Posted on 04 Apr 2014
6 min read
In the first of a new series on Gymtalk, which you guys requested, we will be looking at some of London’s most popular gymnasiums.
From old-school bodybuilding dens held together with rust and testosterone to state-of-the-art muscle building facilities that wouldn’t look out of place in Back To The Future Part II, we will be giving you the run-down of the very best – and the very worst – that our fair capital has to offer.
If there are any gyms which you would like us to review, or if you would like to contribute your own gym review, drop us a tweet and we’ll get back to you.
First up, legendary bodybuilding asylum Dowe Dynamics.
Let’s see how it stacks up…
Dowe Dynamics is a bodybuilding gym in North London, just outside of Archway tube station on the Northern line.
It’s a strange place.
As with most hardcore gyms it looks tiny and almost closed down from the outside, yet inside it presents an underground labyrinth of iron and muscle.
The gym was founded by former world bodybuilding champion Ian Dowe, who still trains at the gym.
Ian is a winner of many pro titles including Mr Europe and Mr Britain.
The atmosphere at Dowe Dynamics gym is excellent.
Banging house/garage music pervades the downstairs gym area, along with just the right amount of grunts and shouts.
It really does have a serious vibe from the moment you walk in.
I can imagine this may be a little daunting for some people, but it only takes one session to realise that even though it is a hardcore gym, anyone can train here comfortably and be welcome.
It’s also just awesome as hell going down into the gym under the ground, and seeing all the signed pictures all over the walls of champions like Dorian Yates and Ronnie Coleman.
It’s a mini bodybuilding mecca for people who love the sport.
Dowe Dynamics has fucking nailed this category.
Designed for bodybuilding, the gym is absolutely tiny in comparison to some gyms I’ve been to, but everything is so perfectly laid out.
Every inch is accounted for and used to its maximum potential.
The equipment and setup is really what sets Dowe Dynamics apart from 90% of other gyms.
It was designed by Ian Dowe and former Ms Olympia Andrulla Blanchette, who is also a trainer at the gym.
I’ve seen health clubs with huge floor areas, which still somehow have no space left after some bellends have dragged the benches around to do their Men’s Health step-up routine.
Here the equipment is bolted to the floor, meaning you won’t have people getting in your way whilst you do dumbbell flys, and no-one can move the benches about willy nilly.
The equipment is also properly old-school and has stood the test of time, and includes fully iron weight plates which have just the right amount of rust to be badass.
There’s no rubbery weights in sight, and using the old iron ones is just a great pleasure.
There’s also a ton of them too.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen there not be enough weight plates for everyone, even when the gym is at its most busy.
The cardio section is pretty small with a few treadmills, a couple of stepmills, and a few bikes.
It’s really a testament to the style of training that Dowe Dynamics advocates; and that’s weight training with cardio as an important support to that routine, but never the main focus.
You’ll find a host of supplements behind reception, and you can buy single servings, which is really useful if you have forgotten your pre/post workout shake, or if you just fancy trying something new.
There’s also a sauna at the gym, but it doesn’t get used very often, as well as tanning facilities.
Make no mistake, this isn’t a fancy gym with free towels and blue roll.
It’s clean and there are changing rooms, showers and lockers, but it’s far from being modern as far as the changing rooms are concerned.
There isn’t even a water fountain.
But that doesn’t really matter, and it’s quite clear when you train here that everyone knows that.
People come to this gym to train, if you want to mince about and talk to your buddies at the water fountain then there’s a Pure Gym down the road.
I’m not going to lie, the crowd takes some getting used to.
There’s A LOT of big dudes in this gym, and a lot of serious dudes.
But it doesn’t take long to realise that even though they look freaky huge, they’re actually really nice blokes who will help you out if you look like you need it, without being a dick about it.
Ian Dowe (right) is often at the gym training someone, and it’s nice to see the gym owner saying hi to the regulars and encouraging a good community vibe.
And that’s what a gym like this is all about really:
A community of people who really give a shit about training and will welcome you in if you do too, no matter how big, small, or whether you’re male or female.
And although there are a lot of big dudes there are some small ones too.
It also has one of the best mixes of older and younger people that I’ve seen in any gym.
Dowe Dynamics gym offers a month-by-month membership with no contract for £40, which is pretty good value if you’re training a few times a week.
There’s no joining fee either, which in my opinion is always a load of bollocks .
Why should you get charged for becoming a new member?!
If you pay for a year upfront it works out cheaper at £30 a month, which is well worth it.
There’s also the option to pay for just one visit which will set you back £6.
Dowe Dynamics is a real gym for people who want results.
If you’re after a ten minute run followed by an instagram session in the sauna with your buddies, this isn’t the place for you.
But if you want to get serious, throw around some old-school equipment, and have a laugh in the process, then get your ass on down to Dowe Dynamics.
| Monday | 06:30 – 22:00 |
| Tuesday | 06:30 – 22:00 |
| Wednesday | 06:30 – 22:00 |
| Thursday | 06:30 – 22:00 |
| Friday | 06:30 – 22:00 |
| Saturday | 10:00 – 16:00 |
| Sunday | 10:00 – 16:00 |
Telephone: 020 7281 2267
Email: info@dowedynamics.com
Address: 1-2 Central Hall Buildings, Archway Close, London, N19 3UB
Are you a past or present member of Dowe Dynamics gym?
Fancy giving it a try?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
Also, if there are any gyms which you would like us to review – or if you would like to contribute your own gym review – drop us an email or a tweet and we’ll get back to you.
Will lives in London and is a Digital Marketing Executive by day. He first started going to the gym because being weedy and ginger doesn't really get the girls. Now he is muscly and ginger he still doesn't get the girls, but at least he can bench more than their boyfriends. You can find him blogging over at willkennard.com.
What days does it have Zumba classes?
Wednesday afternoons, just before the Icelandic Body Sculpting class…
I stumbled across this review by accident.
I used to live not far from this gym about 10 years ago, I went about 4 days a week for the 9 months I lived in the area.
I’ve been gyming for 15 years and this is beyond any doubt the best gym I have or likely ever will go to.
I’m not one of those massive guys (I’m not small, kinda in the middle), I felt really comfortable there, the equipment and layout could not be improved and indeed some of the massive guys would occasionally offer helpful tips.
Loud music, concrete floors, iron plates/dumbbells, it’s a real gym.
Not for ponses, but anyone Else is welcome.
I miss, even 10 years later.
Respect
Not all that, feel like a zebra in a pack of lions and the showers don’t work.
Yuck.