Equipment Crew- Part II

[animalfan]

i have the same goals this year, dumb.bell, but i refuse to call it a resolution. reason is that i suck at keeping them, but if i really just work out a plan to do something it works out better for me. i haven't made anything i'd call a new year's resolution in years.

although, i can't say i planned on dropping the ball on my workouts last year

i've got to get my gym set up, then a smaller gym in the basement, and i'm planning on finally getting an outdoor gym for strongman/crossfit style training done, too. i'm trying to decide if i want to remove one of the sheds in my backyard and build a bigger one in it's place. if i do that, i'll just put everything there and call it a day. that'll also free up the 3rd garage bay up for my trans am and still let me park my truck in the garage. my wife claimed a spot in there already.

[dumb.bell]

I'm trying to decide if i want to remove one of the sheds in my backyard and build a bigger one in it's place. if i do that, i'll just put everything there and call it a day. that'll also free up the 3rd garage bay up for my trans am and still let me park my truck in the garage.

That sounds like a good idea, as long as you are willing to walk through the cold weather (I'm assuming snow at times) to get there. Sometimes I'm too lazy to walk down to the basement. LOL (I hate admitting that).

[dumb.bell]

I've got to clear some room out in my gym. I've decided that I need to get rid of about a half dozen pieces or more. The Pullover and Smith are definitely on the chopping block. Trying to figure out a way to keep my BodyMasters Front/Hack Squat Leverage piece and the Cybex Squat Press. Its going to be difficult to do if I want to get a GHD. The only way I can see keeping both is if I get one of those portable GHDs from Orlando Barbell. Even then, I may have to get rid of one of them.

[Wildtim]

Even the little Magic Bullet mixer we have isn't as loud.

Any comments on the magic bullet? I've been thinking about picking one up as a one drink at a time blender has a lot of appeal.

[ndmike99]

Any comments on the magic bullet? I've been thinking about picking one up as a one drink at a time blender has a lot of appeal.

It is great for protein powders and similar uses. Do not expect it to chop ice like in the commercial. It is pretty handy for making workout shakes, but I would not recommend it in a party situation like the infomercial advertises.

Got a few new items over the past few weeks. I picked up a Body Master Chest Press (mainly for just doing burnouts) and a Cybex Shoulder Press. I was kind of talked into these by the guys I lift with, but it is nice being able to change the weight quickly.

I also got a new 8 pound 15 ounce surprise on Christmas Eve. Ok it was not totally a surprise as I had been expecting him for 9 months, but coming on Christmas Eve was quite the shock.

[JJ-]

I also got a new 8 pound 15 ounce surprise on Christmas Eve. Ok it was not totally a surprise as I had been expecting him for 9 months, but coming on Christmas Eve was quite the shock.

Congrats!

[jfindon]

Any comments on the magic bullet? I've been thinking about picking one up as a one drink at a time blender has a lot of appeal.

I use that twice a day also. Works great for shakes just involving powder or ice cream, though the cups are a bit on the cheap side and it has the moronic ability to loosen the base as it's blending, therefore spraying **** all over the place. Why the hell they made it loosen the same direction as the drive motor torques I'll never know.

[keyboardworkout]

I use that twice a day also. Works great for shakes just involving powder or ice cream, though the cups are a bit on the cheap side and it has the moronic ability to loosen the base as it's blending, therefore spraying **** all over the place. Why the hell they made it loosen the same direction as the drive motor torques I'll never know.

I have a couple of cups that the little activator tabs are broken. I have to push down on the buttons that the tabs would push to start it blending.

The other thing is the cups are way too small. My usual 20 oz of milk and two scoops of protein requires two rounds to mix.

[animalfan]

That sounds like a good idea, as long as you are willing to walk through the cold weather (I'm assuming snow at times) to get there. Sometimes I'm too lazy to walk down to the basement. LOL (I hate admitting that).

the cold/snow doesn't really bother me much at all, i just don't want to lift in it. i lifted in a non-heated garage for a few years, but my joints and back are much happier if they are warm when i lift- we'll chalk it up to getting old. my new yard is about 3 times as big as the one at the old house (not saying much, old house was on a pretty small city lot), but it's really not that big.

i haven't discussed this plan with the "boss" yet, so it might take some convincing.

I also got a new 8 pound 15 ounce surprise on Christmas Eve. Ok it was not totally a surprise as I had been expecting him for 9 months, but coming on Christmas Eve was quite the shock.

congrats mike!

in other news, go blue! sorry keet, i know you are not happy with the bcs, but my team is playing tonight.

[Keetman]

LoL Animal.



Congrats Mike! My SIL had her 3rd son the Tuesday after Christmas. Good times!

[jfindon]

I have a couple of cups that the little activator tabs are broken. I have to push down on the buttons that the tabs would push to start it blending.

The other thing is the cups are way too small. My usual 20 oz of milk and two scoops of protein requires two rounds to mix.

Most of mine are broken. I have to pres down on one of the things with a screwdriver.

Cup size is fine for me, I only ever make 16oz shakes anyway.

[jfindon]

Ok, I need a permanent solution to leg raping while deadlifting. I'm two sets in and it looks like I got shot in the leg right now.

[Farley1324]

I agree with everything you've said, and I'd love to see a playoff.

I think that the team that really got screwed in this years BCS game is LSU. Why should they have to beat Alabama again? If the results of the first game were reversed and Alabama had one, I know I wouldn't want to play LSU again. If LSU losses, they have the same record with the same loss, yet they aren't champions.

Because you have to win the Championship game to be the champion. The two losses are not/would not be the same

If New Orleans wins this week and then goes to Green Bay and wins, Green Bay is out of the playoffs and cannot play for the NFC title, despite having a better record and having already defeated New Orleans

[Keetman]

Because you have to win the Championship game to be the champion. The two losses are not/would not be the same

If New Orleans wins this week and then goes to Green Bay and wins, Green Bay is out of the playoffs and cannot play for the NFC title, despite having a better record and having already defeated New Orleans

Terrible analogy....the pros do it right with a playoff.

I said earlier and dumb.bell seems to agree to the point.....if there was a playoff in College football I think Alabama should absolutely get their chance in that playoff because the only team they lost to is the number one team in the nation....no one else can say that (at least I don't think they can, still too lazy to google that point). If (in the mythical playoff system 'Bama got a second crack at LSU and beat them....then they get the spoils).

In this abortion they call a Bowl Championship Series.....there is no damn series....there is one Championship game...period. If you get a shot at the team that is expected to win...you better show up to play or not cry about it.

Another team should have gotten a chance. Again, there are WAY TOO many examples of a supposedly mismatch games where the underdog proves that were legit and wipe the field with the juggernaut (tOSU v Miami; Florida v. tOSU; Boise V. Oklahoma; TCU v. Wisconsin; and Nevada v. Boise just to name a few in the last decade). 'Bama got their chance, the season is the playoff. Another team should get a shot to make the games interesting and to prove that something isn't hidden (OSU & Michigan). I DON'T LIKE this, don't get me wrong.....but to water down the regular season this way weakens the whole process.


Hell....we don't even have to go back any farther than 5 years ago to see what I'm talking about. My Buckeyes beat the #2 Wolverines in the last game of the season.....there was a huge turmoil/controversy about who should get the nod against the Buckeyes.....tons of people thought it was a joke they should immediately rematch. That year wiser heads prevailed and Florida got their chance......we all know how that one ended. Hell, as a Buckeye fan I WOULD ABSOLUTELY LOVE to go back in time and get that rematch back...... no way on this green earth the Wolverines beat them that bad.


BTW.....if 'Bama wins....you're right...they're the Champions....its just a stupid system and a stupid way to crown one. Better than dubbing somebody at the end of the season like they did for a hundred years....but only marginally.

[HealthNutMD]

Penn State not facing Nebraska when they were both undefeated and both had the best teams in the nation was a CLASSIC example of the failure of the BULL**** BCS... They need some sort of real playoff system. THE BCS is bowl****

[dumb.bell]

Because you have to win the Championship game to be the champion. The two losses are not/would not be the same

I don't disagree.

However, LSU beat Alabama and their reward was to play an extra game (SEC Championship) and give the team they beat (Alabama) an additional week to prepare for them. If/when Alabama beats them, I can understand them feeling wronged.

As an Alabama fan, I'm not going to complain too much, but can empathize.

My main point was that I think LSU has the best argument for Alabama not being in the Championship game as compared to Oklahoma State.

[buffbrown21]

Another team should have gotten a chance. Again, there are WAY TOO many examples of a supposedly mismatch games where the underdog proves that were legit and wipe the field with the juggernaut (tOSU v Miami; .

Error Error.....does N o T CCCCCCompUUte

OSU didnt "wipe the field" with Miami in 2003. The game went into double OT, clearly it was close.

Did you put that in there just to make sure I was reading all your posts this new year? LOL

[Keetman]

Error Error.....does N o T CCCCCCompUUte

OSU didnt "wipe the field" with Miami in 2003. The game went into double OT, clearly it was close.

Did you put that in there just to make sure I was reading all your posts this new year? LOL

No, I was wrong in the way I worded that....in several of my other examples the dog didn't "wipe the field" with the power either.

What I'm trying to illustrate though is that the team that is supposed to be a lock, often isn't. Whatever you want to say about that game, few people can deny that the country had pretty much crowned Miami before the game. Somebody forgot to tell tOSU though, because they showed up ready to play.

I feel strongly that Miami fans have no right to cry about that game, but I've never tried to insult that team. They were awesome!

Anyway, I just want to see good head to head matches at the end of the season to determine the king....anything else is guessing and there's too much data out there showing the "experts" don't know what they're talking about when they guess who the king is.

[cgc]

Any comments on the magic bullet? I've been thinking about picking one up as a one drink at a time blender has a lot of appeal.

We've had ours for about 2 years.
We've done everything from homemade baby food to protein shakes.
The only complaint I have about it is sticking your hand in the "cup" to wash it out. It has four ribs down the inside of the cup (vertical not horizontal) that as your wiping around can cheese-grate your knuckle a bit. Other than that, it does it's job pretty well.
I'm not sure of the longevity if you were to try and grind up ice frequently. But for shakes with peanut butter or bananas (fruit) it works very well and has yet to show signs of getting tired.

I don't think we paid much for it ($40-$50)....not a bad bang for the buck IMO.

[darkfact]

Got the new troy bar today. Impressive bar for the price and damn the knurling is deep! It came at the perfect time because I was just getting ready for chest day when it arrived, and I'm glad I didn't have to do another week with my bent bar, it kinda hurts the wrists lol.

http://www.flexcart.com/members/elit...id=211&pid=378

I also ordered a new belt to try out on deads, my inzer works but I wanna see if a less rigid belt will be more comfortable but also give me the support I'm used to with the Inzer.

http://www.flexcart.com/members/elit...d=299&pid=2480

It arrives on friday so I'll try it out on deads next week.

And my new deadlift jack arrived from west cary, what a beast! I love the round feet and long handle, really makes it easy to use and it's much better than any other jack I've used in any gym I've been to so far. It only took 2 bolts to put together. I don't feel like doing my normal review thread for such a simple piece so I'll just leave it at that and a few pics.

[Skidmarx]

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.

[animalfan]

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.

i don't think buff has one either, unless he picked one up and i missed it. as far as the pads, i think you need them. my lower thigh presses up against the round pads, my knees don't really touch any pad. of course, listen to others- one of my knees is f@#$ed so i could be doing them wrong (but i don't think i am).

interested in the leg press, post pics if you don't mind.

[animalfan]

Got the new troy bar today. Impressive bar for the price and damn the knurling is deep! It came at the perfect time because I was just getting ready for chest day when it arrived, and I'm glad I didn't have to do another week with my bent bar, it kinda hurts the wrists lol.

I also ordered a new belt to try out on deads, my inzer works but I wanna see if a less rigid belt will be more comfortable but also give me the support I'm used to with the Inzer.

http://www.flexcart.com/members/elit...d=299&pid=2480

It arrives on friday so I'll try it out on deads next week.

And my new deadlift jack arrived from west cary, what a beast! I love the round feet and long handle, really makes it easy to use and it's much better than any other jack I've used in any gym I've been to so far. It only took 2 bolts to put together. I don't feel like doing my normal review thread for such a simple piece so I'll just leave it at that and a few pics.

that bar looks nice, but i'm too cheap to buy one that expensive. i think i paid about $280 for my rogue bar and that was tough for me to spend. i've been curious about the spud belt, let us know how it is. nice looking dl jack, too. almost bought one of them myself, but i ended up with one similar to their smaller jack. the one that just lifts one side of the bar at a time. works pretty good, though i bet yours will be easier (with both sides lifted at the same time).

[Kodokan]

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.

Hey Skid,

Here's a link to an album I saw from a guy who made a homemade GHD. It didn't look that bad...he's got some pics and plans in there. I've seen several different versions of homemade ones...and most of them have a flat pad and something to brace your foot against. IMO that's going to be much harder on your knees. The big pad really contacts your quads and your knees hang just off the pads in the 'rounded' ones. At least that's how I do it, it's much 'easier' and comfortable on your knees.

http://s1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff389/sback46/GHR/

[animalfan]

that's pretty cool, but damn, that looks like a lot of work.

[JJ-]

Got the new troy bar today. Impressive bar for the price and damn the knurling is deep! It came at the perfect time because I was just getting ready for chest day when it arrived, and I'm glad I didn't have to do another week with my bent bar, it kinda hurts the wrists lol.

I also ordered a new belt to try out on deads, my inzer works but I wanna see if a less rigid belt will be more comfortable but also give me the support I'm used to with the Inzer.

It arrives on friday so I'll try it out on deads next week.

And my new deadlift jack arrived from west cary, what a beast! I love the round feet and long handle, really makes it easy to use and it's much better than any other jack I've used in any gym I've been to so far. It only took 2 bolts to put together. I don't feel like doing my normal review thread for such a simple piece so I'll just leave it at that and a few pics.

Negged for all the new equipment you get to have and I don't..... Seems like you get a new one piece every month, so jealous Anyway nice deadlift jack. I've though about making one for a while, but for the amount of weight I deadlift it would be silly to use one.

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.

Man, I really want one too. I've been kinda of making my bench and crunch attachment work somewhat for now but it's not near as effective as done correctly.

Hey Skid,

Here's a link to an album I saw from a guy who made a homemade GHD. It didn't look that bad...he's got some pics and plans in there. I've seen several different versions of homemade ones...and most of them have a flat pad and something to brace your foot against. IMO that's going to be much harder on your knees. The big pad really contacts your quads and your knees hang just off the pads in the 'rounded' ones. At least that's how I do it, it's much 'easier' and comfortable on your knees.

This might be a solution for me too. Have to look into this.



On another note, my blendtec arrived and got it unpacked. It was way too late last night for me to get to use it so I'll try it out this morning.

[Skidmarx]

Hey Skid,

Here's a link to an album I saw from a guy who made a homemade GHD. It didn't look that bad...he's got some pics and plans in there. I've seen several different versions of homemade ones...and most of them have a flat pad and something to brace your foot against. IMO that's going to be much harder on your knees. The big pad really contacts your quads and your knees hang just off the pads in the 'rounded' ones. At least that's how I do it, it's much 'easier' and comfortable on your knees.

thanks man !

So I take it the quads take a lot of the pressure instead of the knees then with the big pads.

I like dude's design for the pads, looks easy enough. Thanks

[darkfact]

thanks man !

So I take it the quads take a lot of the pressure instead of the knees then with the big pads.

I like dude's design for the pads, looks easy enough. Thanks

I do them just like Keet, my knees don't touch anything it's all about your quads as far as the pad comfort goes, if the pad isn't soft enough it'll hurt for sure, and on the flipside if it's too soft it'll probably make the exercise almost not doable. Check out this vid to see how dave tate does them:

Negged for all the new equipment you get to have and I don't..... Seems like you get a new one piece every month, so jealous Anyway nice deadlift jack. I've though about making one for a while, but for the amount of weight I deadlift it would be silly to use one.

On another note, my blendtec arrived and got it unpacked. It was way too late last night for me to get to use it so I'll try it out this morning.

Lol, says the dude who just bought a $400 blender!! But yeah, I'm still trying to talk the wife into having a baby, until then, I got free cash for lots of equipment lol

that bar looks nice, but i'm too cheap to buy one that expensive. i think i paid about $280 for my rogue bar and that was tough for me to spend. i've been curious about the spud belt, let us know how it is. nice looking dl jack, too. almost bought one of them myself, but i ended up with one similar to their smaller jack. the one that just lifts one side of the bar at a time. works pretty good, though i bet yours will be easier (with both sides lifted at the same time).

Will do man, I've been curious about it for a long time too. It arrives tomorrow so I'll deadlift with it on next tues probably and let ya know how I like/or don't like it.

[JJ-]

Lol, says the dude who just bought a $400 blender!! But yeah, I'm still trying to talk the wife into having a baby, until then, I got free cash for lots of equipment lol

LOL, Very true...... I was actually saving up to buy that TDS Storage rack like what FishinGeek has. Now I gotta start saving my pennies all over again Good luck on the baby. Kids are awesome man!

[darkfact]

LOL, Very true...... I was actually saving up to buy that TDS Storage rack like what FishinGeek has. Now I gotta start saving my pennies all over again Good luck on the baby. Kids are awesome man!

That wall rack? If so that thing does look cool and space saving.

My little brother had a baby boy 15months ago and that's really started to change me from not wanting to kids to now wanting one of my own. We'll see what happens, when we got married we always kind of leaned towards not having kids, so for me to change it now after 10 years or marriage might take some time.