Texas Strength Systems teaming up with Mark Rippetoe

[murphyreedus]

I've made it known I think EVERYTHING is overrated. Spin, knurling, straightness, sleeve slop, belts, leg drive, programming, sex

YMMV

Maybe you're just doing it wrong.

That would be S and M wouldn't it?

NTTAWWT

I'm getting a house built right now. Just called the builder and told him I wanted the drywall raw. No tape, no mud, no paint. Only cost me 10k extra.

Your T levels must be off the charts.

[Jason2459]

I agree everything expect for the 3 letter word.

As per programming, i think it is overblown due to SM and Internet but following certain system/routine definitely helps. Even before organized lifting ( say before 1920's) , ppl had certain routine/method who were into body building or wrestling or strong man stuff etc....

I love reading the old early to mid 1900's era physical culture stuff. You can get several of the old books on kindle cheap. There's some other sites you can find some of that stuff too.

This site is awesome as well
http://ditillo2.blogspot.com/


I still would never buy a new old bench. Would I buy the bench Pat Casey used in Culver City with Peanuts West? Hell yeah.

[lsi1]

You guys are missing the point think about the longevity of that bench inside a starting strength focused gym. think of all the clients you could train on there for several hundred dollars a month and no matter how hard they try they won't be able to wear out that um pad.

I'm mostly with Chad on this one. I ma just not be strong enough to see much improvement from perfect knurl, straight bars, and calibrated plates so I just stumble through my workouts with old beat up iron plates I've never weighed and a York bar I've never tested to see how straight it was or wasn't.

I've got a friend with really nice stuff but I can't lift any more or any better using his bumpers and deadlift bar than I can at home.

In theory I like the idea of the SS equipment but its price point makes it laughable.

[Jason2459]

Slick smooth crappy gym bars suck. Same with most gym benches with slick vinyl.

I don't bench much or squat and pull much but I can tell a big difference from using my gym's equipment and my own. And my favorite bar to pull with is my lightly knurled B&Rv1 Bar. It still is better then the bolted together chrome POS at the gym.

Slick benches kill my leg drive. Rip isn't selling to me though. The bench doesn't meet standard PL width either. I like digging my back into some nice sticky vinyl. I personally like thin padding. I don't like the Thompson fat pad but it didn't hurt my bench either. Nothing wrong with having personal preferences.

There's a difference between old awesome worn out bars and equipment and new chit.

[HeavyIron8]

Rippetoe does spew some funny ****. I actually post quite a bit on startingstrength (dot) com forums using the same username. I think it's good to disparage between the good knowledge he spews and the utter garbage. This rack and the wood bench for example are a piece of joke and obvious cash grab. Who the **** is gonna spend close to 1.2k on a piece of crap like that just because it has the SS logo on it. The bench looks even more of a joke, I mean just look at the feet. lmao.

What I do respect about Rippetoe is everything else though, his knowledge in the books he writes and the intermediate and advanced programming in his Practical Programming book is spot on. 3x5 novice linear progression allowed me to go from a 3x5, 95lb squat to 315 for 3x5 in just 11 months. I did gain about 25 pounds (155 - 180) in the process and got fatter, but considering the strength I've gained from it, I'd say the positive far outweighed the negative.

[Jason2459]

I still like that rack. Price is stupid.

[ironwill2008]

This rack and the wood bench for example are a piece of joke and obvious cash grab. Who the **** is gonna spend close to 1.2k on a piece of crap like that just because it has the SS logo on it.

You must be new here. Guys posting in this forum routinely get 'gjdm-ed' for blowing $500 on an EZ Curl bar.

[PriorMike]

I wonder if hooking up with TSS and Capps means Rogue is going to discontinue or rename the B&R? Rippetoe seems to be not as enthused about crossfit anymore...

[murphyreedus]

I still like that rack. Price is stupid.

Pretty much the only problem I have with the rack is that it's about 3x more than I think it should be for what it is. I still want an old York Portable Power rack to stash in my gym, just for kicks.

I wonder if hooking up with TSS and Capps means Rogue is going to discontinue or rename the B&R? Rippetoe seems to be not as enthused about crossfit anymore...

I didn't think Rip made money on the B&R, but I could be mistaken. As far as I know, Rogue came out with the 2.0 without really consulting Rip anyway.


https://startingstrength.com/resourc...bar-rogue.html

[irongrandpa]

Pretty much the only problem I have with the rack is that it's about 3x more than I think it should be for what it is. I still want an old York Portable Power rack to stash in my gym, just for kicks.

Ask and you shall have. This showed up today in Oklahoma.

[murphyreedus]

Ask and you shall have. This showed up today in Oklahoma.

Thanks, a little far for me, unfortunately. I actually passed on one locally a few years ago because the seller thought it was made of gold (or maybe TSS steel).

[dparty82]

Ask and you shall have. This showed up today in Oklahoma.

That's cool.

[chadsalt]

Ask and you shall have. This showed up today in Oklahoma.

IIRC matrix has a half dozen of those laying around??

[irongrandpa]

IIRC matrix has a half dozen of those laying around??

He uses them for barbell and bench racks!

[matrix563]

IIRC matrix has a half dozen of those laying around??

well not just laying around 😂

[Synthetickiller]

So, if I used this for it's actual intended purpose (in the kitchen), you think I have a lawsuit if I bench on it afterwards & contract salmonella poisoning?

[Jason2459]

This should be a good general purpose bar. I usually recommend the B&R or Chan but this blends those two together.

It's like a B&Rv3
And in 10kg, 15kg, 20kg options
https://youtu.be/DHjGK7u7d1Q



I love my B&Rv1 York made bar and the knurl on the B&Rv2 and this new SS look similar. Light and grippy.

B&R at 29mm is good for those looking more at the power lifts.
SS at 28.5mm I think would be better at general purpose

Neither great at being specifically used for a single type of lifting. Good at being general purpose and could perform just fine with any kind of lifting style. Great first bar.

Bare steel rusting is not an issue if you actually use the bar and add a bit of oil periodically. The patina that's formed is beautiful IMO

[murphyreedus]

I like my B&R 2.0 more than my OPB, to the point where I think I might just sell the OPB. The knurl is perfect for about everything. I'd like to find a 28mm bar with the same knurl.

I also picked up a used B&R 1 bar. The knurl is noticeably lighter than my 2.0, but it does still feel nice. Makes my OPB that much more redundant.

The SS bar doesn't look bad, but I don't really need a 28.5mm bar, and I don't see how it's a better buy than a B&R for less money unless one really wants that diameter.

[Jason2459]

I would look at Rep Fitness for their 28mm Gladiator all SS. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with my OPB. I don't really like it and just sits in the corner.

[urbanlifter]

The SS barbell is the best value on the market? No specific order, but it doesn't appear to even crack the top ten when you look at ALL of the offerings from each below...

1) CAP Ob86pbck (or 86b)
2) Buddy Capps TPB
3) Buddy Capps All American
4) Rogue OPB
5) Rogue B&R Bar
6) REP Stainless
7) REP PowerSpeed
8) Vulcan Absolute PB
9) AB Grizzly Power Bar
10) AB Power Bar

[Jason2459]

If looking at cost the entire new SS line is to high just to be associated with Rip.

[Jason2459]

Oh damn, I just noticed bare steel option for the TPB on his new site.

https://www.texaspowerbars.com/Texas...Site-p/tpb.htm

[KyleAaron]

If looking at cost the entire new SS line is to high just to be associated with Rip.

The equipment will be present in all the SS franchise gyms.

https://www.startingstrengthgyms.com

"GYM EQUIPMENT

By Mark Rippetoe

All gym equipment has been designed by, or approved by, Mark Rippetoe, the creator of Starting Strength"

and they hope to have 100 of them in five years, each with 100 members (neither more nor less). So that's 600 or so racks, 600 or so benches, 1,000 or so barbells, etc. And if a member leaves after a successful novice progression and sets up their own garage gym, they will quite often want to use the gear they've become accustomed to. SS online coaching is $200 a month after the first, so the in-person coaching is bound to be at least $300, if not $400; someone who's been paying 300-400 a month for gym membership isn't going to be worried about whether their barbell is $200 or $1,000.

You are not the target market.

[Jason2459]

....

You are not the target market.

That is a captain obvious statement. lol

I've already stated he's not selling to me. The entire SS business is, well, a business for Rip. He just finally has a hardware package (that's still way over priced).

[urbanlifter]

You are not the target market.

100% agree, we are intelligent and highly informed consumers.

[KyleAaron]

100% agree, we are intelligent and highly informed consumers.

So you say.

I think it was best summarised when Rip said, "We are not training the 700lb squatter. We are training his mother."

I was discussing this with a trainer friend who previously trained powerlifters, and did so very successfully, but is now going back to the basics with the general population. The guy you take from a 0 to a 100kg squat is insanely grateful and will tell all his friends; the guy you take from a 200 to a 300kg squat is not only not grateful but years from now will tell people he did it all on his own.

The general population guy is willing and able to pay well for training and gear, and respects your expertise; the competitive powerlifter is broke and stingy and knows everything already.

Now, whether their franchise gyms will be viable I have no idea. Some of what they say doesn't give me confidence. But there are most certainly people willing and able to pay good money for training and gear.

[urbanlifter]

So you say.

No, this I know.

[matrix563]

i just cant see how any person would find value in rip (off) overpriced crap. regardless of how advanced or not they are.

[Jason2459]

i just cant see how any person would find value in rip (off) overpriced crap. regardless of how advanced or not they are.

If someone puts the money up to buy a package they will get value out of it. It will allow them to do everything they need to get stronger. Not my money though.

[Farley1324]

Rip, man, it's tough to even listen to you anymore.

This.

I haven't really gone to the SS boards for years and never spent much time there..seems like that was for the best.

These days I kind of feel like...it's a shame the way it's gone because the book Starting Strength is so great at what it is, Practical Programming very good as well, the program SS works well for its intended use, he knows and articulates so much so well etc etc but man, the guys who said he's cocky...couldn't be more so...he says and does so many things that will just really put somebody off right then and there and WTF at that bench is this real life?