During 2009, UKBFF Heavyweight Champion Daz Ball and his promoter James Collier (MuscleTalk Co-Owner) along with a few others are visiting a number of gyms around the UK. We will be training in these gyms and will be filming and taking pictures. We'd love to meet other keen bodybuilders around the UK, and we'll be available for questions and photos.
Gold's Gym Bedford – 13th March
The first gym visit of our 2009 Gym Tour was Gold's Gym, Bedford. This visit was organised with the help of my friend Dave O'Neill who's a regular there. Daz and I were joined in this trip with Big Lodge and Chris Charles.
Gold's Bedford opened only in spring 2008 and is a very well equipped gym. It has everything you need and is clean, inviting and very friendly. It's the sort of gym that when you enter you just want to train. The kit is mainly Hammer Strength, all very well maintained, and loads of cardio equipment including a cardio cinema room – watch films while you do cardio! As well as a studio for classes, there's a massage room and sunbeds. The changing rooms are very clean and well equipped. The staff are friendly and helpful, and there are personal trainers available including a friend of mine, Carl Tomlin. Carlo the owner is a guy who knows what's wanted from a gym business – thanks for letting us train, Carlo.
Darren Ball and I trained back and did a whopping 24 sets of volume training – just on back thickness (back widening is for another day!). After back we trained biceps. Afterwards I was knackered, but Daz 'The Extreme Machine' went on to do a half hour's cardio; not only is Darren massive, but he is also extremely fit.
Lodge, young Chris and Dave trained chest. Lodge was like a kid in a candy shop with all the top quality equipment; far better than our usual gym!
Daz hit some poses in the mirror (see photos) and it was great to chat to some of the members too, including UKBFF British Finalist Luke Nichols. Below are some pics of the day:
Daz doing machine pull downs
James and Daz about to row
Daz after training with James ;-)
Carl Tomlin (personal trainer at Gold’s) with Big Lodge
Daz hitting a front pose while Big Lodge, Chris Charles and James look on
Extreme Back Pose
Most muscular
The Lads L>R – Dave O’Neill, Chris Charles, Big Lodge, James, Daz, Carlo the owner, Carl Tomlin
