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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think this is pretty poor on the part of my gym?

39 replies

gymgoer · 02/10/2020 08:12

Member of a local gym. Quite a big well known chain, at the budget end of the market.

Haven't been back since it reopened a couple of months ago as have been trying to exercise at home, outside etc but with the cold and wet weather setting in I thought I'd make a return.

So you have to book a slot (fine), opening hours have been reduced (again, understandable) can only stay for under an hour and no more than 15 mins on any equipment (bit frustrating as I like to do 5-10k on the treadmill but ok that's what they have to do).

Got there and people were social distancing, equipment being cleaned etc. So far so good.

However, they have closed the changing rooms and showers completely - meaning I had to get changed in the loo, and then carry my bag round with me. Not only that but they have turned the hot water off (clearly to save money!) so when I came to wash my hands I had to use cold water. I commented on it to another lady in the loo - thinking maybe it was a one off - and she said no, there hadn't been any hot water since they reopened and that clearly they just won't switch this on now they don't need to have the showers working either!

Despite reduced facilities, opening times and access I'm still paying exactly the same for my membership - AIBU to think it's a bit poor that despite that the gym can't provide anywhere to change or shower, or even hot water to wash our hands with after using the loo?

OP posts:

Ponoka7 · 02/10/2020 08:16

The only thing I'd complain about is the lack of hot water. For people who have hand sensitivity to cold (for whatever reason) , this is going to make them not wash their hands for long enough.

LordEmsworth · 02/10/2020 08:17

Closing changing rooms is government advice though - it's pretty standard at the moment, changing rooms and showers closed at my gym. You're not even meant to shower after swimming, most pools let you but ask you to rinse & go not wash hair etc.

Bags on gym floor are also banned at my gym. Can you not turn up in gym kit?

The hot water's a bit shit but I'd just complain...

LemonTT · 02/10/2020 08:19

To be hones I was quite surprised my gym allows you to shower and change. But I yet to see anyone do it. The hot water is wrong. Especially if they don’t have sanitizer.

Sirzy · 02/10/2020 08:20

The general message with regards gyms is to arrive ready to work out. I know that can be a problem sometimes.

The only thing I would complain about is the lack of hot water

Original poster

gymgoer · 02/10/2020 08:24

I didn't know the showers and changing rooms were closed, this isn't the case everywhere. It's frustrating because today there were a total of 3 women in the gym - the changing room is at least 20ft square, the loos are about a quarter of that, yet the loos aren't restricted but the changing area is taped off.

I normally change when I get there and shower before going home. On their website there was reference to restricted or limited access to changing rooms and showers, not that they would be closed. Nor that the hot water would be switched off!

If I do go back I would go in gym gear but to be honest I'm considering suspending my membership or even cancelling if any of the other gyms in the area have more facilities.

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Original poster

gymgoer · 02/10/2020 08:25

Should have said, I did try calling them before I went, but no one ever answers the phone!

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thecatsthecats · 02/10/2020 08:25

No more than 15m on equipment is hugely counterintuitive as it encourages you to move around.

The staff at my gym can keep an eye out for people wiping down afterwards, and they usually swoop in on a piece of kit someone's been on for an hour and give it an extra going over themselves. Would be impossible if everyone were moving every 15m.

KatherineJaneway · 02/10/2020 08:29

*:25the

No more than 15m on equipment is hugely counterintuitive as it encourages you to move around.

No one at my gym takes any notice of that rule, or the rule of leaving in an hour.

I'm lucky though I live near my gym so walk there and back in my gym gear.

Original poster

gymgoer · 02/10/2020 08:31

I didn't really 'get' the 15 mins either. I presume it's so that people get a fair turn on the equipment in their limited slot, as some of the machines are out of use to allow social distancing but it does mean you are moving around. For me, I did 15 on treadmill, 15 on the bike and then 15 back on the same treadmill (and in the whole time not one other person was using any of the treadmills or bikes!

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FlyingApples · 02/10/2020 08:35

It is exactly the same in our gym, with the bonus additions of you are not allowed to take a bag in with you plus you can’t refill your water bottle. So changing rooms are closed, no lockers, you have to take in at least two water bottles (well, I do!), a small towel for wiping down equipment (that is a pre Covid rule, nobody is doing it though), your keys, phone and anything else you need, but no bag to put it all in, which is particularly fun if you walk there like I do. Re the 15 mins, that was always the case even pre Covid though, if it was busy.

Original poster

gymgoer · 02/10/2020 08:35

Because the only other people were on the various weights machines on the other side of the gym to me I didn't really notice if they were sticking to the 15m rule, as it was my first time back I played by the rules.

I do sweat a lot at the gym, hence normally showering or at least drying my hair before leaving. Today I just had to dry off as much as I could in the loo. Not ideal, and the cold hand washing just put the lid on it.

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Original poster

gymgoer · 02/10/2020 08:36

Yes, they've closed the drinking water too at ours.

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IntermittentParps · 02/10/2020 08:49

They should turn on the hot water for sure, and offer a discount on membership.

Shorter sessions and no changing rooms are pretty standard though.

Original poster

gymgoer · 02/10/2020 09:01

I'm not sure why there's the inconsistency on gyms though, as just looking at another couple of chains with local branches, their changing rooms and showers are open, and you're not so limited on time either. Think I may join one of those instead - it's annoying as they are a 20 minute drive away rather than 5-10 mins.

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KatherineJaneway · 02/10/2020 09:02

I could understand the 15 mins rule if it was packed and machines were being hogged but they aren't. I stay for whatever time I need and use what I need. I would move machines if every treadmill was in use for a while to give someone else a go mind you.

Our water fountains are out of use but someone still use it the other day despite it being taped off. I take two water bottles with me now.

I don't mind paying the usual price as I never used the showers anyway and rarely used the toilet.

Shoxfordian · 02/10/2020 09:03

Yanbu
My gym doesn't have any time restrictions and all the changing rooms are open

iMatter · 02/10/2020 09:06

No restrictions in my gym

Showers and changing rooms all open as normal

The gym itself has good social distancing but the changing rooms (relatively small) can get really busy and people stand next to each other while chatting

MustDust · 02/10/2020 09:07

What's the logic in the showers and changing being closed? They're not at my gym and the place feels very covid secure, plenty of cleaning, distancing etc. If you can swim in a pool full of other people then why can't you shower on your own after?

TreestumpsAndTrampolines · 02/10/2020 09:09

Where I am everyone is interpreting the rules differently.

My gym has the showers and changing rooms open, but has sealed the lockers to enforce distancing, taped off/re-arranged the machines etc.

It's huge, and expensive, and I think they might have gamed the system a bit because they're not making you book slots or otherwise restricting you.

DP goes to a lifting gym, and there's no showers there, max 1 hour in the gym, and if people queue up, then it's first in first out (to a reasonable extent - they'll not chuck you out if you've only been there 10 mins)

DP asked them, and the showers isn't for any compliance reason (after all, washing is a good thing), but because if everyone was spending an extra 15 mins in the showers too, they'd be over their socially distanced capacity too easily.

Dillydallyingthrough · 02/10/2020 09:12

In my gym the showers and changing rooms are open. They have blocked every other shower and locker and its cleaned straight after you use it. You dont have to book in a time. Even the spa pools are open, only the saunas are closed. I do go to an expensive gym though as wanted access to a swimming pool that was quiet all of the time for physio (mobility issues).

I don't think you should be paying the full price for membership. In mine they have reduced it slightly based on the sauna being unavailable. And it was a third off when the gym was open but the pool was closed.

emmathedilemma · 02/10/2020 09:13

I think it might depend on the layout of the showers / changing. My gym has the swim changing and showers open but the local "council" run one doesn't permit people to use the showers other than to rinse off if there's no one else in them. My gym has showers in cubicles and the "council" one is communal showers along a wall so i'm guessing that might be the reason for the difference? Our gym changing rooms are only open to put coats / bags in lockers, we've been asked to go ready changed and leave things in the car if you arrive by car - so they're only really for those who walk or cycle there. We still have hot water though!
I wish they would enforce a time limit on equipment! It used to be 20minutes but i notice the signs have all gone. I don't mind things like the cross trainer or treadmill that we have a few of but when people hog the only squat rack for the entire session it's just rude, especially when we're on fixed timeslots and can't just stay a bit longer to use it when they finish.
I've also noticed that we have reduced opening hours and haven't had any reduction in membership fees!

Original poster

gymgoer · 02/10/2020 09:13

I think with mine they will have closed the showers and changing room to save money as much as for any compliance reason - they've clearly turned off the hot water, and as the changing rooms are out of use they can leave all the heaters in there switched off too.

OP posts:

Bwlch · 02/10/2020 09:19

At my gym there are no showers or changing rooms. It hasn't been a problem with wfh but is now I am back in the office. The only way to fit the gym in is to go on the way to work and now both the showers at the gym are closed and so are the showers at work.

My cycling colleagues are not too impressed either.

MJMG2015 · 02/10/2020 09:22

@gymgoer

Well, they need membership payments to keep the place open. Lots of things will cost more if we want them to still be here. They didn't ask for Covid either.

You go home straight after, so I'm not sure what the big deal is not showering at the gym?

TheLovleyChebbyMcGee · 02/10/2020 10:21

no hot water is pretty rubbish. washing your hands with soap will still work, but its more comfortable and more effective with warm. I'd complain about that, but everything else is pretty standard right now.

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