The Sobell Centre

puzzlebobble

At which point in your preparations to perform vigorous exothermic exercise, on one of the hottest days of the year, in a gym without air-conditioning does one think "oh I simply must accessorize this outfit with a white woolen beanie"?!?

and what's with the putting hoodies up before each set of weights (does that make you stronger?) and the lack of embarrassment about flexing muscles in-front of the mirrors? I've seen one guy stand there and clench his ass.

I know it's not strictly in Stroud Green but has anyone else ventured over that way? Or even tried the ice-skating?

rainbow_carnage

We went ice skating there once. It's cheap, but the rink is very small and the 'ice' is an odd yellow-ish colour. Ally Pally is much better.

tosscat

They do trampolining lessons too I believe.

sophie

though it is very ugly, i quite like it there. and did anyone else get a big consultation booklet through their door about them doing it up? they're completely knocking it down, and rebuilding a more green version with a little park and also some houses. there were four options you could choose from with lists of pros & cons for each and a nice artist's impression. i can't remember which one i went for now but it was the one with the fewest car parking spaces. it was like a school geography exam, and i very much enjoyed it.

unaesthetic

knocking it down?? it's a big concrete bottle-cap!

Giles

I occasionally take my son to the soft play area there - that's really good ( and cheap )

puzzlebobble

hmmm. Looks like it's just me turning into a middle aged fogey then, or possibly just the gym (I've never explored elsewhere).

I've been going for three years and was thinking about switching to another gym. Apparently there's one at Rowan's. Has anyone experienced that?

tosscat

Is there? Good lord! Tell us more PB.

puzzlebobble

it's still in yell.com:
"Rowans Health & Fitness Club 10, Stroud Green Rd, Finsbury Park, London, N4 2DF, Tel: 020 8211 7766"
but oddly not on their website: http://www.rowans.co.uk/
Maybe it's shut down. I think I spoke to them on the phone approx. 3 years ago but they were charging the sort of membership you'd expect from a proper gym so I never ventured in to check it out.
Which I actually feel kinda sad about; if it has shut down I'll never get to experience it- hard to imagine what it'd be like.

rainbow_carnage

There is a gym in Finsbury Park. I doubt that it's any good, but it is cheap.

http://www.haringey.gov.uk/leisure/leisurecentres/finsbury_park.htm

tosscat

[Sigh](http://www.haringey.gov.uk/leisure/leisurecentres/finsbury_park.htm)

rainbow_carnage

@ tosscat - p'shaw!

tosscat

Mmmhmm.

Lucy

I used to go to trampolining lessons at the sobell centre - my mum would take me when I was about 6. Nice to hear they're still going after, oh, some years. I was scared I'd fall off the trampoline though whilst doing a somersault - not a long-lived hobby that one.

unaesthetic

wait, trampolining <i>lessons</i>? like, how to bounce up and down, then sit down and bounce back up? <i>lessons</i>???

Duncan

@rainbow ... true, but you can't rent the whole rink for your boy's birthday party at Ally Pally.

Bridget

I used to have badminton lessons there when I was at that difficult in between age - I would play with adult couples. When I was younger I would go iceskating every Sunday with my friend and a guy called 'taxi' would take me round and round the rink. That wouldnt happen now! My mum and her boyfriend and another couple would play badminton and she would come in and look in to check I was ok and watch me and the 50 year old taxi man take me around!

Since then Ive been to aerobic classes there and Ive taken my son to the ball pit. Its all a bit run down there now but they are about to knock it down and rebuild it and there are lots of rows going on about what they are doing with it. Some say the ice rink might not come back.

Its great to have it. The do lots of kids parties there now - 5 a side etc. I havent been for years and was quite shock at how run down they had let it get.

rainbow_carnage

@ puzzlebobble - Going back to your original post, have you noticed women who wear full makeup to the gym? I don't mean that they don't take off the makeup they had on earlier in the day. I mean freshly-applied lipstick, eyeliner, etc.

WTF?

puzzlebobble

I have to admit to not being terribly observant when it comes to makeup at the best of times. However, I shall check it out tomorrow.

Have you come across the guy who squeals just like a pig when he's doing the last few reps of a set? I had my first encounter with him last week and it was most disconcerting.

tosscat

Have you spotted any chaps wearing [manscara and guyliner](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/2468006/Superdrug-to-stock-make-up-for-men.html) though?

rainbow_carnage

I quite like eyeliner on men, but the guyliner thing is just stupid. The article describes it as 'thicker than normal eyeliner to make it easier for men to grip'. Huh? Do these men have hooks for hands? It's really not that difficult to put on eyeliner. Hell, I've seen women do it while driving a car (which is a whole different issue).

unaesthetic

yeah, i've worn eyeliner on and off for years (depending on how glam/goth/vain i'm feeling) and my meaty great man hands can dold the dainty little pencils no problem.

andy

Not an eyeliner wearer. 

puzzlebobble

Well, after some investigation I would say about 30-40% of the women have clearly got make up on (and, being as I never normally notice these things, I bet they'd have to have rather a lot on for me to be able to tell).
I forgot to check the men though, sod.
I can however say with some certainty that Abu Hamza was not involved in the Tummy session, developing his pecs, toning up his gluteals or any other physical activity.
I will report back tomorrow with information on the men (assuming they don't notice I'm looking and I manage to get out alive)