The problem with Blink isn't that it's busy during the times you'd expect it to be busy - after work hours - it's that it's *always* busy. And it's not a bit crowded, it's like insanely crowded. I've tried mostly going at off-peak hours. It's busy then. At peak hours, it's nuts. They need to limit new memberships. It's actually really easy to do without flat out refusing to accept new members. You just raise the initiation fee to a level that discourages new members to join. Then when you have member atrophy, you drop the fee to encourage new members.
And there's a lot of members who know nothing about gym etiquette, and the staff can really only do so much. Take note when you're there. There will be free weights just laying around the gym. Some of the members don't know (or don't care) that you're supposed to put free weights back on the racks. The people who work there can only do so much (and why should they have to lug around heavy free weights all day?). Part of the problem is also the folks who lounge around on the weight machines. You'd think those lounging folks might notice others are waiting to use the machines, but if you don't ask to work in, most people won't offer. And unfortunately, some members have flat out refused my requests to work in. The worst part is, management's official response is "we don't mandate that members share equipment or set time limits on the equipment." So, Blink is tots fine with setting up on the leg press for as long as it takes for as many sets as you plan to do -- whehter it's five minutes, 10, or 30, and refusing to let others work in a set.
Executive Fitness is down on 87th Avenue and Roosevelt. It's way smaller, but does have a decent sized studio for stretching/abs. The AC isn't working there yet, though they have set up portables. Front desk says members are expected to let others work in on the weight machines. Anyone know anything about it?
