still out there like that. Most of them now are ego/money driven, I'm surprised some guys don't try and charge for a wave or smile.

[AttyGuy]

The updates...


I've gotten a ton done on the caprice, but no longer have plans to sell it. So unless something changes (wife starts work, or I get more $$$) no idea when I'll be getting the weight set I've been looking for...granted if something shows up on CL that's a stellar deal I'll have the extra $$$ in my budget, but no luck yet.

Weight equipment for an equipment forum member is self financing. You start with a small amount, buy, and flip what you don't need or want.

[KBKB]

Below are some new clubs that I got last week. More photos here.

[pumping4life]

The knee is doing better. Thanks for asking. I'm no longer using the leg brace for everyday activity. The doc released me with no restrictions on July 30th. The only restriction is my common sense. I go in on Tuesday to be fitted for a custom ACL brace. Since my ACL is still completely torn, I'll need to wear it if I hike or do anything off the normal paved world. He suggested I use it for a year and see how I feel. If I'm good, then I will not get the ACL repaired. He was really pleased with how my knee is doing and said I'm months ahead of schedule. I've worked hard at the physical therapy and it definitely pays off.

I started lifting again 2 weeks ago and it's been going well. I'm doing my normal 5 day split. The only difference is on leg day, I'm still just doing bodyweight exercises. The doc said if I can do 15 bodyweight squats, I can start adding weight slowly, but I feel that I need to strengthen my leg through normal use first. It's still pretty skinny.

I'm in no hurry and am not going to hurt myself trying to do too much too soon. Hopefully, the stiffness will get better over time. I have to get up about every 30 minutes at work and walk around. Sitting at a desk seems to make it stiff as hell.

Good to hear you're making steady progress.

Ok, not sure if I've ever mentioned this. My wife and I named our 5 year old son after a former Detroit Tigers catcher (Vance Wilson). He was a backup for the Tigers, but played for the KC Royals for a long time before coming to Detroit. Anyway, we bought our son one of his game used bats last Christmas, and he loved it. He wished it was autographed, so we sent an email last week to the team he manages (minor league team in Delaware). He called us and left a voice-mail the next day, and we called him back this afternoon. He talked to my son, left an address to sent the bat so he could sign it.

It's cool to me that he took the time and offered to sign the bat and send a few other things to my son. He also asked for a couple pics of my boy, so I emailed him a few tonight. He said a couple times that he was "humbled and honored" that we would name our kid after him, seems like a genuinely nice guy.

That is a great story. I think we hear many cool stories about athletes that have a positive spin, but there are so many that come off as a-holes that they stick in our heads.

That brings back memories. I broke my left ankle and shattered my right heel in the early nineties. I found it difficult to walk downstairs too. Walking, even slowly, on uneven terrain was very challenging, even when I used a walking stick. It took me several years before I started trying to hike over four miles at a time.

Many times, my foot hurts when I finish a hike, but trigger point therapy has helped a lot. It used to be that I'd never know if I could put weight on my right foot when I got out of my vehicle after driving home - often it would hurt too much to fully weight it. These days, assuming that I've kept up on the leg massages in the days preceding, my foot is usually good for some fairly long hikes and I'm able to weight that right foot without much pain at all after driving home.

That was painful just reading that!

[dumb.bell]

I reckon nflan should be accepted into the equipment crew. He's helped me and many others in our home gym equipment pursuit. Plus he's a fairly veteran BB member. He deserves it IMO.

I agree!! He has my support!!

[jfindon]

Most stuff at sporting good stores is low to mid range quality. Most Everlast bags sold at those places are utter trash.

There are some online stores that have crazy sales from time to time.

Definitely check these (especially the closeout sections)
www.ringside.com
www.titleboxing.com
www.combatsports.com

I got a 6' , 100lb Muay Thai bag (he may want this kind if he does kickboxing) from Combat Sports that is normally $300 for $100 and the shipping for this was only $5!

Ok, I'm guessing the shipping was part of the deal too? I know it says $5 flat rate shipping, but the quote for one of the bags was $82. I'm also not sure a 100lb bag would be good for someone who only weighs 150lbs, but I could be off base. I don't see any real deals to be had if the shipping is that much, so she may just have to settle for one from a sporting goods store...

[KBKB]

2nd page bump with another pair of photos...

I took this photo last Wednesday. There was a dust storm off in the distance with a fairly sizable rainbow in its midst. Shortly after taking that photo, the wind whipped up around our house and there was a noticeable taste of dust in the air. It rained a little while later.

The first photo is pretty much what it looked like when I took that exposure, though I did enhance the rainbow somewhat. (I made a layer that I sharpened, then created a layer mask for that layer with only the rainbow visible.) I showed it to my daughter, but she was disappointed because she had seen me working on a version where the dust storm had a golden glow, perhaps looking more like a firestorm than a dust storm. It was easy to get that effect, so I made the second one for her. Most of the folks who've looked at them so far like the second version better than the first.