York Roundhead Journey

"Salesman Sample" novelty dumbbell

1-6 & 15-50

7-12

I purchased my first York Roundheads from a fellow about 45 minutes away for $2/pound.  I was then the proud owner of 20-20-25 pound dumbbells.  I was also bit by the vintage iron bug.  This was January 4, 2022.  That year I was fortunate to find a number of dumbbells locally and bought and traded on the Vintage Weightlifting Swap group page.

In 2023, I liquidated my heavies.  It was difficult to pair them up.  I was not using them and was tired of moving them around the gym.  The handle diameter leaves something to be desired as well.  I got a fair price and they found good homes.

In 2024, I took a break, but still managed to find some ROC-MO plates and also purchased some Nebula Dumbbells from the new Vintage Weights & Physical Culture group.

In 2025, I finally completed the 1-50 collection (hat tip Riker Johnson) and even added a "Salesman Sample" for $150.  I did not track this with equipment as it is not really equipment.  My 1-50 set is a mix of USA stamped and pre-USA stamped dumbbells.  The 15s and 30s are blues.

Between buying and selling the "net" cost of the set ended up at $182.  I also have $78 in extras (1-9-15-15-15).  Further, I have $282 in other vintage dumbbells (buns, globes, Nebula, Healthways; total 153 pounds).  Finally, I bought some smalls to use as awards $75 for 1-1-2-2-3-3.

I could still be tempted to buy some globes or unique dumbbells, but aside from flipping, my roundhead journey is completed.

HSPU - Metcon

Monday, August 25, 2025

Westbound CrossFit (Coach Loni)

1200 - 10 of us

Warm Up

Run

PVC around the worlds

PVC lunge Samson stretch

PVC lunge twist

HSPU warm-up

DB press warm-up

Strength

Every 1:30 x 5 Sets:

 Option A: 5–7 Deficit Strict HSPU (2-4" deficit)

 Option B: 6–8 Box Pike HSPU with deficit

I did 4 Box Pike (on knees) HSPU with 10 pound plates (1" deficit) for all 5 sets

Conditioning

RXConditioning:

 4 Rounds for Time:

 24 Single-Arm DB Push Press (12/arm @ 50/35)

 15 Box Jump overs (24/20)

 30 S.A. DB Front Rack Walking Lunges (15/leg, 50/35)

 Goal: Sub 13:00 | Cap: 16:00

I scaled to 20# DB push press, box step overs and unweighted walking lunges.  I finished in 14:54 and felt like I was moving well.  The walking lunges were the most time consuming movement for me.

Cool Down

Bodybuilding Finisher A:

 3 Rounds (not for time):

10 Tempo Incline DB Bench Press (21X1)

10 Bent-Over DB Rows

15 Banded Pull-Aparts

I just did 2 rounds of the bent over rows (1 arm) and banded pull aparts

45 Pound York Roundheads

The long lost 45s have finally been added to my York Roundhead collection.  Straight handles, tight heads, no USA stamp.  It was a long drive to Colorado Springs and back, but worth it.  The seller knew what he had but priced them fairly at $140 for the pair.

King Kong Grip Session

Sunday, August 24, 2025

Basement Gym

1200

Grip Session

IronMind Hub

20

22.5

23.75

25

26.25 (R/L)

27.5

105 kg 25th in USA is 38.91 lb

Arm Assassin Thumb Blaster

30

40

45

50 (L)

No records

IronMind Little Big Horn

60

70

80

90

100 (L)

105 kg 25th in USA is 130.01 lb

122.5 lb last year

FBBC 2.25 Inch Crusher

100

110 (L)

105 kg 25th in USA is 186.89 lb

122.5 lb last year

Felt good to test these lifts again.  I need to get some training into rotation considering King Kong is only 8 weeks away.  I also want to play with my new grip toys.

Al Gerard Trap Bar?

Donald Seward listed the trap bar for $50 and I decided to make the trip to Castle Rock to pick it up.  The diamond shape had me suspecting it to an Al Gerard or knock off.

After doing some research on the early trap bars, there are a few things to look for.  

• Collar (Donut) indicates John Wood, Smooth attachment indicates Al Gerard
• Lathe hole at end
• Smooth Sleeve

Original Al Gerard - Total Sleeve all the same, knurl does not go to end  of handle

John Wood - Sleeve has a "donut" on the end

It is obviously not 100% original as it was painted black at some point in its life.  Donald said he bought it 15-20 years ago used.

Most information I could find was on Vintage York Barbell Owners and Vintage Weights & Physical Culture.  There was a good article on Physical Culture Study.

Front Squat - Metcon

Tuesday, August 19, 2025

Westbound CrossFit (Coach Rachel)

1630 (9 of us)

Warm Up

Row

Walking lunges

Walking groin stretch

No push-up burpees

Front Squat warm-up

Strength

Every 2:30 x 5 Sets:

 3 Front Squats @ 85–90%

 Keep consistent form under load.

I built up from 95-115-135-155-155 pounds (~75% of 1RM)

Conditioning

RXConditioning:

 2 Rounds for Time:

 30 Wall Balls (20/14)

 20 Burpees Over Rower (lateral)

 15/12 Cal Row

 Rest 3:00 between rounds

 Score = combined working time

Goal: 3:00–4:00 per round

 Cap per round: 6:00

Intermediate:

20 Wall Balls

15 Step-over burpees

12/9 Cal Row

Baseline:

15 Wall Balls (lighter)

10 Step-back burpees

9/6 Cal Row

I scaled to 15 wall balls (10#), 12 step-over burpees and 9 calorie row finishing in 3:49 + 4:03 = 7:53 working time.

This was a good little mover and emphasized that I need to do more burpees.  Maybe I will have to do EMOM style 4 burpees per minute for 20 minutes type of deal?

GripBoard - RagingTrain Listing

• *Iron mind large gripper holders.  3 of them for $15/each.  Have some scratches from grippers. - CONSIDERED 
• *custom competition pickaxe by barrel strength.  $70. Used very little - NO INTEREST
• *rock climber things (wall mountable) $10 - NO INTEREST, rock rings
• Double Barrel (fbbc??) almost 4” wide total $25 - requested 9 hours after posting - GOT
• *iron mind little big horn - I haven’t used it much.  But these rust very easily.  I’ve cleaned the surface rust off (vinegar) but there’s very light pitting on it. $60 - HAVE
• 2” country crush (light blue frame) $60 - CONSIDERED
• Dube cube (grip n bend in Canada) $45 - requested 9 hours after posting - SOLD
• Half moon (griptopz?) $40 - requested 9 hours after posting - GOT
• Horne top (griptopz) $40 - HAD
• hub (griptopz) $25 - requested 9 hours after posting - SOLD
• stub (griptopz) $25 - requested 9 hours after posting - SOLD
• Griptopz loading pin w/lever top $40 - requested 9 hours after posting - GOT
• *wrist wrench single (red strap) $35 - HAVE
• *ball key pinch (I thought this had a mirror finish at one point?? Still very smooth) $20 - HAVE
• *Wide shallow hub (not sure who made this) 5.25”x3/4” D. $25 - CONSIDERED
• *Less wide shallow hub 4.25” W $25 - NO INTEREST
• Dub hubs (barrel strength): one is 4” wide, and the other is 3” wide.  I only have one of the pin adapters that go in the bottom so I’d prefer to keep them together.  $65 takes both - CONSIDERED
• flask $65 - HAVE
• original trilobite system (Jared goguen?) two handles, 2x3” rollers, 2x2.5” rollers, 2x2” rollers $120 - CONSIDERED

The whole lot would have been $750.  Individual pricing came to $840. 

*Still available at 15 hours

I am not surprised the Dube Cube sold quickly.  They have not been produced in quite some time.  The trilobite system is a screaming deal as a full set from BSS would run $440.  The rest of the items were priced reasonably from 50-70% of retail.

I was excited to pick up the double barrel, moontop and loading pin with lever top.  I also wanted to buy the stub, hub and dube cube, but they were already spoken for.  These area  nice addition to my training arsenal.  They are also nice to have from a historical perspective.  These seem fabricated by David Horne.  Gods of Grip took over production of his designs.

FBBC Double Barrel, mis hubs

GripTopz

Trilobite System

Custom Pick Axe

Power Snatch - Double Isabelle

Monday, August 18, 2025

Westbound CrossFit (Coach Bryn)

1630 (10 of us)

Warm Up

PVC Pass Through

Squat

Lunge

Banded shoulder stretches

Jog

Barbell Primer

Strength

5x2 Power Snatch

Every 2:00 x 5 sets execute 2 power snatch, building in load to something that well surpasses the weight you plan to use for conditioning. 

I worked up from 65-75-85-95-95 pounds.

Time

Conditioning

 Double Isabel

 For Time:

 60 Power Snatches (135/95)

 Goal: 7:00–10:00 | Cap: 12:00

 Strategy: small sets early or steady singles—test both mental and physical capacity.

Intermediate: 115/75 or 95/65

Baseline: 65/45, 40 reps

I scaled this to 65 pounds and was moving well finishing in 10:53.

Front Squat - Metcon

Tuesday, August 12, 2025

Westbound CrossFit (Coach Loni)

1200 (4 of us) - including Mallory and new guy (Frank)

Warm Up

Row

Air Squats

Arm Circles

Samson Lunges

Glute Bridges

Wall Balls

Front Squat Warm up

Strength

Front Squat – Every 2:30 x 5 Sets:

 3 Reps @ ~85–90%

I scaled this aggressively to about 75% of 1RM (135-135-155-155-155)

Conditioning

RXConditioning:

 5 Rounds for Time:

 15 Wall Balls (20/14)

 12 Burpees Over Rower

 9/6 Cal Row

 Rest 2:00 between rounds

 Score = combined time

I went with 10 WBS at 14#, 4 Burpees over the rower, 9 Calories on the rower

Round 1 - 0:00 - 2:03 (2:03)

Round 2 - 4:03 - 6:05 (2:02)

Round 3 - 8:05 - 10:14 (2:09)

Round 4 - 12:14 - 14:23 (2:09)

Round 4 - 16:23 - 18:36 (2:13)

Felt really good about the effort and the consistent splits.  I was just looking for a good mover and was able to accomplish that.

Skipped the Cool Down

Track Workout

Sunday, August 10, 2025

D'Evelyn Track

1700

Track Workout

1200 meter warm-up

8x100 meters (IN 0:30 ON 2:00) - Running the straights, walking the curves

1.75 miles in 25 minutes

Lot of Small Items

• Medium Belt - $5 - SELL
• Small Belt - $5  - SELL
• Farrell's 14 oz gloves - $0 - SELL
• Suten Sub Mitt - $0 - SELL
• (4) 2.5 kg collars - $20/pair - SELL
• Reebok 1.5 pound walking weights - $5 - KEEP
• ProSpirit 5 pound hand weights - $5 - SELL
• (2) Standard Spring Collars - $0 - TRASH
• (1) Standard Screw lock collars - $0 - TRASH
• (2) Oly Screw Lock Collars - $10 - KEEP
• Unbranded 1.5 pound walking weights - $5 - KEEP
• Cable Attachment Handle - $5 - KEEP
• Jump Rope - $0 - TRASH
• COC Sport Gripper - $10 - KEEP

I purchased this gallimaufry for $20 because I thought I saw two grippers.  While the items themselves are not all useful, they are certainly worth the $20 paid.  I will likely keep the belts, hand weights, gripper and screw lock collars.

I may try to sell some of the rest including the spin lock collars and kickboxing items.  It will be a pain in the ass, but I should recoup my money and get the items out of the house.

Metcon

Tuesday, August 5, 2025

Westbound CrossFit (Coach Rachel)

1630 (12 of us)

Warm Up

Play 6 frames of “Row-ling”

10 step overs

10 light Single arm KB or DB Deadlifts (10 each)

5 Hip down push ups

3 Burpee

2 rounds

Movement specific prep

Conditioning

Partner You-Go-I-Go

For Time:

80/60 Echo Bike Calories (alternating every 10 calories)

60 Dumbbell Box Step Overs (24"/20" box, 50/35# per hand)

80/60 Row Calories (alternating every 10 calories)

60 Dumbbell Deadlifts (50/35# each hand)

30 Synchronized Burpees Over Dumbbells

Intermediate:

80 Echo Bike Calories (alternating every 10 calories)

60 Dumbbell Box Step Overs (24"/20" box, 35/20# per hand)

80 Row Calories (alternating every 10 calories)

60 Dumbbell Deadlifts (35/20# each hand)

30 Synchronized Burpees Over Dumbbells

Baseline:

For Time:

40 Echo Bike Calories (alternating every 10 calories)

60 Dumbbell Box Step Overs (10/6" box, unweighted)

40 Row Calories (alternating every 10 calories)

60 Dumbbell Deadlifts (15/10# each hand)

30 Synchronized Burpees Over Dumbbells

Diya joined me and we scaled to:

50 Echo Bike Calories

50 Dumbbell Box Step Overs (20" box, 20# dumbbell)

50 Row Calories

50 Dumbbell Deadlifts (20# each hand)

15 Synchronized Burpees Over Dumbbells

We finished in around 19 minutes.  I wasn't keeping too close an eye on the clock.  She was moving really well except for the Echo Bike and Rower.  

Cool Down

3 sets of max strict pull-ups

Diya did 10 with a green band, 5 with purple band and then 5 assisted.

I did 2 unassisted and then 3 and 3 assisted.

Metcon

Monday, August 4, 2025

Westbound CrossFit

1630

Warm Up

100m Run

10 jumping jacks

100m Run

10 Lunges

100m Run

10 Sit ups

100m Run

10 Air Squats

Squat therapy: 10 total reps lead by coach, have a medball for each pairing 

5 medball front squat

5 wallballs

3 rounds for practice and feedback

Standards for the sit ups and wallballs, GO!

Conditioning

20:00 Partner AMRAP

Partner 1: 200m Run

Partner 2: 10 GHD Sit Up (15 Ab-Mat) + Max Wall Balls (20/14#) while Partner 1 is running

Score: Total Wall Balls

Switch: Each time the runner returns

Intermediate:

Partner 1: 200m Run

Partner 2: 10 Sit Up + Max Wall Balls (14/10#) while Partner 1 is running

Baseline:

Partner 1: 100m Run

Partner 2: 5 Sit Up + Air Squat

I did 100 meter runs & 10 Abmat Sit-ups & 10# WBS.  My partner did 250 meter rows + 10 sit-ups & 20# WBS.

I managed 92 reps.  Mostly sets of 10, with a set of 12 on the third round.  My runs were just over a minute.

CrossFit Games - Strongman Equipment

Robin Tullercash of Backcountry CrossFit had a plethora of equipment that she was parting with for free or heavily off of retail.  

Free Pig.  After hearing Matt Frasier's interview from his first game, I had to pull on this, but could not even break it off the ground.  It is an absolute beast.  Heading to Alpine CrossFit.

$30 Plyo boxes

 

Rogue Slugs (300# and 225# for $150 each)

Rogue 4-person Worm ($280)

200# Soft Stones - $50 each

Atlas stones (relatively light), make an offer

I was there for the Strongman Logs (66 pounds and 33 pounds) which were make an offer.  I offered $20 for the heavier one and she let me take both for that price.

I did not realize how big Backcountry CrossFit was.  All of this stuff was stored in the basement with other odds and ends.  I assume they may need to clear out the space for there lease or are planning to turn the space into something else.

 

Clark's Gym Record Day

Saturday, August 2, 2025

Garage Gym

1000

Warm Up

Reverse Hyper

Crossover Symmetry

Hip Hammy Flow

Continental to Chest

155-165

Continental Snatch

95-105-115

Reflex Clean & Jerk

135

Reflex Clean & Push Press

135-145

Goerner Stroll

270

Half Gardner

33-44-50

Holdout Raised

25-30-33

Cyr Press

50-62-67 (No record - Current record is 84)

Attempting these lifts ticked off another 6 lifts that I had not previously attempted taking my total from 156 to 162 (of 196).  Not sure when my next all-round session will be, but I do have a few more relatively easy lifts to pick off.

Conditioning

Friday, August 1, 2025

Westbound CrossFit (Coach Loni)

1200 (4 of us)

Warm Up

Run

Rope skips

Lunge with twist

Wall Walk

Handstand holds

Handstand shoulder taps

Scap push-ups

Banded shoulder stretches

Double unders

Conditioning

6 Rounds for time:

6 Strict Wall-Facing HSPU

54 Double Unders

18 V-ups

30 sec rest

I scaled to knees on box HSPU, 72 single unders per round and 18 knee ups.  Substantially unbroken except for the knee ups.

Round 1 - 0:00 - 2:03 (2:03)

Round 2 - 2:33 - 4:58 (2:25)

Round 3 - 5:28 - 8:08 (2:40)

Round 4 - 8:37 - 11:25 (2:48)

Round 5 - 11:55 - 14:39 (2:44)

Round 6 - 15:09 - 17:55 (2:46)

I came out a little hot, but was otherwise pretty consistent.

Cool Down

Banded pull aparts

Banded clam shells

Andy Goddard Memorial

Thursday, July 31, 2025

Garage Gym

1800

Age:  54 (DOB June 5, 1971)

Weight:  209.6 pounds (100kg weight class)

Officiated by Nisha Gupta

Warm Up

Reverse Hyper

Crossover Symmetry

Barbell Prep

Clean & Jerk, One Arm - Right

70

75

80 miss

Clean & Push Press

125

135

Pullover & Push Press

115

125 PR!

Straddle Deadlift

295

315

325 PR!

None of the lifts were US records.  Only having one official, none of the lifts would qualify for world records.