Diesel Fitness

So I got a free workout in at Diesel Fitness, yet another uptown area gym.  It’s only got two locations, but I really wanted to try this place out. It kind of comes across as  a crossfit type gym because it seems like you enter the diesel system and come out faster, stronger, and leaner.  It is, in fact, not a crossfit gym, but more of a typical gym that focuses on personal training.  They are a small gym that values personal training, so all their trainers have 10+ years of experience.  The manager said sometimes people leave Equinox/Lifetime because Diesel offers better rates. When talking about their clients the manager dropped a lot of celebs names, some Yankee pitcher, local news reporters, Dallas cheerleaders, people like that.

A view from the Track.

This is a very not-crowded gym, even during their peak hours you’ll find it to be open. They say they are able to not have too many members because their turnover rate is so low.  I noticed they only had one squat rack, at least in their normal weight training area. They have a “leg zone” that might have another squat rack. Funny enough, they have a sign limiting people to 30 min to the squat rack. I got to use it without any waiting, but there were like 8 people in the gym at that time.

Because it is a small gym, the manager said they sometimes play loud music with curse words. So if you don't want to wear your headphones and listen to non-PC songs this is the place for you.

This gym has a small, friendly feel to it.  From the people I saw, there people of all ages and walks of life here. It feels like a neighborhood gym, but white collar instead of blue collar because we’re in Uptown.  Instead of "Hey you see Vinny’s new IROC?", it's "Did you hear how much Jenkins got in commission last month?"

Layout/Facility

Drink your heart
out, Equinox

I would have to describe this place as a mix of old school and new school. They have weight/cardio machines but they don’t have the latest and greatest and they have some old stand-bys like a rope to climb, yet the treadmills have screens that allow you to facebook on them.  They have industrial-looking metal signs, but the actual architect speaks of an older building (In fact, the building was built in the early 90’s with a gym in mind).  Like they don't have a towel service (keeps overhead low), yet the water is dispensed from clover machines (as if in response to Equinox's GE homespring setup).

They have a half-court basketball, a group exercise room, a 1/16 mile track that runs the second floor.  There is an independent massage therapist who works out of the second floor who gives discounts to members. I might have to go check her out sometime if I’ve got a few knots that won’t go away. They also have a tanning bed for members. Gotta work on that vitamin D I guess.

Emphasis is definitely more on working out than schmoozing. This is not a meat-and-greet like the LA Fitness signature club in uptown.

Surfability

Low pressure here. Like, super-low. They don’t have commissions, and they seem pretty happy with the way things are, so it's very casual.  For example, I was almost a little hurt with how nonchalant the manager was when I explained why I wasn't ready to commit. There was now sense of desperation like in Uptown Energy, and there was no real pressure sale like at some others (I'm looking at you Gold's Whiterock).  It's just a shame that they only offer one workout for free.

Days in: 83
Amount spent: $0