WATERVLIET ARSENAL, N.Y. (August 2016) -- If you have ever thought about visiting the arsenal's forge, you have more than 100,000 reasons to do so now.
In the back half of the Body Forge fitness center, there are more than $100,000 worth of new strength-conditioning machines, said Melissa Ryder, the arsenal's recreation and summer camp program manager.
"We have a very dedicated, serious group of people who frequent the Body Forge to improve their strength and conditioning," Ryder said. "About two years ago, they started pointing out that many of our machines and free weights were showing their age."
The arsenal reached out to the Army's Installation Management Command for what is called a "bulk buy" to replace the strength machines, many of which were more than 10 years old, Ryder said. IMCOM did not hesitate and fully funded every machine request and the machines have just come on line.
"One of the added values to this effort is that it came at no cost to the arsenal," Ryder said. "Because the use of our gym facility is free to all members, there was no revenue to make such an improvement and so, it was critical and much appreciated that IMCOM provided the funds."
Ryder said they do charge a one-time fee of $10, but that fee is only to pay for the access card. There are nearly 1,400 members of the Body Forge gym, some of which are not very active.
Ryder looked me in the eye when she said that.
Ryder then asked me to try out one of the new strength weight sets and led me to a set of "dumb bells" and smirked.
Hmmm…I wondered if she was implying something by leading me to a system with such as dubious name.
Not having ever worked out on dumb bells, I reached for the 5-pound set. She immediately blocked my reach and told me that weight lifters typically lift their weight. She smirked again.
As I looked at the set of weights, I smiled when I saw that the weights only went up to 150 pounds, ever so slightly under what I weigh. Now I smirked and thought, "I have got this."
I reached down with both hands to pick up the weight and was blocked again. Ryder said I needed to have a weight in each hand. Her smirking was starting to get on my nerves.
I did what any smart public affairs officer would do in this situation … I asked for a demonstration. After all, she had just told me that she shows people how to use the machines and the weight systems.
She immediately looked at her watch and informed me that my time with her was getting short and that she wanted to show me the 25 machines that she had just put on line.
Knowing that I just beat Ryder at her game, I suggested that she change the name of the "dumb bells" to "Snyder Lifts" to add a little class to the gym. She said she might if I would come to the gym more than once a year.
How did she know that? Well, those $10 cards that most people pay for, which are free to the military, also serve to keep data on customer visits. And so, Ryder can tell exactly how many times someone has visited the gym. She claims this is important because she has to send a quarterly attendance report to IMCOM and those who don't use the gym in a given year, may have their cards deactivated.
I was amazed that as Ryder walked me around the gym, people started scattering everywhere. I wondered out loud if it was my imposing physique that caused people to scatter. Ryder assured me that wasn't the case … it was my camera with the zoom lens.
Nevertheless, I caught Mike Knapp in mid-lift with free weights and I started shooting photos before he could say a word. Maybe it was the flash going off in his face as he had more than 100 pounds over his head, because he, too, gave me the impression that he didn't want to talk.
These weightlifters are too serious. I got serious, too, when Knapp put down the weights and stood up and walked toward me flexing his 243 pounds of solid muscle. For a moment, I thought he reminded me of me.
Knapp, who was once a machinist at the arsenal and who now works in the Fatigue Lab for Benét Laboratories, said that he started coming to the Body Forge about four years ago when his weight ballooned to 250 pounds.
"I knew I had to get back into shape and so I went on a diet," Knapp said. "When I got down to about 180 pounds, I returned to the days of when I served in the Marine Corps by starting a strength conditioning workout program. I am now back up to about 243 pounds."
Knapp said he loves the new machines and weight sets. He also spoke about the added value of the new equipment.
"These new weights are definitely better to workout with because they are safer to use," Knapp said. "They have hand grips, don't roll, and the bars are now straight."
Given that there is now 25 new Nautilus and Life Fitness machines, there is something here for everyone. But don't touch those 5-pound "Snyder Lifts," because those are mine.
The Body Forge gym is open 24-hours per day, seven days a week.
Related Links:
Watervliet Arsenal Slideshare Page
Watervliet Arsenal YouTube Page
Watervliet Arsenal Twitter Page
Arsenal Story: New measurement of success at Army arsenal ... the number of smiles
Social Sharing