Getbig.com: American Bodybuilding, Fitness and Figure
Getbig Main Boards => Gossip & Opinions => Topic started by: War-Horse on May 27, 2007, 12:47:10 PM
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Onlyme said that the individual gyms are expected to keep up with corporate advertising expenses on T.V. Radio and newspapers.
But "ballys" and other big name gyms.....cover the expenses for the individual gyms. This is a huge amount of money and golds will not be able to keep their prices down to compete....its a matter of time.
Will we go back to the 70s when the local "Mr Universe" re converted the local gas station to a "weights only gym"????
I hope so, brothers. WELCOME BACK TO OUR SUB-CULTURE. 8)
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Onlyme said that the individual gyms are expected to keep up with corporate advertising expenses on T.V. Radio and newspapers.
But "ballys" and other big name gyms.....cover the expenses for the individual gyms. This is a huge amount of money and golds will not be able to keep their prices down to compete....its a matter of time.
Will we go back to the 70s when the local "Mr Universe" re converted the local gas station to a "weights only gym"????
Thats because the regular gyms are not corporate owned. Most are franchises. With Ballys and 24, they are ALL corporate owned. Big difference. (BTW, I worked for two of the three mentioned)
I hope so, brothers. WELCOME BACK TO OUR SUB-CULTURE. 8)
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Onlyme said that the individual gyms are expected to keep up with corporate advertising expenses on T.V. Radio and newspapers.
But "ballys" and other big name gyms.....cover the expenses for the individual gyms. This is a huge amount of money and golds will not be able to keep their prices down to compete....its a matter of time.
Will we go back to the 70s when the local "Mr Universe" re converted the local gas station to a "weights only gym"????
I hope so, brothers. WELCOME BACK TO OUR SUB-CULTURE. 8)
meltdown
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Well, once again, greed or bad business decisions, will destroy the "GOLDS name.
Will we start wearing tube socks knee high with stripes soon..
Meltdown my ass. ;D
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Gold's is putting up gyms here in St. Louis faster than McDonald's puts up new restaurants, nice gyms too, i don't know how they do it.
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the franchise will continue, but the gyms will be no different than Balleys or 24 Hour Fitness. Hard core gyms will be independant and rare.
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the franchise will continue, but the gyms will be no different than Balleys or 24 Hour Fitness. Hard core gyms will be independant and rare.
bullshit, hardcore scmardcore, anyplace that has weights and bars and db's is "hardcore" enough, just get in there and train hard.
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I think theres enough people that have enough money to buy into the "franchise" thing......start up costs.
But maintaining each on his own without help from corporate will get a drain on the money real soon.
The name is popular but people care about the $19 a month membership and when it goes up, they'll leave to "Ballys" imo.
I would rather invest into a 24 hr fitness as an investment, since they wouldnt tell me " Hey, wheres your $24,000 ad money this month!!
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http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/18/nyregion/18grunt.html?ei=5088&en=25d9809610097e88&ex=1321506000&adxnnl=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1163882957-fo87E7kgDm8YY2vFMX9AFQ
Will 24 Fitness's "no grunting" policy spread to the cookie-cutter gyms spreading so fast in urban areas?
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bullshit, hardcore scmardcore, anyplace that has weights and bars and db's is "hardcore" enough, just get in there and train hard.
well, I've been to a few chain gyms where the biggest dumbbell was 90 pounds and where they had one squat rack. Does that qualify as hardcore for you?
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business is business hardcore guys make u problems not money its not 1970 anymore where guys where normal fucking people
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well, I've been to a few chain gyms where the biggest dumbbell was 90 pounds and where they had one squat rack. Does that qualify as hardcore for you?
ive been to hotel gyms that just had pink weights, please man any normal gym especially any golds or world has weights galore and racks galore
if you are ronnie and need 250lb dumbells thats a different story but im sure you dont have that problem
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well, I've been to a few chain gyms where the biggest dumbbell was 90 pounds and where they had one squat rack. Does that qualify as hardcore for you?
you must train in some pusssified cities because every Gold's i've ever seen here in St. Louis has had at least 150 pound db's, power racks, squat racks and plenty of free weight benches.
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Gold's has changed tremendously when Pete and the gang owned it. They kept their franchising fee down so they wouldn't put such a burden on the franchisee. No percentage and a very low monthly ad fee. The new owners immediately started charging a higher franchise fee and even implemented a percentage for the Licensee's and vendors. Now the newest owners (TRT Holdings) who don't know shit about this industry raised the fees and have started taking a percentage of gross receipts from the franchisee. In addition, they are very unprofessional in the Franchise Division and most of the empployees at corporate actually work from their home and only go to the office to pick up mail and meetings. They have ruined epitome of what a club should be. They have ruined what Joe started and ended with Pete. 24 is buying up clubs just like they did here. We went from having 7 or so Gold's here to now just one statewide.
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you must train in some pusssified cities because every Gold's i've ever seen here in St. Louis has had at least 150 pound db's, power racks, squat racks and plenty of free weight benches.
Golds and certain other gyms do cater to bbing and weight lifting crowd. There are PLENTY of these gyms and they have dbs of over 120.. It's just that the mighty internet warriors who push 65 lb dbs are worried about things they can't even lift.. hahaha ::)
Stop fucking worrying. THERE are plenty of "hardcore" gyms, but not every fucking place is gonna have 5 squat racks and 150 pound dumbells.
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http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/18/nyregion/18grunt.html?ei=5088&en=25d9809610097e88&ex=1321506000&adxnnl=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1163882957-fo87E7kgDm8YY2vFMX9AFQ
Will 24 Fitness's "no grunting" policy spread to the cookie-cutter gyms spreading so fast in urban areas?
Good. i hate the guys who yell on every rep...everyone wants to cave their head in.
I did ask one guy if he was giving birth or something...he didnt get it.
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Golds and certain other gyms do cater to bbing and weight lifting crowd. There are PLENTY of these gyms and they have dbs of over 120.. It's just that the mighty internet warriors who push 65 lb dbs are worried about things they can't even lift.. hahaha ::)
Stop fucking worrying. THERE are plenty of "hardcore" gyms, but not every fucking place is gonna have 5 squat racks and 150 pound dumbells.
hahahahahahahaha, exactly, it always makes me laugh when these clowns say, "fuccking pusssy gym they don't have enough weight for me", every gym i've ever seen has Olympic bars and thousands of pounds of plates, if the db's aren't heavy enough for your ungodly 100 pound db. presses for half reps get your skinny ass on a barbell and do the barbell press.
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I was told yesterday they fired Derek Barton is that right
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hahahahahahahaha, exactly, it always makes me laugh when these clowns say, "fuccking pusssy gym they don't have enough weight for me", every gym i've ever seen has Olympic bars and thousands of pounds of plates, if the db's aren't heavy enough for your ungodly 100 pound db. presses for half reps get your skinny ass on a barbell and do the barbell press.
Of course.. IF ANYTHING, I'd say barbells workouts are better than db ones. They help in the development of strength and thickness. The only areas where dbs are better are arm workouts because they allow for isolation.
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The biggest problem I have is finding gyms that allow chalk.
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The biggest problem I have is finding gyms that allow chalk.
mine doesn't allow it but i use it anyway right in front of all the staff and no one has ever said anything to me.
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Of course.. IF ANYTHING, I'd say barbells workouts are better than db ones. They help in the development of strength and thickness. The only areas where dbs are better are arm workouts because they allow for isolation.
not true..weight are a tool, being barbell, DB or machines...your muscles can't tell the difference. Proper weight usage and rep count will product similar results
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mine doesn't allow it but i use it anyway right in front of all the staff and no one has ever said anything to me.
I use it anyway also, but it would be nice if it was actually allowed.
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not true..weight are a tool, being barbell, DB or machines...your muscles can't tell the difference. Proper weight usage and rep count will product similar results
I've always broken strength barriers with barbells. Barbell work helped me with db lift strength increases as well. The only problem with barbell movements is that they do put a lot of stress on the joints. (I'm speaking from subjective experience here)
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Nothing could be worse than a YMCA I had to train at last summer for a month while on vacation. Dummbells only went to 97.5lbs (yes, the dumbells went like 22.5, 27.5, 32.5 etc.) And what little equipment was there was old and in terrible condition. The cardio area was nice though
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When I use machines I dont have to balance the weight as opposed to free weights.
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When I use machines I dont have to balance the weight as opposed to free weights.
that sounds very comfortable.
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hahahahahahahaha, exactly, it always makes me laugh when these clowns say, "fuccking pusssy gym they don't have enough weight for me", every gym i've ever seen has Olympic bars and thousands of pounds of plates, if the db's aren't heavy enough for your ungodly 100 pound db. presses for half reps get your skinny ass on a barbell and do the barbell press.
People like hardcore gyms because of their environment. Gold's is slowly losing that, they want to cater to the fitness type person, not bodybuilders. Maybe thats why Bev's gym switched to Powerhouse. And yes, I do want a gym that has more then 100 pound dumbells, how else I'm I going to my kickbacks ;D
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I was told yesterday they fired Derek Barton is that right
Keith; Derek and I were good friends. He's long gone. Great guy too.
Gold's Venice is done.
Tom
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Keith; Derek and I were good friends. He's long gone. Great guy too.
Gold's Venice is done.
Tom
Who is he?
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Derek Barton was the long time "Director of Public Relations" for Gold's Venice. He made sure Gold's always had the right mix of Movie stars, Porn stars, Pro athletes, Rock & Rollers, Pro Wrestlers, Fitness girls, and bodybuilders, to keep the vibe just right.
His actual job was quite varied, but trust me, he was important in the history of Gold's Venice the Mecca of Bodybuilding.
T-
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bullshit, hardcore scmardcore, anyplace that has weights and bars and db's is "hardcore" enough, just get in there and train hard.
I actually agree. Dumbells up to 150's in every Golds I've ever been in make it plenty hardcore for me.
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thats it. Im going to buy some knee high tube socks, and get my "Greg Brady" hair back.
I will skateboard to the gym with a boombox stereo on my shoulder.
Musclebear. ;D
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Golds and certain other gyms do cater to bbing and weight lifting crowd. There are PLENTY of these gyms and they have dbs of over 120.. It's just that the mighty internet warriors who push 65 lb dbs are worried about things they can't even lift.. hahaha ::)
Stop fucking worrying. THERE are plenty of "hardcore" gyms, but not every fucking place is gonna have 5 squat racks and 150 pound dumbells.
True enough. Some gyms have more equipment than others, based on who runs them and location. I train at Bally, but I switched from one near a mall to one closer to my house, because of better equipment there. Whereas more "suit-and-tie" folks trained at the one closest to the shopping mall and business plazas, the other Bally has lots of folks: high-school, college, and even (I think) some arena football players. Plus, a handful of local-level bodybuilders.
There are two power-cage squat racks (and one of those other types) there. Those, as well as all but two adjustable benches are bolted to the floor. The dumbbells go up to 105 lbs.; but, it's those blasted rubber-coated Ivanko ones. Plenty of rubber mats in the free-weight area. But, Bally still doesn't allow chalk.
Of course, I have the Premier Plus membership, which allows me to train at any Bally (or Bally affiliate) in the country. So, traveling isn't an issue. If there's a Bally in the area, I have a place to hit the iron.
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Keith; Derek and I were good friends. He's long gone. Great guy too.
Gold's Venice is done.
Tom
Yea Pete told me yesterday and I didn't even know that. He also stated the Gold's Gym Talent Agency. They were not a SAG affiliated agency but casting agents would call him to find out if a certain star was in shape. They would also ask for background people for shows and such and in return Gold's Gym was allowed some of the people to wear Gold's Gym shirts. That is why you saw the shirts on so many people on TV and movies. He was a smart guy.
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Every gym is struggling to stay in business. Same goes for Koloseum and even Golds, Venice. Owners are always trying to attract more members. We have a chain of gyms in Australia called Fitness First. They have installed Hammer equipment and also heavy dumbbells. So they are trying to get everyone to join. That makes sense.
Almost no gym prefers to have muscleheads. We have a good layout where the free weights, most of them, are in a separate room. The bodybuilders seem to gravitate there for most of their training which leaves the main equipment room coed.
One day I hope to dump the free weights into the Pacific Ocean! I so dislike all that clanging and the mentality that accompanies such training.
Golds Venice doesn't have a lying triceps extension machine. How can you effectively train tris without one? We have 3 of those machines.
I also built better machines than Joe made. It took me a while. Equipment has evolved. Yes, They should make one of Joe's Gyms for historical purposes but the gym business has evolved way past what he began.
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Every gym is struggling to stay in business. Same goes for Koloseum and even Golds, Venice. Owners are always trying to attract more members. We have a chain of gyms in Australia called Fitness First. They have installed Hammer equipment and also heavy dumbbells. So they are trying to get everyone to join. That makes sense.
Almost no gym prefers to have muscleheads. We have a good layout where the free weights, most of them, are in a separate room. The bodybuilders seem to gravitate there for most of their training which leaves the main equipment room coed.
One day I hope to dump the free weights into the Pacific Ocean! I so dislike all that clanging and the mentality that accompanies such training.
Golds Venice doesn't have a lying triceps extension machine. How can you effectively train tris without one? We have 3 of those machines.
I also built better machines than Joe made. It took me a while. Equipment has evolved. Yes, They should make one of Joe's Gyms for historical purposes but the gym business has evolved way past what he began.
I like having the weight room right out in the open on the main floor. The Bally I mentioned earlier (the one at which I stopped training) had its weight room so far back, you had to cut through the pool, jacuzzi, and sauna area AND past the aerobic room, just to get to it.
Long-term members may not be as profitable in certain gyms. My intial Bally contract was $36 a month for three years. I got that membership as a Christmas present, back in 1991. My parents paid it, with the provision that I actually use it and I keep my grades up (I was in college, at the time).
Once they paid off the contract completely, the renewal fee was just $69 per year. Two years later, that fee went up to $99.
My membership will expire in a month, as I renewed my membership for $198 for two years. If Bally keeps that price, I will sign on for another two years, which will cover my gym needs until June 2009.
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Gold's is putting up gyms here in St. Louis faster than McDonald's puts up new restaurants, nice gyms too, i don't know how they do it.
They just opened one in my area, nice place, I wouldn't call it "hardcore" but it is a nice gym, with all the stuff you need and then some. The small independent, my old gym, just closed down, and everyone went and signed up at Golds, I would have too but it is not a good location for me. I am thinking the small "hardcore" or whatever you want to call it, is a thng of the past.
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They just opened one in my area, nice place, I wouldn't call it "hardcore" but it is a nice gym, with all the stuff you need and then some. The small independent, my old gym, just closed down, and everyone went and signed up at Golds, I would have too but it is not a good location for me. I am thinking the small "hardcore" or whatever you want to call it, is a thng of the past.
exactly, i don't understand this whole "hardcore gym" bullshit, you pay to belong there so wouldn't you want the place to be nice and have a lot of equipment to choose from or do you want a place that looks like a crackhouse but is "hardcore".
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Small gyms can be profitable. The big gyms have huge operating costs. Gyms are open for long hours and are expensive to own. I marvel at the cheap rates charged in the states. No way you could survive in Australia with those cheap rates. What those gyms do is try to get more and more members. That is when they move away from bodybuilding and install more treadmills, etc. They have to appeal to the general public in order to survive.
A small gym with an owner operator could be profitable. Like the original Golds that was about 3000 square feet. One or two people could run that and give great service. They would have to charge way more than those chains do. That is what is putting small gyms out of business. It is similar to what supermarkets do to small stores. Things are more expensive at the corner store. You pay plenty for the convenience.
There are plenty of gyms everywhere now and customers have a choice about what suits them and what they want to pay. Most modern gyms are way better than what was around 20 years ago.
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exactly, i don't understand this whole "hardcore gym" bullshit, you pay to belong there so wouldn't you want the place to be nice and have a lot of equipment to choose from or do you want a place that looks like a crackhouse but is "hardcore".
Being hardcore doesn't mean it has to be a dump. When I say hardcore, I'm talking about an environment where there are other big guys that are lifting heavy, giving you inspiration. It's kind of hard getting into it, when you see a guy next to you doing flat flys with 15 lbs db. A place where the musci is rocking, and I'm not talking about Nickleback or the latest hiphop tune. I mean van Halen or AC DC whaling in the background. Lastly, it must have the equipment for a hardcore workout. I'm not talking about Life fitness machines like side raise or bentover row machines, I want t-bar row, squat racks, heavy db and heavyduty legpress.
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I don't understand how anyone on this board could train at a Ballys, unless they have changed in recent years. I haven't set foot in one in a long time, but the one I have been to only had dumbells going up to 80 pounds if I remember correctly. Their gyms were like a social club for out of shape people who didn't really train with any intensity.
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I don't understand how anyone on this board could train at a Ballys, unless they have changed in recent years. I haven't set foot in one in a long time, but the one I have been to only had dumbells going up to 80 pounds if I remember correctly. Their gyms were like a social club for out of shape people who didn't really train with any intensity.
hahahahaha, i agree, Bally's is terrible.
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that sounds very comfortable.
Ive been laughing for an hour at that one... ;D
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that sounds very comfortable.
I's say it's almost plush.
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The gyms that survive are the ones where the hot chicks train. Even muscleheads will join those clubs for a perve.
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I think theres enough people that have enough money to buy into the "franchise" thing......start up costs.
But maintaining each on his own without help from corporate will get a drain on the money real soon.
The name is popular but people care about the $19 a month membership and when it goes up, they'll leave to "Ballys" imo.
I would rather invest into a 24 hr fitness as an investment, since they wouldnt tell me " Hey, wheres your $24,000 ad money this month!!
24 doesn't offer franchises unless you are Magic, or Shaq.
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Gold's has changed tremendously when Pete and the gang owned it. They kept their franchising fee down so they wouldn't put such a burden on the franchisee. No percentage and a very low monthly ad fee. The new owners immediately started charging a higher franchise fee and even implemented a percentage for the Licensee's and vendors. Now the newest owners (TRT Holdings) who don't know shit about this industry raised the fees and have started taking a percentage of gross receipts from the franchisee. In addition, they are very unprofessional in the Franchise Division and most of the empployees at corporate actually work from their home and only go to the office to pick up mail and meetings. They have ruined epitome of what a club should be. They have ruined what Joe started and ended with Pete. 24 is buying up clubs just like they did here. We went from having 7 or so Gold's here to now just one statewide.
FHI aint buying chit anymore. In fact, they have liquidated a lot of gyms to get out of the red, when they couldn't go public. Odd, our old boss, loss his job at FHI because of the sale of the European division. Craig Pepin Donat joined Ray Wilson when they sold off most of the Asian holdings.
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Every gym is struggling to stay in business. Same goes for Koloseum and even Golds, Venice. Owners are always trying to attract more members. We have a chain of gyms in Australia called Fitness First. They have installed Hammer equipment and also heavy dumbbells. So they are trying to get everyone to join. That makes sense.
Almost no gym prefers to have muscleheads. We have a good layout where the free weights, most of them, are in a separate room. The bodybuilders seem to gravitate there for most of their training which leaves the main equipment room coed.
One day I hope to dump the free weights into the Pacific Ocean! I so dislike all that clanging and the mentality that accompanies such training.
Golds Venice doesn't have a lying triceps extension machine. How can you effectively train tris without one? We have 3 of those machines.
I also built better machines than Joe made. It took me a while. Equipment has evolved. Yes, They should make one of Joe's Gyms for historical purposes but the gym business has evolved way past what he began.
What is the mentality of people training with free weights?? How do you think the best physiques were built?? Machines?? What kind of comment is that??
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Do not forget that u can build a body without all free weights....but levrone shows up or ronnie and kids see their videos and grow up thinking the\at the ultimate thing for building mass are free weights...equipment has evolved however....on a side note ...the best equipped gym i've ever seen was powerhouse in rosedale park, MI.
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There was a gym here The Gym and it was easily the best gym in Hawaii bar none. the owner was an ass but the gym was awesome. I think one of the mags voted it one of the top ten gyms to get a serious workout in the world. They sold out to Gold's. And I dont'; think 24 has ever been out of the red. They put several million dollars into each club.
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There was a gym here The Gym and it was easily the best gym in Hawaii bar none. the owner was an ass but the gym was awesome. I think one of the mags voted it one of the top ten gyms to get a serious workout in the world. They sold out to Gold's. And I dont'; think 24 has ever been out of the red. They put several million dollars into each club.
Best when it was on Keawe. Bathrooms located outside of the gym itself, big bays for Semi trucks, open air, with just a hint of AC. More powerlifter/strongman than bodybuilders, little to no aerobics. Man I miss that place. Sapp became tolerable when I became his boss.
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Best when it was on Keawe. Bathrooms located outside of the gym itself, big bays for Semi trucks, open air, with just a hint of AC. More powerlifter/strongman than bodybuilders, little to no aerobics. Man I miss that place. Sapp became tolerable when I became his boss.
Man I remember when he put in the A/C. I told him why. The big front door was always open and the sky lights overhead were always open. You couldn't even feel the A/C. And the restrooms were the best outside. Love the loading dock front entrance. It was great there, But I actually think it won the award when it moved to South St.
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Man I remember when he put in the A/C. I told him why. The big front door was always open and the sky lights overhead were always open. You couldn't even feel the A/C. And the restrooms were the best outside. Love the loading dock front entrance. It was great there, But I actually think it won the award when it moved to South St.
Great to see Dorian in the tank tops that Maris gave him in those "infamous" B & Ws.
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I don't understand how anyone on this board could train at a Ballys, unless they have changed in recent years. I haven't set foot in one in a long time, but the one I have been to only had dumbells going up to 80 pounds if I remember correctly. Their gyms were like a social club for out of shape people who didn't really train with any intensity.
It's simple: You ignore those people and do what you need to do. Plus, of all the Bally clubs where I've trained (in Florida), only one has not had 100-lb dumbbells and that one went up to 95s. The one where I've trained for the past 18 months has 105s (but, again, it's those rubber-coated Ivanko dumbbells).
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I just noticed today all the photos of Dorian and Arnold have been pulled down...that's in DC at Federal Center SW...although the Db's do go to 150 which is decent.
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instead of chaulk, go to a sports store and buy a rosin bag. its what pitchers use to dry their hands.....works the same as chaulk without the mess. looks like a little bean bag....
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mine doesn't allow it but i use it anyway right in front of all the staff and no one has ever said anything to me.
Yeah, they are so fucking dumb.
Now they have this rule where you can't use a cell phone in the gym (fine by me). Of course, like EVERYOTHER rule, no one respects it, just as no one inforces it.
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Gold's has changed tremendously when Pete and the gang owned it. They kept their franchising fee down so they wouldn't put such a burden on the franchisee. No percentage and a very low monthly ad fee. The new owners immediately started charging a higher franchise fee and even implemented a percentage for the Licensee's and vendors. Now the newest owners (TRT Holdings) who don't know shit about this industry raised the fees and have started taking a percentage of gross receipts from the franchisee. In addition, they are very unprofessional in the Franchise Division and most of the empployees at corporate actually work from their home and only go to the office to pick up mail and meetings. They have ruined epitome of what a club should be. They have ruined what Joe started and ended with Pete. 24 is buying up clubs just like they did here. We went from having 7 or so Gold's here to now just one statewide.
...yes, and Spectrum Club just bought 2 Gold's in Santa Barbara. Correct me if I'm wrong, please, Only, but I believe both Gold's and World Gym failed in their repeated efforts to franchise. They're liscensee ops: they sell the right to use their names for, say, 10-20 k per year. Nothing's standardized. Thus, each gym varies, oft RIDICULOUSLY. Anyone know who controls HRT Holdings? Is he an
oilman in Texas and a buddy of Bush?
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bullshit, hardcore scmardcore, anyplace that has weights and bars and db's is "hardcore" enough, just get in there and train hard.
Some truth from my fellow fatty.
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golds is owned by TRT holdings.
the guy running the golds division is David Schnabel who has a graduate degree from harvard business school.
the whole thing is run out of dallas.
52 golds gyms are owned by TRT holdings (as of early 2007). the rest are franchises.
7% of golds members are 55 plus age group. they want to get that to 25%.
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golds is owned by TRT holdings.
the guy running the golds division is David Schnabel who has a graduate degree from harvard business school.
the whole thing is run out of dallas.
52 golds gyms are owned by TRT holdings (as of early 2007). the rest are franchises.
7% of golds members are 55 plus age group. they want to get that to 25%.
ThattaMAN, JWB! Super-sonic with statistics although
I'm not sure that Gold's has ANY franchise ops. Heck, I hear they can't even get all of their gyms committed to selling their t-shirts because the owners prefer to bootleg 'em for less. Dallas, eh? That's FAR from Venice. Have you heard the name Robert Rawlings in TRT? Do you know which chain of hotels is owned by TRT? Is David Schnaebel responsible for the elimination of VIP memberships for high-profile people at Gold's? You can't take something away--esp. from high-profile people--without negative consequences. Meanwhile, Spectrum Club is offering their mature members doctor-supervised hormone replacement therapy. How BRILLIANT is THAT?
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ThattaMAN, JWB! Super-sonic with statistics although
I'm not sure that Gold's has ANY franchise ops. Heck, I hear they can't even get all of their gyms committed to selling their t-shirts because the owners prefer to bootleg 'em for less. Dallas, eh? That's FAR from Venice. Have you heard the name Robert Rawlings in TRT? Do you know which chain of hotels is owned by TRT? Is David Schnaebel responsible for the elimination of VIP memberships for high-profile people at Gold's? You can't take something away--esp. from high-profile people--without negative consequences. Meanwhile, Spectrum Club is offering their mature members doctor-supervised hormone replacement therapy. How BRILLIANT is THAT?
just quoting this stuff out of Club Business International the IHRSA magazine.
TRT owns Omni hotels.
thrust of the article is that they want more older people to join golds gyms and will change to do that.
baby boomers will control everything in 10 years... i'm trying to set up two businesses right now to cater to that market
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It amazes me how a company like TRT who has no real history in the gym business goes off and buys Gold's Gym. So many people who may have money and are successful business people buy a gym and it goes out of business in no time. Owning and operating gym in totally different than most business's. TRT has already proven they know nothing about this industry. They took the #1 most recoginized name in the industry with 40 years of history and ruined it. The retail sales are so down its unreal. At their tops Gold's Gym had apparel in more 13,000 retail outlets worldwide. Pete has told me numerous times how he regrets selling Gold's, but it will all work out.
They have raised the franchise fees and even taking a monthly percentage on gross sales. They also started charging vendors a percentage. They are greedy and it will ruin them. The only good thing they have done is buy out some franchisees and made the clubs corporate. This will strengthen their option when they decide to sell. Pete had one corp gym and at its peak had 661 franchises. But having so many corp gyms also put you in a bind if and when they close for whatever reasons. That cuts into the corp assets. When you have franchises if one closes the corp loses nothing in fact makes more money by adding another franchise in the area that went under. Whatever case the new owners are screwing things up. By owning the Omni hotel chain why don't put Gold's inside of them. They own 34 hotels.
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For me i still have fond memories of Gold's. I know this generation of business people and potential members have vastly different perspectives.
The sheer devotion, and home of bodybuilding in so many ways ,can't be taken from us.
I still wear Gold's t-shirts and i will always love Gold's. For me it will always be one of the greatest insprations that fueled my love of bodybuilding. I am never going to become sour on it, ever.
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my Gold's Gym is run by a very unprofessional owner, whom I am taking to small claims court (I'm filing Monday afternoon)
The World's Gym I joined is AWESOME...neck machine, squat racks, 2 heavy bags and a speed bag. Lots of heavy weights, only some cardio (just enough)
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my Gold's Gym is run by a very unprofessional owner, whom I am taking to small claims court (I'm filing Monday afternoon)
It's not his fault you're still a fatass, Medford. Fat loss does require actual diet and exercise, not just paying for a gym membership!
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it's his fault I paid him cash then he deducted it out of my checking account twice >:(
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I guess its a matter of time. Golds is being marketed to the boomer crowd, but onlyme is right, this will probably fail as the bigger gyms already have a hold on this market...( 24hr and bally's etc) And keith stated the owners have their advertising paid for versus Golds, this will force owners to drop like flies after money keeps dropping.
Maybe worlds will step up to the plate for tha hardcore lifters, but its doubtful because we're not a huge moneybase like the general public...its all about the benjamins baby.
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Who wants to work out with a bunch of old farts? They complain too much and stink like prunes and oatmeal.
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It amazes me how a company like TRT who has no real history in the gym business goes off and buys Gold's Gym. So many people who may have money and are successful business people buy a gym and it goes out of business in no time. Owning and operating gym in totally different than most business's. TRT has already proven they know nothing about this industry. They took the #1 most recoginized name in the industry with 40 years of history and ruined it. The retail sales are so down its unreal. At their tops Gold's Gym had apparel in more 13,000 retail outlets worldwide. Pete has told me numerous times how he regrets selling Gold's, but it will all work out.
They have raised the franchise fees and even taking a monthly percentage on gross sales. They also started charging vendors a percentage. They are greedy and it will ruin them. The only good thing they have done is buy out some franchisees and made the clubs corporate. This will strengthen their option when they decide to sell. Pete had one corp gym and at its peak had 661 franchises. But having so many corp gyms also put you in a bind if and when they close for whatever reasons. That cuts into the corp assets. When you have franchises if one closes the corp loses nothing in fact makes more money by adding another franchise in the area that went under. Whatever case the new owners are screwing things up. By owning the Omni hotel chain why don't put Gold's inside of them. They own 34 hotels.
In Gold's we trust...er, trustED. I heard that TRT had intended to open "Gold's Express" in their hotels. Oh, but what a relief to hear that boomers are prized in the physical culture, Keith. In talking with Gary Strydom yesterday, who
at 47 is prepping for the Europa, he was bum-rushed with compliments re looking so terrific "for 47". Rather than lie about his age, he's delightedly taking a leadership position in a new emerging market. Hats off. And thanks for keeping
me in the gym biz loop. Aren't we learning a LOT from eachother!
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Die Gold's gym, DIE
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In Gold's we trust...er, trustED. I heard that TRT had intended to open "Gold's Express" in their hotels. Oh, but what a relief to hear that boomers are prized in the physical culture, Keith. In talking with Gary Strydom yesterday, who
at 47 is prepping for the Europa, he was bum-rushed with compliments re looking so terrific "for 47". Rather than lie about his age, he's delightedly taking a leadership position in a new emerging market. Hats off. And thanks for keeping
me in the gym biz loop. Aren't we learning a LOT from eachother!
Well I am sure you know about whats happening nowadays down there. You are way more in the loop than I am anymore. Its funny cause everytime I see your name I think of Don. My old friend Tony Halme had a girlfriend who worked at Crazywear back in the 80's. I can't remember her name. She was from Finland too.
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All businesses go through cycles and you have to change to survive. The first Golds was way too small and wouldn't be viable today. The second Golds in Santa Monica was also too small. Gyms evolve and what has happened over the last 30 years is that gyms now have more equipment than ever. You need cardio machines and gym machines and both add up to a lot of money. When you have these machines and then add an area to do floor exercises, stretching and free weights you end up with a large facility. The hours that gyms are open also make running them expensive.
All gym owners are trying to make a profit and stay in business. They all are converging on a similar idea of what a good gym is. There are a few clubs that specialize for women and maybe a few that are exclusive, but the majority are catering to everyone. With the competition in America it is a wonder that any club can stay open with the low fees that are charged. When you keep the fees low you have to get more members. More members require more space and that is what is killing gyms. They have evolved to be too damn big to open and operate. Gyms are a high investment, low return business. No one has the formula to make big chains profitable and Golds is no exception.
Didn't Bev and Steve have a Golds franchise? Well, I looked at what they charge and there is no way the return is worth the expense they charge. That chain cannot survive the way the franchise is being operated. What exactly do you get at Golds that is unique and better than you can get elsewhere? We have a better club than the Golds Gym in Sydney.
If you want to work long and hard and not make much money then open a gym or buy a franchise.
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All businesses go through cycles and you have to change to survive. The first Golds was way too small and wouldn't be viable today. The second Golds in Santa Monica was also too small. Gyms evolve and what has happened over the last 30 years is that gyms now have more equipment than ever. You need cardio machines and gym machines and both add up to a lot of money. When you have these machines and then add an area to do floor exercises, stretching and free weights you end up with a large facility. The hours that gyms are open also make running them expensive.
All gym owners are trying to make a profit and stay in business. They all are converging on a similar idea of what a good gym is. There are a few clubs that specialize for women and maybe a few that are exclusive, but the majority are catering to everyone. With the competition in America it is a wonder that any club can stay open with the low fees that are charged. When you keep the fees low you have to get more members. More members require more space and that is what is killing gyms. They have evolved to be too damn big to open and operate. Gyms are a high investment, low return business. No one has the formula to make big chains profitable and Golds is no exception.
Didn't Bev and Steve have a Golds franchise? Well, I looked at what they charge and there is no way the return is worth the expense they charge. That chain cannot survive the way the franchise is being operated. What exactly do you get at Golds that is unique and better than you can get elsewhere? We have a better club than the Golds Gym in Sydney.
If you want to work long and hard and not make much money then open a gym or buy a franchise.
golds in sydney is pretty good vince... very very gay but still a well equiped gym
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I haven't been there lately. A couple of guys from San Francisco opened it several years ago. They seem to give good service and know what they are doing. They said they would be replacing all the equipment every 3 years. I wonder if that happened? Their gym is in a location in Sydney where you can't park nearby most of the day. The club is also on a few floors and that isn't great. The whole operation is slick but they really needed a bigger building to equip it right. I prefer their club to City Gym.
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I haven't been there lately. A couple of guys from San Francisco opened it several years ago. They seem to give good service and know what they are doing. They said they would be replacing all the equipment every 3 years. I wonder if that happened? Their gym is in a location in Sydney where you can't park nearby most of the day. The club is also on a few floors and that isn't great. The whole operation is slick but they really needed a bigger building to equip it right. I prefer their club to City Gym.
city gym is falling to pieces they are done and dusted...
why would golds wanna replace their strength equipment that often? they had a full range of FLEX and hammer already...
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Gyms seem to follow trends. That even applies to brands of equipment. I mean, who in their right mind would install a full range of Hammer equipment? A few Hammer machines are good but most are not effective. The plate loaded variety are a pain in the butt to have in gyms and are way too big. The huge gym at Casle Hill RSL has a Hammer section as does some of the Fitness First clubs. No way I would put a section of those machines in my gym. I do want a selectorized chest press machine, though.
Who would have believed that gyms install Hammer instead of Nautilus or MedX!!
Flex equipment is not the best line to install in a gym.
One of the owners told me they were going to replace all of their equipment every 3 years. I can understand replacing cardio machines but not gym machines. I was wondering if they did replace everything or if common sense prevailed? If they were leasing all the equipment they could replace it like they said.
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I think they have about 6 pieces of hammer - the main torso units - nice machines IMO
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Muscleheads seem to believe the same things. If some say Hammer is good gear everyone believes it! Quite amazing how much agreement is out there. When I had a chance to train on Hammer I wasn't that impressed with most of the line. Sure some of the machines are excellent. Some are not. Gym owners usually have little clue but listen to bodybuilders. If I see a whole line of Hammer installed I know the owners are not bodybuilders! What amuses me is those fancy clubs are almost anti bodybuilding yet install Hammer to attract them. Then the staff have to go around unloading all those heavy plates. The pin-loaded machines are superior but cost double what the plate loading machines do. Gym owners forget about the cost of those expensive Olympic plates. After a while the noise of those plates is irritating. One day I hope to have a gym without any barbells or plates! Dumbbells are next to go along with the guys who insist on using them! :)
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The Strive equipment is better plate loaded than Hammer. There are a few Hammer machines I like. I like seated shrug that also doubles as a row. I like the upper chest and shoulder too. They have way to big a footprint.
And Vince NOTHING is a gym beats dumbbell work, I would think you would know that. Have you ever consider having your gym a franchise Vince if it was to benefit you.
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The Strive equipment is better plate loaded than Hammer. There are a few Hammer machines I like. I like seated shrug that also doubles as a row. I like the upper chest and shoulder too. They have way to big a footprint.
And Vince NOTHING is a gym beats dumbbell work, I would think you would know that. Have you ever consider having your gym a franchise Vince if it was to benefit you.
I agree most gyms should throw out half their machines and double the size of their dumbbell area...
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[color=guy the dumbbells. I don't use them anymore. I so hate the mentality of muscleheads who believe stuff like religious fanatics. I see so many guys training ineffectively and most use free weights. These guys are in the gym dark ages.
Hammer make some effective machines. They were the first to get the incline converging movement right.
Most of the pulldown machines diverge way too wide at the shoulders. I tell equipment manufacturers that but it falls on deaf ears. I swear most of those guys never lift heavy. Now Nautilus and others have pulldown machines from an angle in front. Apparently apes do this in the jungle.
A perfect gym doesn't need free weights. What a smart owner would do is have a free weights dungeon across the street for muscleheads.[/color]
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I disagree vince.
I think back to the first gym I ever went to 25 years ago and all they had machines-wise was a seated calf, standing calf, combo leg extension/leg curl, vertical leg press, lat pulldown, cable row and crossovers.
besides that it was freeweights, a few benches and a squat rack.
but the workouts were great!
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That is why gyms have to have variety. That requires space and that costs money. The rents in most cities for 20,000 square feet is huge. Plus, these gyms are now open 16 hours a day. The good old days were much better in this industry.
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I believe the equipment companies have suckered a lot of gym owners into believing they need all this variety of equipment but they really don't.
most gyms need more of the basics like extra pulldowns and leg presses not crap like inverted/kneeling/ upsidedown/backwards leg curl machines and the like...
most people (gym goers not bodybuilders) do a few exercises per bodypart and train a couple of days a week
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Gym owners are cheapskates. This is because few are making good money out of the business. So companies can't sell equipment gyms don't want. What happens is members request equipment. I have had to build crossover machines then a Hack Squat, etc. Now they want a seated leg curl. It is endless. Guys either use equipment elsewhere or read about stuff in magazines or online and then want that equipment. No gym is truly fully equipped but every gym claims that they are!
The cardio equipment is perceived as necessary and that is why most gyms have that stuff. There has been a convergence in gyms and most now cater to all populations.
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I believe the equipment companies have suckered a lot of gym owners into believing they need all this variety of equipment but they really don't.
most gyms need more of the basics like extra pulldowns and leg presses not crap like inverted/kneeling/ upsidedown/backwards leg curl machines and the like...
most people (gym goers not bodybuilders) do a few exercises per bodypart and train a couple of days a week
Exactly. Look at the bodies from the 70's and early 80's before their were a million different equipment companies selling different versions of the same machine. They guys back then looked as good as any of the pros nowadays except not as big. And that is due to the better roids, GH and insulin, NOT the equipment. Equipment was made to mimmick the action of free weights and dumbbells. How many different types of calf machines are there. How many different abs and leg machines. The equipment industry is allot like the supplement industry. Simple hand placement will do everything you need with free weights. Lower the weight a little more down or up and hit the muscle differently. To do this simple action they need 10 machines. Machines were made to make the exercise easier, they don't make it any better. The chests of guys from 70's blow away most of the chests of todays as do their abs. Size is the only difference today from yesterday and that ain't from the machines.
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Machines are tools just like barbells and dumbbells. It is up to users to choose what to use.
Some machines are just necessary for a good workout. Lat machines and calf machines come to mind here. Various chest machines work the chest better that most barbell exercises. When you get too strong those dumbbells are dangerous to handle.
Calf machines have evolved heaps since the old days. I remember the primitive machine in the first Golds Gym that had a lever and chain. Sure it worked but it has been surpassed by most standing calf machines. Today there are several calf machines. Rotating machines such as Cybex for extending the toe. Then seated calf machines for lever machines and incline type calf machines. Then there are donkey calf machines and finally the standing variety. There is also the inclined standing calf machine that Icarian made years ago. I made a variation that is also a Hack Squat machine.
The seated calf machine has to pivot at the hips and not under the thigh. Most manufacturers have not got this right.
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This is the Hack-calf machine. You put the pad under your legs while facing the sled and remove the head rest. Gets a good stretch. There are two positions for the foot rest.
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This is the Hack-calf machine. You put the pad under your legs while facing the sled and remove the head rest. Gets a good stretch. There are two positions for the foot rest.
Vince a couple things about your machines. Very complicated and why don't they handle Olympic plates. I like that you make your own equipment but to me they seem very busy. One of the main reason why machines are used is for their simplicity. Make an adjustment on the seat stick the pic in and go. And all those different calve machines are useless. You don't need them. They are made for variety more than results. And like I said nothing can replace the freedom of free weights and the results. Love to see a guy who just works out of machines and never touches a squat rack, bench press, curl bar, dumbbells, or barbell.
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We await the physiques that are possible using machines. Good machines will produce exceptional physiques if the training method is right. Most champions use both machines and free weights today.
I proved a point with triceps training. It is difficult to get past a certain point without a special machine that allows you to use a stretched position and keep the elbows stationary. I can keep my triceps sore with my apparatus.
The biceps supinator exceeds what is possible with dumbbells. No question about that. Ditto for calf training. No free weights can approach machines. One of the better exercises is donkey heel raises and there are now machines that duplicate this movement. Unless one had a steadily heavier partner that exercise is limited with people sitting on the back.
I keep my machines as simple as I can make them. Any complexity is required to obtain the goals built into each machine. You require complexity when you have many adjustments for different people using those machines.
I bought over 100 20kg plates from York Barbell. They are solid and don't take up as much space as Olympic plates. There is nothing magic about Olympic discs except that they look heavier to novices. They have a 29 mm hole in them and sit on 1 1/8 inch high tensile stainless steel bars and holders. There are no bent bars in my gym....ever.