Hammer Strength plate-loaded vs. MTS

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I joined the South Loop Fitplex in Chicago a few months ago while the
facility was being built. While I was waiting for the gym to be
completed, I had access to the other Fitplex gyms in the area and I
really enjoyed doing rows on plate-loaded Hammer Strength machines.
Today I went to the new gym (access to other gyms ended because the new
gym was finished), where instead of plate-loaded machines, management
chose to install the Hammer Strength MTS line, which uses cables/belts
and pullies. My back workout just sucked. The machine just felt wrong,
and the weight stack for the high row machine was insufficient. I'd
feel like a tough guy for obsoleting a machine if the mirror didn't
laugh at my fat ass.

1. Is the difference in feel between plate-loaded and belt-type
machines all in my head?
2. Why do you think the gym paid twice as much for the MTS machines
when the other machines work fine?

Also of note, the gym features 45 cardio machines (each with its own
LCD television), two group exercise rooms, one squat rack (nestled in a
corner), and two flat benches. The lesson here is to never join a gym
before it's built.

Honest answers (and even flames) are appreciated.

Gary Jones was one of the biggest innovators in gym equipment design. He
designed machines that were mych cheaper than other machines and worked
better.

Then he sold out to life fitness. Life fitness doesn't care about anything
that was done before. They wanted to gentrify his machines and charge big
bucks for them.

Gary Jones was concerned about how a machine felt and worked. Life Fitness
is only concerned about money. And they want something that fits the image
of a machine that is purty and accomplishes nothing.

On 31 May 2005 21:39:30 -0700, [email hidden] wrote:
....

Quoted message said:

1. Is the difference in feel between plate-loaded and belt-type
machines all in my head?

mostly. the eccentric is reduced with cables. other than that
how do you think your muscles know what is providing the resistance?
it's still a machine with defined movement. your thoughts are
half-way in between free-weights and selectorized. a lonely place.

Quoted message said:

2. Why do you think the gym paid twice as much for the MTS machines
when the other machines work fine?

because the market demands it. hence more customers will sign up.
less plates lying around or mis-racked. weight lifters (like smokers)
are their own worst enemies. less damage to the finish on the
low side of the equipment. goofy weight boys leaning 45s on
painted surfaces can quickly ruin the appearance of a piece of
equipment that might cost thousands of dollars. and they don't
care. but the owner does.

Quoted message said:

Also of note, the gym features 45 cardio machines (each with its own
LCD television), two group exercise rooms, one squat rack (nestled in a
corner), and two flat benches. The lesson here is to never join a gym
before it's built.

looks as if the owners have decided to appeal to a different
demographic without consulting you. hope you can find
another gym with what you like.
....thehick