Buy Olympic bar and rubber coated weights?

[jonbey]

I did some Olmypic lifting last month and plan to carry on training at home. I already have a 7 foot standard bar, so just need some bigger discs - I think.

Are standard size rubber coated discs (like the Bodymax Standard Rubber Weight Plates) OK for Olympic lifts, specifically for dumping the bar? Or should I invest in a new Olympic bar and weights?

[robertscott]

as far as I know, any bar will work with rubber plates.

you might want to put some rubber down on your floor too

[stuward]

It sounds like you have a "standard" bar which is a 1" diameter. For Oly lifts, the bar has to rotate. An Olympic bar has rotating ends for that reason. If you're going to make an investment into rubber plates, you may as well spring for a 2" bar. You will want to go there eventually anyway and these plates won't fit. You can sometimes get a package deal on a starter set.

http://www.treadmillfactory.ca/p-907-c- ... e-set.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

That set is in Toronto but you get the idea.

[Jungledoc]

For floor matting, go to a farm supply store and buy rubber matting that is intended for the floor of horse trailers.

For your equipment, if you don't care that it looks fancy and new, go to Play It Again Sports and buy used, or look for stuff on Craig's List (both assuming that you live in the US).