It is a commonly accepted fact that if you are going to get fit then it will cost you money. And in these money saving times most people are wanting to spend less, not more. So what options are there which will help you to get fit, stay fit, but not break the bank? Well honey, rip up the membership card to the local gym and buy yourself some cheap gym equipment!
Gym gear comes in a range of shapes and sizes to fit any wallet or purse, it really doesn’t have to break the bank. In fact you can probably set yourself up pretty well with just one or two monthly payments from your regular gym membership! This is especially the case if you are looking at free weights.
The best route is to look at the second hand market. Now I know what you are going to say, surely that’s a bit of a dangerous option? Things get broken and worn, and when you add the pressure of a weight stack it’s all going to end in tears.
Not necessarily so, if you are clued up as to what your prospective equipment should look like when it is new. For example, if you already use the local gym then you are one step ahead of the crowd because you know what a multi-gym should look like, how it feels when you use it, and what parts wear and don’t wear. Use this knowledge to your advantage and look out for pivot points, and where you hang onto the machines. If you don’t have a current membership then take a free taster session, and just pay attention to what is going on!
Free weights
Free weights are a great compliment to any sort of sport, such as road bike cycling. Get some squats in! On free weights look out for chrome that is peeling off because it can be as sharp as a craft knife – beats me why they still put it on something that obviously will wear and needs constant touching! Make sure that the collars are in pairs too, as even a small amount of difference in the weight on a bar can throw your balance.
Finally, don’t worry too much about a bit of wear on free weights. Rubbed off paint, even a bit of discolouring on the contact points of a bar are perfectly normal and won’t affect the strength of the metal. Though you could use it as an argument to beat the vendor’s price down a little!