Went down today for the first time. This place is immense. A proper gym is a rare and beautiful thing. I am most definitely a fan.
There's nothing spectacular here, it's just honest and well thought out. Most gyms are designed to attract members, not serve them. They have vast ranks of 'cardio' machinery, with a few token weights and a swiss ball thrown in the corner. Although this looks impressive, most of it is pretty useless when it comes to getting a real workout. And that's often reflected by the size of what I refer to as the 'dormant clientele', you know that 60-90% of gym memberships that go unused for months at a time?
Raw is different. The 'cardio' equipment takes up less than a fifth of the floor space. The rest is devoted to all variety of heavy things. Heavy things are fun to lift. And there's literally no end of choices from standard free weights, to smith machines, to tractor tyres and heavy ropes. There's even a sprint track if you really feel like making yourself suffer(viper bands, shudder).
There's some really nice, practical, touches to this gym as well. Things like mirrors. There are mirrors everywhere, so you can check your back is straight, for example. Or that you're elbows and knees are going in the right direction when you're too tired and shaky to trust your balance alone.
The free weights are all in one place-how wonderfully logical!
The smith machines have their own weight stacks-an absolute life saver. Certain other gyms would have you hauling forty kg across the room, lifting it a few times and then hauling it back. No, this is not good for me, it's a pain in the hole.
And have you ever forgotten your gym pass, or worse, put it in your kit bag before your kit? And then had to spend twenty minutes at the turnstile groping around, pulling half your stuff out, and generally looking like a muppet trying to find it? Well fear no more, friend, for here they take fingerprints! Seriously, they've a little machine that scans your index finger. It's so handy, I never leave the house without my fingers. No doubt it also adds to security.
In summary, I like it. Possibly a little too much. read more