Some Thoughts on Bars

[Robert Britt Freund]

Originally Posted by Jeremy Galo

Anybody know anything about the York Men's Needle Bearing Olympic Training Bar - 28mm (#32110)? I'm guessing is somewhat of a lower-end model of theirs, but I got it for the needle bearings and I use it only for O-lifts and deadlifts really.

Originally Posted by Brian Degenaro

I do not have a good opinion about 9/10 of the Needle Bearing training bar, the number is 32110; this is a "split sleeve" bar and the knurling is pretty rough. At the CF where I work at most of them have bent, one or two have already broken. We got one with the platform and bumpers at my college gym, bent the first day when someone racked a 135lb squat with it. The actual bar bent. I wish I had the money to do an experiment. I don't know if it is racking the bar with a load in a squat or just dynamic load that bends it. It is weird but I do not trust these bars, even though there is one that I have used for 350lb+ squats on with a big bounce out of the hole. I just don't trust them after seeing them bend, and a sleeve separate from one.

I do however love their Elite training and competition bars, those are fantastic, although they are a bit stiffer than York. York was kind enough to replace the bent one at school with a chrome Elite training bar, at least that's what it looks and feels like when I use it.

Ahhh... This explains things. You are both talking about the York #32110 bar. I don't have any experience with this bar.

I do have experience with variations on the York Elite bars (the B&R bar) and, as Brian notes, these are excellent bars.

Thanks for the info...

Regards,
brittf

[Jeremy Galo]

Originally Posted by Brian Degenaro

I do not have a good opinion about 9/10 of the Needle Bearing training bar, the number is 32110; this is a "split sleeve" bar and the knurling is pretty rough. At the CF where I work at most of them have bent, one or two have already broken. We got one with the platform and bumpers at my college gym, bent the first day when someone racked a 135lb squat with it. The actual bar bent. I wish I had the money to do an experiment. I don't know if it is racking the bar with a load in a squat or just dynamic load that bends it. It is weird but I do not trust these bars, even though there is one that I have used for 350lb+ squats on with a big bounce out of the hole. I just don't trust them after seeing them bend, and a sleeve separate from one.

I do however love their Elite training and competition bars, those are fantastic, although they are a bit stiffer than York. York was kind enough to replace the bent one at school with a chrome Elite training bar, at least that's what it looks and feels like when I use it.

Well... crap... oh well. So far so good. I've dropped it on my floor a few times with 185lbs on it from overhead and haven't seen it bend yet. So we'll see where it goes I guess. All else fails, get a Pendlay Bearing Bar later haha

[Brian Degenaro]

Like I said, it can be hit or miss. There were ones that were broken/bent from 95-135lb drops or rackings for squats. Then there is one that I used extensively for upwards of 275-290lbs on the C&J and 385lbs for squats (Olympic style with a pronounced bounce out of the bottom) and it is still straight as an arrow. Same model bars, all bought at the same time. To be safe, I'd just upgrade to a more reliable bar. The most reliable bar I know is an Eleiko, those things can be 30+ years old and still look and work like a new, 2009 competition bar.

[Jeremy Galo]

Originally Posted by Brian Degenaro

Like I said, it can be hit or miss. There were ones that were broken/bent from 95-135lb drops or rackings for squats. Then there is one that I used extensively for upwards of 275-290lbs on the C&J and 385lbs for squats (Olympic style with a pronounced bounce out of the bottom) and it is still straight as an arrow. Same model bars, all bought at the same time. To be safe, I'd just upgrade to a more reliable bar. The most reliable bar I know is an Eleiko, those things can be 30+ years old and still look and work like a new, 2009 competition bar.

Well... considering I just spent basically all my money outfitting my home gym, it'll have to wait for now. But I don't know if I can shell out the cash for an Eleiko when the Pendlay Bearing bar is so much cheaper and already guaranteed for life. I guess we shall see.

[Brian Degenaro]

An Eleiko costs more than most home gyms anyways. I'd say a safe bet would be the Pendlay bearing bar as well, I want to get my hands on one to test it out.

[Keith Miller]

Originally Posted by Jeremy Galo

Well... considering I just spent basically all my money outfitting my home gym, it'll have to wait for now. But I don't know if I can shell out the cash for an Eleiko when the Pendlay Bearing bar is so much cheaper and already guaranteed for life. I guess we shall see.

I think that's what I'll aim for. I'll be putting it on my xmas list anyhow.

I got the quote back from York, and they are basically giving me 33% off all of their models (needle bearing, York Elite, and York Comp) of bars. I don't have the money myself, so not happening right now. No big deal.

And I am mostly an Oly lifter. My snatch is about 90 kg, and CJ is 115 kg. Squat 147 kg back and 125 kg front. I'm mostly wanting the second bar to be able to throw around more in a crossfit WOD, but still be able to Oly lift on it. And yeah, my wife thinks I'm a bit nuts for wanting a second bar.

[Robert Britt Freund]

Originally Posted by Keith Miller

I think that's what I'll aim for. I'll be putting it on my xmas list anyhow.

I got the quote back from York, and they are basically giving me 33% off all of their models (needle bearing, York Elite, and York Comp) of bars. I don't have the money myself, so not happening right now. No big deal.

And I am mostly an Oly lifter. My snatch is about 90 kg, and CJ is 115 kg. Squat 147 kg back and 125 kg front. I'm mostly wanting the second bar to be able to throw around more in a crossfit WOD, but still be able to Oly lift on it. And yeah, my wife thinks I'm a bit nuts for wanting a second bar.

Keith,

You must somehow get your wife to understand that there is no such thing as having too many weightlifting bars!!!!

Let her know that the alternative is you hanging out on the streets all the time, and she doesn't want that...

Good luck on the Olympic lifts. They are my favorite as well. There are a number of decent mid-grade bars you can get that work for both the WODs and the Olympic lifts. The York Elite series is one. You can also look at the Rogue bar and the B&R bar and the Pendlay Bushing or Bearing bars. There are others out there as well, but I don't have them. You will have to decide if you are willing to go to a 28.4 mm bar (the size is a bit bigger than your Oly dedicated bar, and it is noticeable in your hands) since most of the dual-use bars are this size.

Regards,
brittf

[Keith Miller]

I'll let you know what I end up with. I have put the York Elite and the Pendlay bearing bar on my xmas wish list. Don't know if I'll get either of them, but I'll let you know.

I currently only lift on my current bar 2x's a week due to school, then go to a weightlifting gym on the weekends.

I appreciate all of your thoughts and insights, especially as a fellow engineer (aerospace composites for the time being as I'm in law school with 3 semesters to go after this one).

[Louis Andre Pardo]

Great thread...

I am looking for a bar and some bumpers. I am a serious CFer but I must say I am not as serious as anyone on this thread about bars or olylifts. Power bar, Oly bar, for me I really couldnt care. I am 185 lbs, still can't deadlift 2xBW and I am working with a used, "Play-It-Again Sports", Made in China special that always need its sleeves' allen screws retightened. Admittedly I should clean and snatch more but at this point anything that I get will be a significant upgrade. Cost is critical- what do you recommend? I am leaning toward the Rogue Beater Bar. Is it worth an extra $100 (or 66%) for the Rogue Bar? What about the inexpensive York bar that was recommended?

Appreciate the great thread and all the insight!

[Brian Degenaro]

It's well worh the investment to get the Rogue bar, that thing is unbreakable for most purposes, and it spins very well for a bushing bar.