I’ll be spending some time with the kids in the backyard this summer and want to do more than sitting and reading for a change 
We have a pretty basic swingset, but I was thinking that I could rig up something so I could work on my pullups, dips and stuff. Hubby is willing to make up something out of PVC pipe (so it won’t rust) and I was wondering if anyone had any good ideas.
One higher bar for pullups/chins and two lower parallel bars for dips was all I could come up with…
Any ideas??? Thanks as always!
You can hang a pair of rings on it. You can also gt a pair of “slings” for the high bar. You put your elbows in them and you can do knee-ups, leg lifts etc.
Get yourself a set of paralettes and start doing some of the routines here
http://www.american-gymnast.com/tt/paralletteguide/index.html
Elsewhere on the american gymnast website you can buy paralettes.
For the travelling ones (cheaper) go here:
http://www.american-gymnast.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=AGTRAV&Category_Code=PB
For the real thing (maple) go here:
http://www.american-gymnast.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=AP&Category_Code=
You can make them yourself from PVC pipe, but at the price the travelling ones are it’s hardly worth it.
If you want to know how strong gymnastics routines can make you, check out Chris Shugart’s interview with Coach Sommer, “All Muscle, No Iron”, here
http://www.t-nation.com/readTopic.do;jsessionid=339D0C0FFDB73022485DAFC53E3327E9.hydra?id=512003
Hey jillybob,
Like the other guys have said you can get rings, or get blast straps from elitefts.com they are cheaper and work just as well. As far as exercises go you can do dips, muscle ups, chins push ups, ab rollouts ,flys, iron cross. And the fun thing is that every exercise is suspended.
WIll42
I do a lot of this too. Some times it is the only way to squeeze in a workout.
Bring out some dumbbells and you will have a ton of choices. Nothing beats training outdoors.
Make sure you get some of those little dumbbells for the kids. My little ones have a great time with them.
And don’t forget to bring out soem jumpropes.
so you want to start swingin’ eigh?!?!?
In addition to all the ideas so far don’t forget the options for bodyweight only training. Hit Matt Fureys site for some ideas. PM me and I’ll give you some better info.
La’
Redsol1
You guys are great! Thanks for all the ideas. The gymnastics stuff looks very cool, but I wonder how much I would actually be able to do at this point. I’m still building strength and women have less upper body strength than men (in general). I’m willing to give it a try, though!
Keep the ideas coming. I’ll check out the different articles and try to post a pic of the equipment once it’s done. Thanks again!
[quote]Jillybop wrote:
The gymnastics stuff looks very cool, but I wonder how much I would actually be able to do at this point. I’m still building strength and women have less upper body strength than men (in general). [/quote]
sounds like an excuse to me, not a reason.
http://images.t-nation.com/forum_images/./1/.1115829199160.lpressplanche4.jpg
[quote]Joe Weider wrote:
sounds like an excuse to me, not a reason.[/quote]
Screw you, Joe! Can YOU do this?
[quote]Jillybop wrote:
You guys are great! Thanks for all the ideas. The gymnastics stuff looks very cool, but I wonder how much I would actually be able to do at this point. I’m still building strength and women have less upper body strength than men (in general). I’m willing to give it a try, though!
Keep the ideas coming. I’ll check out the different articles and try to post a pic of the equipment once it’s done. Thanks again!
[/quote]
Don’t worry about it. You can set the rings (www.ringtraining.com) such that the load isn’t as hard by changing the angle for pushups, etc. (for example). Eventually, you’ll get there. I’m eyeballing a set myself for the same reason (to get out there with my daughter and still get in a workout).
Matthew