When I go on the road, I look for a place to train. Frequently, there are gyms that I drive right by because I know that deadlifting and squatting will be discouraged. And of course, no chalk! Chalk is a sin, because there may be a small pocket of chalk , a light dusting of it on the floor. Even though chalk is a safety issue and should be encouraged.
Anyway, I have been lucky to find some good gyms in which to train. Rock Fitness in Shelby, North Carolina is one of them, no pretentions, no prejudices against someone who doesn't weigh 137 pounds with a visor on and a pencil behind my ear. And really, that is a predjudice, isn't it? So what if someone comes in and is lifting actual decent weights? Everyone's self esteem is so low that they feel inadequate when they are in the same GYM with someone decently big and strong? Maybe gym owner's do not give the general public enough credit. In my experience, it is better to be in a gym with all types of people and in general, people like to see some decent weights lifted.
When I am on my annual vacation trip to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware (a great place. I saw Tony Kornheiser on the boardwalk yesterday. I like him, though I doubt that he can squat his bodyweight, just like my boy Anthony Bourdain), I always train at The Firm, which actually has two squat racks and get this....one is allowed to deadlift and , drumroll please....chalk is allowed! In addition, there are benches and dumbells and a safety squat bar, and trainers and plenty of cardio stuff. It has everything that you need.
Folks come in and train, the atmosphere is friendly, the owner Paul Timmons actually lifts weights and talks about deadlifting, and the price for the week is reasonable for a vacation area. It is one of the things that I actually look forward to when I go to Rehoboth, going to the The Firm and training.
How hard is it , really, to provide a place for folks who actually want to train, who want to lift weights and not feel like if a drop of sweat falls on the floor that they are being judged as a Neanderthal?
If you are ever in the Rehoboth Beach area, drop into The Firm. It's a great place to train.
