You know what is annoying? When something you have enjoyed as good for a long time for reasons out of your control, begin to suck. Case in point: Bailey’s Powerhouse Gym in Gainesville Florida fka Orion Fitness.

I’ve been a member of Orion Fitness for probably 7 years and it was one of the best gyms I’ve ever been to in my  life. The staff didn’t work on commission so they were helpful to be helpful, the owners kept a nice balance between membership and having too many members, and it was just a great place to work out. Now I’ll admit Orion had a couple of faults, but the gym experience was great.

Roughly a year ago, Orion Fitness Gainesville was bought out by Bailey’s Powerhouse Gym which operates about 10 – 15 gyms in the North Florida area primarily in Jacksonville. As with most things new, there will be changed and people will bitch about them. I give Bailey’s full credit for making the gym itself look nicer and cleaner plus my membership fee is lower (which is also a negative). However the experience as a member kind of sucks now.

The new staff earns commissions on new members signed up so I always get that oily, car salesman feel around most of them now even though I’ve signed a two year contract. While the prices for a membership are now lower, this has unfortunately brought in a huge influx of new members and the place is crowded as shit most of the time now.

To me, Bailey’s is still the best choice for a gym in Gainesville, unless you are a hardcore gym rat in which case the Gainesville Gym might be best. Gainesville Health and Fitness is still too busy and too “see and be seen” for my taste and Alter Ego is just too small and cramped.

Change can be a good thing but at the moment, I’d rather have the “local gym” feel of Orion as opposed to the corporate attitude of Baileys.

Coming from a capitalist pig dog who owns two businesses, that sounds odd, eh?