Quads Gym Chicago

[beakdoctor]

Saw it on the Bodybuilding Legends show. John Hansen interviewed the owner a few years ago. I didnt know there was such history at the gym. The owner, Dave, died a short while after the interview. Last few times I was there I paid the drop in fee of 20 bucks , which I thought was steep, but paid it anyway because its a real iron gym and the woman running it now seems to be a real sweet heart but possibly in the early stages of dementia. The gym seems to have seen better days but it does get busy.

The neighnorhood and hence the gym itself is chock full of musty feral g@ys though there is the random hot chick that still works out there. But its located in "boystown" nothing but rainbows, pride flags and tannies throughout the entire neighborhood- though TBH some are straight up dime piece Trannies (hormone therapy has come a loooong way aparently, you have to wait until you hear the voice to be sure) Btw, is it still not g@y if balls dont touch? I kid, I kid.

Anyway I took my kids on a road trip this week but will be back in Chicago next weekend, If the road trip goes according to plan. Will probably be working out around 10 or 11 am Saturday and Sunday.

This is from last Saturday. My legs always lacked but in my  mid 50's they're growing better than any other body part... probably because I didnt start training them hard until my late 40's...

[tatoo]

great legs beak.. fuckin calfs too!

[beakdoctor]

The pictures are compressed. Idk why. . Legs look good but not THAT good and my feet arent that big.

Queu retard roy with foot jokes any minute now.

[beakdoctor]

great legs beak.. fuckin calfs too!

Thanks man!

[NaturalWonder83]

Saw it on the Bodybuilding Legends show. John Hansen interviewed the owner a few years ago. I didnt know there was such history at the gym. The owner, Dave, died a short while after the interview. Last few times I was there I paid the drop in fee of 20 bucks , which I thought was steep, but paid it anyway because its a real iron gym and the woman running it now seems to be a real sweet heart but possibly in the early stages of dementia. The gym seems to have seen better days but it does get busy.

The neighnorhood and hence the gym itself is chock full of musty feral g@ys though there is the random hot chick that still works out there. But its located in "boystown" nothing but rainbows, pride flags and tannies throughout the entire neighborhood- though TBH some are straight up dime piece Trannies (hormone therapy has come a loooong way aparently, you have to wait until you hear the voice to be sure) Btw, is it still not g@y if balls dont touch? I kid, I kid.

Anyway I took my kids on a road trip this week but will be back in Chicago next weekend, If the road trip goes according to plan. Will probably be working out around 10 or 11 am Saturday and Sunday.

This is from last Saturday. My legs always lacked but in my  mid 50's they're growing better than any other body part... probably because I didnt start training them hard until my late 40's...

impressive legs! Do they have a safety squat bar or spider bar?

[Chubz]

My son lives in Chicago, has for 15 years. I've been to that gym MANY times, it is so nostalgic. I event been there since covid, coved f'd many things

[BB]

Was Ed Coan's home base for many years, filmed his training tapes there -

.

.

P.S. - Impressive quads, compression not withstanding.

[Van_Bilderass]

Very good quads and impressive that you're still getting gains in your mid-50s

Mind telling how you train your quads?

[IroNat]

$20 to workout?

Ridiculous.

[beakdoctor]

Very good quads and impressive that you're still getting gains in your mid-50s

Mind telling how you train your quads?

When I first started lifting in mid- teen years my legs blew up easily. Then I neglected them for decades. Only extensions. No heavy lifting presses or squats.

I started training them hard again around 48 years old. I came across a video on YT of Jeff Kings leg routine and copied it. I liked his routine because he didn't do back squats- which can throw out my lower back without warning.

So my routine is:

1. leg extensions- a lot of them. Start with light weight to warm up my knees. Probably 7 to 8 sets of extensions.

2. Then Front Squats- about 6 sets of 10 to 15 reps each. Up to 185, sometimes as high as 225 .

3. Then Hack Squats- moderate weight. Ive gone as high as 7 plates but usually five 45 lb plates.

4.Then the vertical leg press- 4 sets of ten.

5 & 6 Finish with calf raises and alternating with leg curls. 4 sets of 15 reps for each exercise. I have a throry about calves. I only use the machine that allows me to stand. Not the seated calf raise. It could be bro-science but Im pretty sure the standing machine engages more secondary muscles that build the calves better.

There's all these hot gym babes that always fucking squat or deadlift. One day the hottest girl in the gym walked over and put 135 on the bar and knocked out 10 reps of front squats no problem. I said to myself " if a fucking girl can do it, you have no excuses. That was 3 years ago.

$20 to workout?

Ridiculous.

Agreed. I get a discount and pay 14. Still ridiculous.

impressive legs! Do they have a safety squat bar or spider bar?

They have so much equipment in there its more of a warehouse of random equipment, including original Nautilus machines- the kind Boyer, Mike and Ray used in those old videos. Hex bar. Numerous squat racks. Not sure what a spider bar is but they dont have the leg blaster thing that Zane used to use.

Was Ed Coan's home base for many years, filmed his training tapes there -

.

.

P.S. - Impressive quads, compression not withstanding.

Thanks! Eds pictures are all over the gym. But EVERYONES is. Every bodybuilder you can think of from the 80's and 90's. Place is like a museum of bodybuilding.

[IroNat]

I don't understand why most gyms charge so much for a day pass.

[Grape Ape]

impressive legs! Do they have a safety squat bar or spider bar?

Picked up an Elite FTS SSB a few months ago after tearing my pronator muscle in my forearm.

Close stance squats holding a bar in front of me are killer - the bar just sits and doesn't move.  Wanted a Marrs bar, but this deal was too good to pass up.

beaks quads are impressive, compressed or not.  I will not get size anywhere near that because I'm a low rep guy, and I think legs respond more to volume and reps.

[webstar]

When I first started lifting in mid- teen years my legs blew up easily. Then I neglected them for decades. Only extensions. No heavy lifting presses or squats.

I started training them hard again around 48 years old. I came across a video on YT of Jeff Kings leg routine and copied it. I liked his routine because he didn't do back squats- which can throw out my lower back without warning.

So my routine is:

1. leg extensions- a lot of them. Start with light weight to warm up my knees. Probably 7 to 8 sets of extensions.

2. Then Front Squats- about 6 sets of 10 to 15 reps each. Up to 185, sometimes as high as 225 .

3. Then Hack Squats- moderate weight. Ive gone as high as 7 plates but usually five 45 lb plates.

4.Then the vertical leg press- 4 sets of ten.

5 & 6 Finish with calf raises and alternating with leg curls. 4 sets of 15 reps for each exercise. I have a throry about calves. I only use the machine that allows me to stand. Not the seated calf raise. It could be bro-science but Im pretty sure the standing machine engages more secondary muscles that build the calves better.

There's all these hot gym babes that always fucking squat or deadlift. One day the hottest girl in the gym walked over and put 135 on the bar and knocked out 10 reps of front squats no problem. I said to myself " if a fucking girl can do it, you have no excuses. That was 3 years ago.
Agreed. I get a discount and pay 14. Still ridiculous.

They have so much equipment in there its more of a warehouse of random equipment, including original Nautilus machines- the kind Boyer, Mike and Ray used in those old videos. Hex bar. Numerous squat racks. Not sure what a spider bar is but they dont have the leg blaster thing that Zane used to use.

Thanks! Eds pictures are all over the gym. But EVERYONES is. Every bodybuilder you can think of from the 80's and 90's. Place is like a museum of bodybuilding.

Only one excercise for hamstrings?

Man, vertical leg press impossible to find these days

[Methyl m1ke]

Only one excercise for hamstrings?

Man, vertical leg press impossible to find these days

Vertical leg press sucks.

[webstar]

Vertical leg press sucks.

Ya, gut gets in the way.

[Van_Bilderass]

When I first started lifting in mid- teen years my legs blew up easily. Then I neglected them for decades. Only extensions. No heavy lifting presses or squats.

I started training them hard again around 48 years old. I came across a video on YT of Jeff Kings leg routine and copied it. I liked his routine because he didn't do back squats- which can throw out my lower back without warning.

So my routine is:

1. leg extensions- a lot of them. Start with light weight to warm up my knees. Probably 7 to 8 sets of extensions.

2. Then Front Squats- about 6 sets of 10 to 15 reps each. Up to 185, sometimes as high as 225 .

3. Then Hack Squats- moderate weight. Ive gone as high as 7 plates but usually five 45 lb plates.

4.Then the vertical leg press- 4 sets of ten.

5 & 6 Finish with calf raises and alternating with leg curls. 4 sets of 15 reps for each exercise. I have a throry about calves. I only use the machine that allows me to stand. Not the seated calf raise. It could be bro-science but Im pretty sure the standing machine engages more secondary muscles that build the calves better.

There's all these hot gym babes that always fucking squat or deadlift. One day the hottest girl in the gym walked over and put 135 on the bar and knocked out 10 reps of front squats no problem. I said to myself " if a fucking girl can do it, you have no excuses. That was 3 years ago.

Thanks. I'm 48 and I never had good quads despite squatting a lot. After being out of the gym a lot of the time for the past few years I've gotten into a good routine. About 3 weeks ago I was doing extensions where I put a folded up yoga mat on the pad to make the movement longer and I heard a ripping sound, a small tear that took me out til now

[Irongrip400]

I don't understand why most gyms charge so much for a day pass.

Because they know you’re an out of towner, and you’re already there so you’re not going to say no and leave. I’m sure they have a metric of what would actually make someone turn around and leave.

[Grape Ape]

Because they know you’re an out of towner, and you’re already there so you’re not going to say no and leave. I’m sure they have a metric of what would actually make someone turn around and leave.

Yes, most local gym owners are deep into market analytics.

[Van_Bilderass]

Say you show up at an average US gym and say you are thinking of buying a membership, will they give you a free session? Over here they have drives where they offer a week of free trials at chains.

Of course it would be kinda shitty to pull that card if there's no intention of ever becoming a member. But it would be a good will gesture to let anyone have a free session by just presenting ID.

[BB]

Say you show up at an average US gym and say you are thinking of buying a membership, will they give you a free session? Over here they have drives where they offer a week of free trials at chains.

Of course it would be kinda shitty to pull that card if there's no intention of ever becoming a member. But it would be a good will gesture to let anyone have a free session by just presenting ID.

Some of the larger ones will offer free trial 1-7 day passes from time to time. Smaller "mom and pop" types will play with the rates depending on how much business they have, and how much they like you sometimes, but I've never seen free passes unless someone was really smoozing up the owner/counterman.

For Quads, I just think that it's a somewhat famous gym, probably in a somewhat expensive area, so they can get the $20 for a day pass. In NYC, lots of tiny regular gyms get $15-35 for a 1 day pass, and try to get you to go for a cheaper weekly.

For example, Mid City Gym, which is a little famous in the bodybuilding world, gets $30/day, $85/week.

[beakdoctor]

Because they know you’re an out of towner, and you’re already there so you’re not going to say no and leave. I’m sure they have a metric of what would actually make someone turn around and leave.

Not necessarily. Theres so many gyms in chicago its actually oversaturated IMO.

The current owner/manager said the price had not changed since the place opened. The previous owner was adamant about it. So, for 30 years or whatever it was tge same price , like 12 or 15 bucks.

So she just raised the rate.

I pay it because of the atmosphere. Its a bodybuilders gym. Not that I consider myself a bodybuilder but I do the workouts and enjoy the history.

[beakdoctor]

Some of the larger ones will offer free trial 1-7 day passes from time to time. Smaller "mom and pop" types will play with the rates depending on how much business they have, and how much they like you sometimes, but I've never seen free passes unless someone was really smoozing up the owner/counterman.

For Quads, I just think that it's a somewhat famous gym, probably in a somewhat expensive area, so they can get the $20 for a day pass. In NYC, lots of tiny regular gyms get $15-35 for a 1 day pass, and try to get you to go for a cheaper weekly.

For example, Mid City Gym, which is a little famous in the bodybuilding world, gets $30/day, $85/week.

Agreed about the location.

90% of the members here are area gay yuppies. Meaning single dudes who can afford high rent and have no children.

[Irongrip400]

Yes, most local gym owners are deep into market analytics.

Sensing the sarcasm, assuming you’re intuition is correct, probably explains why a lot of the gyms fail.

[NaturalWonder83]

Picked up an Elite FTS SSB a few months ago after tearing my pronator muscle in my forearm.

Close stance squats holding a bar in front of me are killer - the bar just sits and doesn't move.  Wanted a Marrs bar, but this deal was too good to pass up.

beaks quads are impressive, compressed or not.  I will not get size anywhere near that because I'm a low rep guy, and I think legs respond more to volume and reps.

Nice! Never got to use the Elite FTS. I had a hard time choosing between Elite and REP, but went with REP. I had bought the REP SS Bar and love it so far. You ever get to use the Transformer bar?

[NaturalWonder83]

When I first started lifting in mid- teen years my legs blew up easily. Then I neglected them for decades. Only extensions. No heavy lifting presses or squats.

I started training them hard again around 48 years old. I came across a video on YT of Jeff Kings leg routine and copied it. I liked his routine because he didn't do back squats- which can throw out my lower back without warning.

So my routine is:

1. leg extensions- a lot of them. Start with light weight to warm up my knees. Probably 7 to 8 sets of extensions.

2. Then Front Squats- about 6 sets of 10 to 15 reps each. Up to 185, sometimes as high as 225 .

3. Then Hack Squats- moderate weight. Ive gone as high as 7 plates but usually five 45 lb plates.

4.Then the vertical leg press- 4 sets of ten.

5 & 6 Finish with calf raises and alternating with leg curls. 4 sets of 15 reps for each exercise. I have a throry about calves. I only use the machine that allows me to stand. Not the seated calf raise. It could be bro-science but Im pretty sure the standing machine engages more secondary muscles that build the calves better.

There's all these hot gym babes that always fucking squat or deadlift. One day the hottest girl in the gym walked over and put 135 on the bar and knocked out 10 reps of front squats no problem. I said to myself " if a fucking girl can do it, you have no excuses. That was 3 years ago.
Agreed. I get a discount and pay 14. Still ridiculous.

They have so much equipment in there its more of a warehouse of random equipment, including original Nautilus machines- the kind Boyer, Mike and Ray used in those old videos. Hex bar. Numerous squat racks. Not sure what a spider bar is but they dont have the leg blaster thing that Zane used to use.

Thanks! Eds pictures are all over the gym. But EVERYONES is. Every bodybuilder you can think of from the 80's and 90's. Place is like a museum of bodybuilding.

wow sounds amazing! Love the Nautilus pullover. You’re super lucky!