How's Harbor Fitness? Cuz I quit the Y

Subject: How's Harbor Fitness? Cuz I quit the Y

I wasn't using it enough but may join something in the winter...the Y wanted 30 days to cancel, wanted to charge me to put membership on hiatus...they just seem like a regulay money grubbing institution, instead of the Y fer chrissakes....

So how's Harbor Fitness? price? facilities? Hours?

I have been using HF for 9 years. I like it. I think I pay $50/month.

They're open 24/7. They have some decent classes (although the floor in the bigger classroom sucks ass).

I don't go during nighttime hours, but it seems like you can get on the equipment without many problems on the weekend.

The owners are often there and are resonably responsive to requests.

There are saunas. I've never seen any sex in there

It's pretty clean and the woman who works in the women's locker room really cleans all the time and well

A minor annoyance to me is that they are doing some advertising that I don't need to see - Drugstore.com on the yoga mats, birth control pill brochures in the ladies room, some deodorant and other stuff.

I was a harbor member for many years and pretty much switched to NYSC to see all sorts of great stuff in the steam room 8)

The owners of Harbor are top notch, there are always tons of trainers on the floor (not the case at NYSC) to answer questions, or demonstrate things, it is roomy, and the equipment is in good shape and plentiful.

As a local gym, it is much better than NYSC, based on my experience, but as a freelancer who covers a lot of ground in the city, having access to NYSC all over Manhattan is a huge benefit.

steve wrote: I was a harbor member for many years and pretty much switched to NYSC to see all sorts of great stuff in the steam room 8)

The owners of Harbor are top notch, there are always tons of trainers on the floor (not the case at NYSC) to answer questions, or demonstrate things, it is roomy, and the equipment is in good shape and plentiful.

As a local gym, it is much better than NYSC, based on my experience, but as a freelancer who covers a lot of ground in the city, having access to NYSC all over Manhattan is a huge benefit.

I was a member of Harbor fitness in Bay Ridge (there's one there, one in PS). I don't remember EVER seeing a trainer there, actually there was one girl who used to hang out with me when I worked out, she eventually started coming to my parties and eventually confessed she did not know a thing about training, but she needed a job). Anyway, maybe things have changed, but at NYCS I sometimes have to beat off trainers. There are a LOT of them. Maybe that's due to the cost of a trainer being so much, perhaps no one buys one and they have nothing to do. Needless to say, my g/f got one to work through an entire workout with her the otherday, she asked one question, 1.5 hours later he was still with her showing her different machines, working thu everything with her. Hey wait, maybe that should bother me!

Anyway, best thing to do is try a few gyms. they'll all give a free week trial if you want to compare.

HF in PS had a TON of trainers. I don't know anything about how qualified they are, but there are certainly a lot of them at the PS location

I love Harbor. People go there to workout as opposed to being seen. There are always trainers on the floor but I don't know how good they are. The cclasses are excellent

Flexichick wrote: HF in PS had a TON of trainers. I don't know anything about how qualified they are, but there are certainly a lot of them at the PS location

I'm not saying they're alllll like the chick I knew, I just wanted to point out an interesting tid-bit.

I gotcha Dave, but I was trying to point out that at the PS location, there are actually a bunch of them (as opposed to your BR experience)

I've been going to the Y for the past 6 months. It's okay. though they seem to not want to turn the AC up which is becoming more of a problem. I really only use the treadmills so I don't know much about their lifting facilities.

How much do personal trainers cost at these other gyms?

some of the the harbor spin classes fill up quickly and theres always few out of commision bikes but I highly recomend Rosa's spin class if you like being challenged.

Dave - I agree with Flexi there are a lot of trainers at the PS location, but I don't know about Bay Ridge. At NYSC, there is one trainer who seems a little girl crazy, and I actually don't care for him very much. However, Abby is fantastic, and I did a session with her to develop some specific workouts for my core and ankles. O/w, I feel like unless you have a session no one there gives a toss about you.

Flexichick wrote: I gotcha Dave, but I was trying to point out that at the PS location, there are actually a bunch of them (as opposed to your BR experience)

I'd expect that from the PS location, seems like that's where they'd spend the extra money... (PS vs BR I mean).
Having said that, I heard that the Bay Ridge one just got a really nice makeover... is that true?

steve wrote: Dave - I agree with Flexi there are a lot of trainers at the PS location, but I don't know about Bay Ridge. At NYSC, there is one trainer who seems a little girl crazy, and I actually don't care for him very much. However, Abby is fantastic, and I did a session with her to develop some specific workouts for my core and ankles. O/w, I feel like unless you have a session no one there gives a toss about you.

Oh hey, what did you do for your ankles? I'm training for the marathon and have noticed my left ankle is getting a bit sore... I think I need some work out/stretching for it...

kosherdave wrote: [quote=steve]Dave - I agree with Flexi there are a lot of trainers at the PS location, but I don't know about Bay Ridge. At NYSC, there is one trainer who seems a little girl crazy, and I actually don't care for him very much. However, Abby is fantastic, and I did a session with her to develop some specific workouts for my core and ankles. O/w, I feel like unless you have a session no one there gives a toss about you.

Oh hey, what did you do for your ankles? I'm training for the marathon and have noticed my left ankle is getting a bit sore... I think I need some work out/stretching for it...

I sprained one last year and they are both pretty weak to beginz with. If you want I'll do the workout with you sometime and show you what I got. I'm trying to do the workout 3 times a week, and the next time I'll do it is around 4-5 today and then again Sunday, maybe around noon. Incidentally, my friend Eric and I will be doing our long run Saturday morning if you're interested.

Anyway, PM me and we'll spare the rest of the board.

I'm doing Montreal and New York

I'd love a long run, but can't do this sat, I have a race on sunday. I'll pm you in the future though!! thanks!

Cool. I may volunteer at that race assuming it is the hope and possibility one. Long runs unfortunately are taking precedence over my racing.

kosherdave wrote: Anyway, maybe things have changed, but at NYCS I sometimes have to beat off trainers.

Dave, dave, dave.... Given all of the recent discussions re: steam room sex, this is a particularly revealing turn of phrase...

Does he beat them off IN the steam room?

Flexichick wrote: Does he beat them off IN the steam room?

Flexi! :shock:

Hey, I can't help it. I'm slutty. Ask any guest.

Those guests have all sorts of opinions they do...

Flexichick wrote: Hey, I can't help it. I'm slutty. Ask any guest.

8thandPrez wrote: [quote=kosherdave] Anyway, maybe things have changed, but at NYCS I sometimes have to beat off trainers.

Dave, dave, dave.... Given all of the recent discussions re: steam room sex, this is a particularly revealing turn of phrase...

ahhhhhahahahaa re-reading that, maybe I shouldn't have said "beat off"

Flexichick wrote: Does he beat them off IN the steam room?

only if there's someone there to watch ;-)

What Flexi said. About HF, not about being a slut.

Subject: Harbor Fitness

I've been a member for over a year now, switched from NYSC due to outrageous membership rates. I was lucky enough to buy an existing membership on Craigslist for $24/month. I like the "neighborhoody" feel of the club and its always clean. I workout early in the morning, so its not crowded. Sometimes they run out of towels, but they are replenished within the half hour. I've also had guests workout there, hassle free. Showeres have shampoo, conditioner and body wash. I definately recommend this gym.

I m very happy with their class selection and it is very rare to have to wait for cardio machines. Also, people are there to work out, there doesn't seem to be much of a scene

I just took class there. Very challenging

I will never go there again. I was leered at by these two weight lifters. I thought that they were going to sling me over their shoulders and rape me. It's too creepy for me there.
What other gyms are there in the area that I won't feel I'll be molested?

are you kidding? you are going to let yourself be intimidated by some muscleheads? go workout at lucille roberts or curves. seriously. i've woked out at the yuppiest of gyms (clay and equinox) it's the same everywhere

How do you define leering? And did you confeont them?

From all the gossip, it seems as though gyms throughout Brooklyn and Manhattan need to beef up locker room etiquette. A straight guy in his 30s told me last week that he felt he had been “violated” in the showers of one of New York University’s gyms where a naked male stranger started masturbating in front of him.

What’s wrong with people? Sure we all get horny, but come on.

Thank god for cameras in waterproof cell phones. The first time some jackass tries this stunt with me, I'm posting the photo on this forum for you all to see.