OLYMPIC benefits?

[lift4gains]

what's the benefits of buying olympic bars, plates etc?
because im looking to buy some stuff, but don't want to blow my cash on things which ain't going to last, so got looking into olympic bars etc... its not cheap! so i wondered the benefits?

thanks.

[crupiea]

They last forever.

i have a whiole set of bumpers plus a pendlay bar. There is a huge difference in the bar quality and it can handle lots of abuse like dropping it etc.

If you dont plan on dropping it then save some money and get the cheapo. It will do the job and last for a long time. If you start dropping the cheapo bars then they will be broken in a very short time.

Just get the gear you need for YOUR training needs.

[lift4gains]

Thanks, may just get olympic stuff, because if it lasts a life time, i don't know what my training needs will be in 10 years, could involve the occasional drop of the bar, so thanks

[HardKore79]

They last forever.

i have a whiole set of bumpers plus a pendlay bar. There is a huge difference in the bar quality and it can handle lots of abuse like dropping it etc.

If you dont plan on dropping it then save some money and get the cheapo. It will do the job and last for a long time. If you start dropping the cheapo bars then they will be broken in a very short time.

Just get the gear you need for YOUR training needs.

You kinda confused the young gun.

Thanks, may just get olympic stuff, because if it lasts a life time, i don't know what my training needs will be in 10 years, could involve the occasional drop of the bar, so thanks

Olympic will handle more weight on the bar. It's just a better investment over standard.

[DRiFT2oNR]

olympic in comparison to what?

rubber plates, bumper plates, standard plates?


If it is against standard, advantages include more weight in one piece, usually lasts longer, and some exercises can be performed easier/more "normal" such as deadlifts since a 45lb olympic plate is higher off the ground and more natural than a much smaller, more lower to the ground plate.

[boxertim]

to start out jsut make sure that you get metal...not plastic.


tim

[triplechris]

Also Olympic bars are larger diameter. Standard bars are small, like 25mm and less, and dig into your hands painfully when weight gets above around 150 lbs. (personally).

[lift4gains]

thanks, yeah well olympic compared to all other types i suppose.

[cannibal.horse]

what's the benefits of buying olympic bars, plates etc?
because im looking to buy some stuff, but don't want to blow my cash on things which ain't going to last, so got looking into olympic bars etc... its not cheap! so i wondered the benefits?

thanks.

They can hold > 300lbs.

to start out jsut make sure that you get metal...not plastic.

Does that include rubber? I've had some great experiences with rubber coated plates as all you need to protect a garage floor is a strip of carpet.

[HardKore79]

Does that include rubber? I've had some great experiences with rubber coated plates as all you need to protect a garage floor is a strip of carpet.

Plastic is not rubber.

[kbdub]

what's the benefits of buying olympic bars, plates etc?
because im looking to buy some stuff, but don't want to blow my cash on things which ain't going to last, so got looking into olympic bars etc... its not cheap! so i wondered the benefits?

thanks.

Olympic bars
- 28 mm bar (governed by the IWF) although most bars for under $500 are 28.4 due to the availablilty of steel in that size which saves an extra machining step and cost
- females use a 25 mm bar
-made with medium tensile strength steel (165ksi) or higher strength steel with Nickel added for increased ductility (200+ksi)
- knurling marks are 36 inches apart
- less aggressive knurling that doesn't tear into your hands
- bronze busing or bearing in the collar that allow the collar to spin
- snap ring construction
ex- http://www.ivankobarbell.com/productsframe.htm

Powerlifting bars
- 29 mm bar (governed by the IPF) or larger
- made with higher tensile strength steels so there is less flex to the bar
- knurling marks are around 32 inches apart
- deep aggressive knurling that allows you to grip the bar
- snap ring or bolted collar construction (bolted bars suck)
ex-http://www.eleikousa.com/eleiko_products_bars.html

Olympic plates
-often referred to as bumper plates since they can be dropped
- made of recycled rubber (USA made!) or virgin rubber (Chinese made..booo)
- these are not plastic or rubber coated steel plates
- 450mm in diameter as governed by the IWF
ex- http://www.roguefitness.com/store/rogue_bumpers.php

Multi purpose bars are becoming more and more popular that bridge the gap between O-lift specific bars and powerlift specific bars. An example would be:

Rogue bar (http://www.roguefitness.com/store/rogue_bar.php) guaranteed for life against bending, 28.4 mm, dual knurl marks for O-lifting and powerlifting, great knurling (not too soft, not too aggressive),

the B&R bar (http://www.roguefitness.com/store/BR_bar.php) 29mm, dual knurling marks, raw steel bar with a soft knurling that grips your hands like a mother Fr. I dropped one of these bars off with Louie Simmons (Westside Barbell) and they use it for 900lb rack pulls. I dropped it off 5 months ago and the bar is still straight!

When buying a barbell avoid the following:
1. bolted end cap. Quality bars have a snap ring construction or another method other than a bolt.

2. bars that are over 29 mm in diameter that do not have a reason to be over 29 mm (fat bar or some other type of specialty bar) are generally junk. The manufacture makes the bar larger to make up for the low strength steel that they put in the bar

3. Chrome plated finish- this flakes/chips and is really cheap to plate. Quality bars have a type of zinc coating, made with stainless steel that doesn't require a coating, or are left as raw steel.

4. Any bar coming from China!

I can go into a lot more detail but this should point you in the right direction.

warner

[Keetman]

kbdub....nice post with some valuable information.

On the olympic plates though, saying they're also known as "bumber plates" seems a bit misleading. Possibly not technically (not sure), but for the layman or average user, "olympic" will simply refer to a bar sleeve and plate hole of a 2" diameter.

Traditionally, the 1" diameter bars and plates are considered "standard".



I realize that olympic plates were probably first used in the olympics and were probably bumpers. I'm just stating how the term has evolved. You may know this, just stating it for those that don't so they don't see it used and not realize its not quite as limiting as just being a "bumper plate" designation.

[EPMD]

There isn't a huge cost difference between Olympic and standard-sized barbells/plates. The biggest cost difference would probably be in dumbbell handles. Not only are the handles more expensive, but you will need to buy quality clamps (muscle clamps, lockjaws, bulldogs, etc.) which are available between $60 and $100 for two pair.

[gbrs5]

There isn't a huge cost difference between Olympic and standard-sized barbells/plates. The biggest cost difference would probably be in dumbbell handles. Not only are the handles more expensive, but you will need to buy quality clamps (muscle clamps, lockjaws, bulldogs, etc.) which are available between $60 and $100 for two pair.

Lock Jaws are actually about $50 for 2 pairs. I have a pair and I love it.

[Wildtim]

kbdub....nice post with some valuable information.

On the olympic plates though, saying they're also known as "bumber plates" seems a bit misleading. Possibly not technically (not sure), but for the layman or average user, "olympic" will simply refer to a bar sleeve and plate hole of a 2" diameter.

Traditionally, the 1" diameter bars and plates are considered "standard".



I realize that olympic plates were probably first used in the olympics and were probably bumpers. I'm just stating how the term has evolved. You may know this, just stating it for those that don't so they don't see it used and not realize its not quite as limiting as just being a "bumper plate" designation.

Olympic plates are not necessarily bumpers. in fact bumpers are a relatively new invention, They didn't come into use until I think the 70's before that even in Olympic competition you never dropped your weights.

[Andrew_WOT]

2. bars that are over 29 mm in diameter that do not have a reason to be over 29 mm (fat bar or some other type of specialty bar) are generally junk. The manufacture makes the bar larger to make up for the low strength steel that they put in the bar

Not necessarily, besides providing better workout for forearms, thicker bars relieves pressure at contact points
The post from Allison Foreman, York Barbell
http://board.crossfit.com/showpost.p...17&postcount=6

Competition power bars will have a 29mm grip to meet international specifications, but many manufacturers offer a 32mm bar with the same static test strength at a lower price point for training purposes. Many users find the 32mm power bar more comfortable as the wider bar offers less ?compression crush? on the pounds per square inch on the user on the pressing motions, but will be less flexible than the OTB. Hope this helps a little bit! Allison Foreman, York Barbell.

I personally have found 32mm bar much easier to use for squats, bench and overhead presses.

[kbdub]

On the olympic plates though, saying they're also known as "bumber plates" seems a bit misleading. Possibly not technically (not sure), but for the layman or average user, "olympic" will simply refer to a bar sleeve and plate hole of a 2" diameter.

Traditionally, the 1" diameter bars and plates are considered "standard".



I realize that olympic plates were probably first used in the olympics and were probably bumpers. I'm just stating how the term has evolved. You may know this, just stating it for those that don't so they don't see it used and not realize its not quite as limiting as just being a "bumper plate" designation.

Olympic plates are not necessarily bumpers. in fact bumpers are a relatively new invention, They didn't come into use until I think the 70's before that even in Olympic competition you never dropped your weights.

Good points! I usually associate olympic with strictly Olympic lifting (and the accompanying equipment) because it is what I've been around lately. Five years ago it would have been a plate with a 2 inch hole in it and a bar with an "olympic" collar.