Probably already mentioned since I haven't read through the posts yet...

-people talking on their cell phones for 30mins while walking 1.0 speed on the treadmill. After they are done, without breaking a drop of sweat, leave.
-not putting weights away after they are done with the machine

Edit: I agree about the perfume thing!

Here's one from my boyfriend:
-they have a hot tub in the men's changeroom. And a few times, he has seen other men put there *uh-hmm* against the jets... while he's sitting in the tub next to them no less!

.... THAT beats the hairdryer

I don't go to a gym, but I have been running at the park lately, and have a peeve there I have nowhere else to share...

The outer track I run on is 16 feet wide, to allow for bikes and roller blades and such. You are supposed to yield to people passing, as long as the person makes audible notice that they are approaching to pass. I hate hate hate groups of folks who walk together side by side spread out along the entire width of the path and fail to move over to let people pass. I often have to pass on the dirt to the outside, which is uneven and rocky in places. Some of them will even make snarky comments to me about passing... I've turned three groups into the park police...

Good for you! That is so annoying. I hate when people do that in general as I am always rushing to one place or another. You can't have the ENTIRE sidewalk!!!! Riiiiiight????

This bugs me to no end. I notice this with people who insist on going against the traffic on a track, too. First, you're going the wrong way. Second, I'm going to stand my ground and keep my path, so unless you want my shoulder, you should probably move.

Stand up straight, look straight ahead, and keep your path. They'll learn

(I know that sounds a little aggro, but it's a very clear signal that I'm not moving. And it works really well! I promise I don't go around shoulder slamming strangers )

Thighsbegone....OMG UGHHHHH that is the nastiest thing I have ever heard. I can NOT believe people actually do that. UGH, I'm going to go puke now.

Im not a member of my local gym, apparently the personal trainers there like to make fun of heavy people :/

That story about the guy in the spin class is hilarious. There is a guy in my spin class that does the same thing. Every time the instructor tells us to "gear it up," he's repeats her and he yells out other things that I guess are supposed to be encouraging but are mainly annoying. It's particularly annoying because I doubt he is putting any resistance at all on his bike (based on how fast his legs are moving and the fact that he can even yell these things out--when I'm spinning, yelling usually isn't an alternative).

One of my favorite bloggers just wrote today about locker room ettiquette. Fifth "don't" on the list is "[don't] dry your privates with the public hairdryer." Who knew this was such a problem?

I also hate the folks at the pool that don't know proper swim ettiquette. If there are three of us in the lane, you and your five-year old can't swim side by side. Also, if we're circle swimming and I'm about to pass you as we come into the wall, take two seconds out of your workout to move to the side of the lane and let me pass you. Seriously, two seconds is all it will take; it's not going to ruin your workout. And I'm going to pass you anyway, this just makes the process easier and more pleasant for everyone.

When I lived in Italy, I used to do lap swims at the local pool. They never had any dividers for lanes. So you'd make your own lane and go back and forth. Until a guy who wanted to do lengths would just jump in and swim (ALWAYS the men; NEVER the women). To heck with anyone in his way. So you'd see buddy coming, you'd stop swimming, put your forearms up, turn your head, and let him crash into you. You'd then yell at him that "I was here FIRST" "FIND ANOTHER LANE". Whereupon he'd move. If you moved, you'd never get another space in the pool. I recall one guy banging into me, then the woman beside me, and the woman beside HER, and so on down the line of 15 people before eking out a lane right next to the pool edge. I hated every minute of it.
That and the men changing in the bleachers instead of the locker room. And standing around in their tighty whities (and sadly some in their frowny brownies) chatting and smoking away. Seriously...
Kira

:l ol3:

OMG I'm dying over that one!

I think I laughed myself into a asthma attack. Too funny ladies. I'm surprised the dryer thing is brand new to so many. I was swim team through HS, I have seen every don't more than once. As a grown up who is back in the pool for training, it's especially bad in there. I will sit on your wet towel all day if I never have to see you stretch naked again. For reals.

I'm totally going to work "frownie brownies" into a conversation somehow

I am DYING at frownie brownies.

On drying one's pubic area with a hair dryer:

Ok, you will probably all think that I am weird but I don't think this would bother me. I havent seen anyone to do that but why not? I assume they don't stick the hair dryer INTO the pubic and that there is no contact, so what's the difference between hair on the head and hair in the pubic area?

Regarding the locker room:
I consider myself very lucky to have a membership at a gym with spotless locker rooms. The showers are clean, there are shampoo (or maybe shower gel?) containers in each shower (i bring my own) and no matter what time of the year, there are ALWAYS fresh flowers. Actually three bouquets because in the middle of the room is is a counter with a big mirror (think a hairdresser's workstation). Each side has a hair dryer, a container with cotton and another one with Q-tips. Fresh flowers in a vase on each side and anotehr bouquet of flowers on the counter with the sinks. And it smells reasonably ok.
I love my gym!

We have a beautiful trail that is miles long and winds down along the river here. I tried biking on it a few times--no go. People would be strolling along, 4 abreast, and they would not yeild or move when I biked up behind them and made myself known. Since I'm not a drive-my-bike-into-a-strolling-crowd kind of gal, I would have to bike off into the grass or dirt along the trail. Grrrr. It eventually got to be too much of a hassle and I didn't try to bike there any longer.

Windchime -- you might try a little goofy horn. (My son likes the kind shaped like a shark.) Eventually, the walkers will learn.

Or not.

Be strong,
Kim