Gyms to consider if you live in or are visiting ---

**ctgblue** · 10-19-2006, 05:34 PM

This thread is for gyms you have used, belong to, have worked out in during a trip to --- whatever city
Give gym name and full contact info with a short review.

Don't ask questions in here, ask them in another thread, this is for reviews only

Help out your fellow travelers and people who may be moving to your area

**ctgblue** · 10-19-2006, 05:34 PM

Grand Rapids Michigan

MVP Sports Plex
http://www.mvpsportsclubs.com/mvpsportsplex/

Over 300 pieces of cardiovascular and strength equipment
Three group exercise/aerobic studios
Indoor Aquatic Center with two heated pools
Outdoor Aquatic Center with a 25 yard six lane lap pool and two twist slides
Tennis Facility with six indoor courts
Spa-quality locker rooms with steam room, sauna, whirlpool and two private massage treatment rooms
Kid’s Stuff area for children 0-12 years of age
Instructional classes and programs for adults and children available in basketball, swimming and tennis

This is a VERY Nice Club
Really Focused on Couples and Family type memberships.
This club only has DB's up to 100lbs, which is more than adequate for most people. But they do have two massive HS Power racks, freemotion equipment, and a BIG ass pool with dual waterslides and indoor basketball and tennis courts.
It is pretty expensive for a single membership, but add a spouse and a jid or two and it becomes very reasonable.

After chatting with the sales manager, he agreed that the basic gym rat who just wants to lift and a little cardio, may be better off at the small powerhouse gym nearby, but for a family this is the place.

Very clean, well staffed, nice club

**ctgblue** · 10-19-2006, 05:35 PM

Greenville, South Carolina

Peak Fitness
1440 Pelham Rd
Greenville, SC 29615
(864) 281-0777

has turned into a complete pig stye, members now refer to it as Puke Fitness, plates left everywhere, db's on the floor, people getting fungal infections from benches, showers don;t work, etc..
Lazy staff that cares more about gangsta rap and cheeseburgers than keeping the place clean, mgt does not have a clue about how to run a nice gym, from what I hear, this is a corporate thing

**ctgblue** · 10-19-2006, 05:35 PM

Cadillac, Michigan

Better Bodies Health & Fitness
412 S Mitchell St
Cadillac, MI 49601
(231) 775-3300
priority-health.com

Nice little basic gym
6-8 treadmills, a few flat benches, DB's up to 110 or 120, Crossover and military setups, squat rack, etc...

A decent small gym, for a small town like Cadillac, this is a better gym than the majority I have seen in small towns. No nonsense members, you can get in a good workout unless you go real heavy on DB presses like I do, then you can go for reps (I got 22 on incline with the 110's).

If you stay at the Hampton Inn, they have a reciprocal agreement. If you live there, check it our, it's a good spot.

Post Workout meal at the Mexican Food spot by the Hampton Inn up the hill is mandatory.

**ctgblue** · 10-19-2006, 05:35 PM

Lansing, Michigan

Gold's Gym
4790 S Hagadorn Rd # 134C
East Lansing, MI 48823
(517) 827-4653
goldsgym.com

This club is right across from some of the college dorms for MI State.
It is decently equipped, but kind of small for the location.
The club was basically clean, but I could not find any straight Olympic Bars available. The power rack was old and kind of shaky, but basically solid. They do have a regular and steep angle leg press selection, a decent collection of DB's, etc...

If all you want is a no frills workout, this is a good choice. But if you want fancy and nice, you may need to look elsewhere.

**ctgblue** · 10-19-2006, 05:35 PM

Charlotte, North Carolina

Gold's Gym
8109 University City Blvd
Charlotte, NC 28213
(704) 548-0202

This is a realy nice golds
lots of equipment, very clean, with a staff that actually keeps on people to pick up their crap
Highly recommended

kimsquit · 10-19-2006, 08:40 PM

Marina Del Rey, California

World Gym
3205 Washington Blvd.
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292
P: 310-306-9912

I've trained here a few times and thoroughly recommend it. The staff are relaxed and very welcoming, the facility is spotless and the equipment is top-notch. To top it off, they have an open-air free-weight section out back (it's roofed in) that will make you feel like you're in the middle of "Pumping Iron".

~ Chris

wide lats · 10-20-2006, 02:59 AM

ENGLAND NEWCASTLE AND NORTH EAST COUNTIES.

Gateshead International stadium, powerlifting and olympic lifting, bodybuilding, mature men and women. Basic weights and machines, great showers, clean and most of all friendly and professional. Has its own Olympic and powerlifting clubs.

http://www.weights.demon.co.uk

wide lats · 10-20-2006, 03:01 AM

ENGLAND, BIRMINGHAM.

Dorians gym, the best! speaks for itself.

http://www.templegym.com

wide lats · 10-20-2006, 03:12 AM

ENGLAND, NEWCASTLE.

Goldstar health club, run by Raffick who has been in the sport as long as i have

loads of pics of people like Bernie Price, Dorian Yates, all the British Pros and top amateurs signed and autographed on the walls, decent equipment as you would find in England but not up to USA standards, its hardcore and brutal and good if you are a bodybuilder, clean enough for me and friendly atmosphere, has toilets and showers, as well as help and advice for free.

Goldstar Health Club

Address: Goldstar Health Club
69-71 Heaton Rd
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE6 5HH

wide lats · 10-20-2006, 03:23 AM

ENGLAND NORTH EAST, HARTLEPOOL.

This was a pretty decent gym, loads of equipment, i didnt bother with the cardio or the pool and other stuff, its clean, friendly, easy to get to. Has women only if your a woman who sees guys as sexual predators or deranged killers

personally i would have ditched the women only stuff and kept it mixed, but if its your thing its a decent place.

http://ellwoodsfitnessworld.co.uk/

jtroster · 10-20-2006, 07:05 AM

The Nubody's chain has 14 locations in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Newfoundland. I worked out in the Torbay Road location in St. Johns. It was large, had a decent free weight area in addition to lots of machines and a huge cardio room. It also had a separate area for women only.

empresscat · 10-20-2006, 07:15 AM

In the mid-cities area, is the gym where 8x Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman works out, along with other world-class bodybuilders.

Metroflex Gym
http://www.metroflexgym.com/

bamatank · 10-20-2006, 07:36 AM

Vienna, VA (outside D.C.)

Fitness First

(703) 847-2300
8150 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, VA 22182
http://www.fitnessfirst.cc/

This is probably the least expensive gym for traveling to D.C. It has a very large cardio section and weight machine section. The free weight section is pretty cramped. Also, there are three very nice hotels within walking distance.

joed · 10-20-2006, 11:46 AM

Located in the heart of downtown, the Denver Athletic Club is within walking distance of all major hotels. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, it is a clean, well-equipped facility that provides most of what anyone would want - cardiovascular and weight machines, free weights, swimming, racquetball and squash, yoga, massage, etc. Here's the link:

http://www.denverathleticclub.cc/

Most Muscular · 10-20-2006, 07:45 PM

Venice, California

Golds Gym
360 Hampton Drive
Venice, CA 90291
phone 310-392-6004

http://www.goldsgym.com/gyms/index.php?gymID=111

No visit to Southern California could be complete without a visit to the mecca of bodybuilding, Golds Gym in Venice, CA

Although this is not the original Golds Gym of Venice you'll find the experience to be an opportunity of a lifetime. You will have the chance to workout along side of many of today's Pro bodybuilders and fitness personalities plus many of Hollywoods Stars who frequent this gym. The walls of this huge gym are filled with signed photos of the many present and past members. Just the experience of working out there will make you pumped!

nuff said...

c502cid · 10-23-2006, 03:31 AM

I travel for a living and use 2-3 different gyms each week. I get to see the best and the worst of them. One of the best websites I've found to locate gyms while I'm traveling is www.healthclubs.com. If I just have a long layover in a town, or get a major league delay I'll sometimes use www.airportgyms.com to find something. By the way, if you ever are in Las Vegas, 24 Hour Fitness has a gym right in the airport!

zootalors · 10-25-2006, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kimsquit

Marina Del Rey, California

World Gym
3205 Washington Blvd.
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292
P: 310-306-9912

I've trained here a few times and thoroughly recommend it. The staff are relaxed and very welcoming, the facility is spotless and the equipment is top-notch. To top it off, they have an open-air free-weight section out back (it's roofed in) that will make you feel like you're in the middle of "Pumping Iron".

~ Chris

I second this.

D_T_H · 10-25-2006, 03:12 PM

I recently joined the Telos Fitness Center in the DFW area. This is my review:

Clients: executive types
Atmosphere: clean upscale
Free weights: 150lb dumbbells, plenty of cable type machines for full range of movement.
Floor trainers if you are unsure about how to use a machine.
Location: next to the galleria off of the Dallas toll road.
Towels, shampoo, cuetips, etc provided.
Restaurant, meeting rooms, shoe shine person.
Outdoor pool and pools in locker rooms.
Price: well what do expect you have to pay for upscale.
Overall: I like the place and recommend it to older people like myself.

wide lats · 10-26-2006, 03:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D_T_H

I recently joined the Telos Fitness Center in the DFW area. This is my review:

Clients: executive types
Atmosphere: clean upscale
Free weights: 150lb dumbbells, plenty of cable type machines for full range of movement.
Floor trainers if you are unsure about how to use a machine.
Location: next to the galleria off of the Dallas toll road.
Towels, shampoo, cuetips, etc provided.
Restaurant, meeting rooms, shoe shine person.
Outdoor pool and pools in locker rooms.
Price: well what do expect you have to pay for upscale.
Overall: I like the place and recommend it to older people like myself.

I never trained in gyms like these, i think they are rare in England. i would feel uncomfortable, I could not ask for a shoe shine i would feel awful for some guy shining my shoes

merlinsrealm · 10-26-2006, 09:33 AM

Golds Gym
195 Troy Schenectady Road
Latham, NY12110
Telephone 518-786-1500

Staff there are wonderful and the gym is awesome!

Eric

merlinsrealm · 10-26-2006, 09:36 AM

Military installations have decent gyms too, at least the one's I have been too. Fort Dix and Maguire, NJ and Fort Bragg, NC

If I work out of state and near a base I use their gym. They usually honor my Federal government ID.

Eric

30-A rider · 10-31-2006, 02:01 PM

COFFEE"S GYM ( THE BEST BAR NONE!)
Marietta Georgia

Tom Petro's and Mans world gyms bith out of Trenton NJ (basic hole in the wall places..I love em!)

Hamilton Fitness
Hamilton NJ
Good gym, good equipment
Snobby members

Atlantic Gym
Perth Amboy NJ
Great hard core bear bones gym

Worlds Gym
Plainfield NJ
Typical worlds gym
approx 10000 sq ft

Main Event Fitness ( orig owners Sting and Lex Lugar)
Marietta Georgia
Kind of a "pretty gym" but, good equipment

Golds Gym
Destin Florida
Sucks for a Golds (lots of lipstick, leotards, and attitudes)

Golds Gym
Fort Walton Beach Florida
Good gym, great mix of new equipment and the older stuff you just cant find anymore...good sized gym too.

Grayton beach Fitness
Pretty gym, small, but complete
has a resort gym like atmosphere

bevy · 10-31-2006, 05:21 PM

I work out at Goodlife Fitness Clubs

They are based out of London Ontario Canada, but now have them all over Ontario.
They're clean, they have lots of equipment and free weights, and pretty good staff.

**ctgblue** · 11-02-2006, 03:40 PM

Cleveland Ohio

If you live or work in the downtown area, this is the only REAL gym to join.
Not huge, not real fancy, but well equipped, clean, and easy access.

Has a moderate amount of cardio equipment, nice sized dresing rooms with showers, large group fitness area with suspended wood floor.
Free weight area has squat rack, power rack, and counterbalanced linear smith machine.
DB's go up to 130, all plates are rubber coated, so max is 8 plates per side (that's the bars max too, btw

)
HS plate loaded machines as well as a good selection of pin loaded stuff and one of those cool stretching stations.
I got a great workout in and chatted with some nice friendly people while doing it. Well staffed, clean, and well equipped, and a machine with drinks, what else do you want?
Leave work, hit the gym, then drive home after all the other idiots are out of your way

http://fitworks.com/main/gateway/gat...729%26cpid%3D0

Downtown
(Euclid Ave. & E. 6th)
530 Euclid Ave
Colonial Marketplace, Suite 23A
(entrance from Prospect also)
Cleveland, OH 44115
216-344-9267

c502cid · 11-06-2006, 06:03 PM

Gold's Gym, Cedar City Utah. Right off Interstate 15.
$10 guest pass, clean club. They tried to pack too many machines and free weights in a smaller space so it is a little tight but they certainly maintain their equipment. Good cardio section. Closed Sunday.

c502cid · 11-06-2006, 08:14 PM

24 Hour Fitness. North Las Vegas (Craig Rd) NV. Well equipped club with excellent selection of free weights, cardio, and machines. Lots of space to move around. Nothing out of order. Sunday about noon the club was half full so mostly everything was accessible if you could wait a minute for someone to finish.

wide lats · 11-10-2006, 03:28 AM

England, Halifax/Leeds areas west yorkshire.

Gemini fitness,
square road,
halifax, west yorks.

loads of weight, open 7 days a week, HARDCORE (DONT GO WITH SPANDEX SHORTS OR YOU BE LAUGHED AND AND POINTED AT

), dumbells up to 180lbs, not spotless clean but its ok. Does boxing upstairs too. cheap and stay as long as you like, has everything for a bodybuilder. Owned by Derrick Clarke last time i was there i dont know about now. Sells supplements and drinks and snacks at the counter. Great place and very good loud music system, loudest i heard in any gym yet.

wide lats · 11-13-2006, 03:23 AM

ENGLAND, NORTH EAST, SUNDERLAND.

Fitness 2000,
Roker Avenue,
Sunderland,
SR6 0HX

got a load of exercise bikes and steppers, only has 1 piece of equipment per - so could be in a queue to use something

- the dumbells are solid iron and has a very good power rack, decent amount of weights. Found it quiet, well lit with big windows, just 1 staff at the counter, doesnt have a drinks bar etc. i thought it was a decent place with a mix of fitness and bbing people. average priced, clean and easy to get to.

tegid · 11-14-2006, 04:17 AM

Melcombe powerlifting gym, Fulham Palace Road opposite Charing Cross Hospital in Hammersmith (Louie's to its regulars). The gym is situated in school grounds hence opens 4pm-9pm on weekdays only.

It's got everything you'll ever need in it. Freeweights throughout. One cage, One Smiths, couple of of benches, a load of plate loaded stuff (Gym 80) and dumbells going up to 100kg. Attachments and gadgets galore. People in there are there to train, not pose: quite simply it's the best place I've trained in the UK.