Gym Etiquette

[pll]

Another thing that I really hate is when I was attending spin classes at 6:00 a.m. in the morning there would be a lot of "saved" bikes with towels by friends for people who came in around 6:00a.m.

Oh, that has happened to me one too many times. It drove me crazy. I no longer do spin classes and I no longer belong to a gym. What I miss the most about it is the sauna, though.

[Blueberry]

I complained about this to the manager one time. He said that they pay their dues and are entitled to stay on the machine for as long as they want. I guess in a way, he is right. We know it is proper etiquette to share, but I guess you have paid for something you really don't have to share if you don't want to.

There's a giant red sign that says 30 minute time limit. But for that, I wouldn't get upset. I've been chased off at 29:59 before by the students who want to get their workouts in. The gym does enforce it - but very selectively. I think that's why people cover up the timers....

[winddance]

Another thing that I really hate is when I was attending spin classes at 6:00 a.m. in the morning there would be a lot of "saved" bikes with towels by friends for people who came in around 6:00a.m. It was frustrating because I was always there at 5:45 and sometimes although there were maybe 5 actual people in the room, there would be only one or two bikes left.

Sometimes the bikes that were saved were never used. Many people were often turned away and they shouldn't have been.

I've made numerous suggestions to the management on how this situation could easily be resolved, but nothing ever came of it.

I just visited a gym while away where you had to register online for 6am spin, which I did. The class was full with people waiting who said they'd registered and the instructor had to go fetch the roster and TAKE ROLL before the people who hadn't registered would leave. Seriously? Like you're not going to get caught?

There were also no fans in that room. I almost floated away in a pool of sweat and was so glad I'd thought to put electrolytes in my water bottle.

I appreciate my gym. It's a very supportive place for people of all ages and levels of fitness. I've been encouraged to try lots of new things, e.g. joining Masters Swim in the slow lane even though I'm not the greatest swimmer. But I've never felt unwelcome, just supported and coached.

And we have fans in our spin room.

[meganm]

I have a few things that annoy me in gyms.

- people that don't clean the machines after using them. Yes, you sweat too, but dont make others clean it up
- men grunting when they lift
- people (mostly men) that drop weights
- parents who let their kids run free after or before going into the child care area
- moms that bring their boys into the ladies locker room (a 6 year old can wait outside)
- perfume or cologne... Ick

[Irulan]

I have a few things that annoy me in gyms.

- people that don't clean the machines after using them. Yes, you sweat too, but dont make others clean it up
- men grunting when they lift
- people (mostly men) that drop weights
- parents who let their kids run free after or before going into the child care area
- moms that bring their boys into the ladies locker room (a 6 year old can wait outside)
- perfume or cologne... Ick

What about women that grunt? If you were doing ball pike pushups you'd grunt too.

[ny biker]

We have fitness facilities at work, but I only use the locker room to change/shower before/after I head outside to run.

Same issues there: self-centeredness, lots of talking, and there is even a woman who grunts when she's changing & showering. They stake out their territory on the benches, spreading their towels/belongings. I put my stuff in a locker and stand before it to change---it takes me about ten minutes to change, shower, get dressed, and get the hell out of there.

This week, I went to freshen up before I headed outside and there are three sinks in the bathroom area. Two women claimed the outside sinks, putting on makeup. One of them had their g-d hairdryer in the middle sink, so after I used the facilities, I stood there, waiting for one of them to leave so I could wash my hands. Luckily, one of them was kind enough to move aside so I could use the sink. She even commented about the dryer in the sink, which belonged to the princess (who ignored the comment, of course).

I would have just moved the dryer out of the sink. After unplugging it first -- who the hell puts an electric appliance in a sink?!?

[malkin]

I complained about this to the manager one time. He said that they pay their dues and are entitled to stay on the machine for as long as they want. I guess in a way, he is right. We know it is proper etiquette to share, but I guess you have paid for something you really don't have to share if you don't want to.

So the people waiting--their dues don't entitle them to access to a machine?

[kajero]

So the people waiting--their dues don't entitle them to access to a machine?

I said the same thing. He said that we all have the opportunity to get in early enough to get a machine.

BYW .. . we have a new manager.

[Tri Girl]

The 30 minute treadmill time limit:
THIS is why we bought a treadmill that sits in our living room (because really, we do lots of living on that treadmill).
We still pay for our gym membership (mostly to use the pool and weight room). My DH was *very* slow in agreeing to buy one, because we DO have a gym membership, but once we got it home he fell so in love with that thing I can't get him off it sometimes. It's SO nice to get up, put on a bra and compression shorts and run without anyone looking at me and without feeling self-conscious. But mostly I love to be able to run for 2 hours if I want without anyone kicking me off.

[Tri Girl]

The 30 minute time limit: THIS is why we bought a treadmill that sits in our living room (and although some of our friends have pointed out that it's tacky to have it in the living room- we do plenty of living on that treadmill).
We still pay for our gym membership (mostly to use the pool). My DH was *very* reluctant to agree to buy one, but once we got it home he fell so in love with that thing we have to fight over using it sometimes. It's SO nice to get up, put on a bra and compression shorts and run without anyone looking at me and me feeling self-conscious about running in what is most comfy.
But mostly it's nice to be able to run for 2 hours if I want without anyone kicking me off.

[Crankin]

We bought a treadmill a couple of years ago, when I had given up my gym membership. We bought it even before either of us really ran. But, I used it a lot when I didn't have the time to go outside and do a ride, walk or hike. I did a lot of hill walking on that thing.
I belong to a gym again and I would never go there for the treadmill! Only to warm up for a class. It's raining this morning; normally I would have gone outside for a run or ride at 5 AM, but instead, I ran on the treadmill. I'm glad I have it.