? Pullup Bars - Straight or Bent?

[SheWolf]

Okay, Educated Crowd, I need your help. I am getting ready to have a pullup bar made for my workout room and I need to know should it be bent or straight? Which one is better or worse? What are the pros and cons? Also does anybody know how wide it should be if it is bent?

Thanks for your help!

Linda

 

[Gayle]

Hi Linda,

How will you be mounting it? Will it be a permanent installation as opposed to one that mounts on a door?

I have a straight bar that's mounted to the ceiling. One thing I really like about it is the fact that I can use it to hang other ceiling mounted devices. For instance, I have a set of rings attached to mine, and I also attach a band for assisted pullups. So straight is nice for that versatility.

Here's a pic of mine. It's made for two people to be able to work at the same time. Each section is about 48" long and I find that to be plenty wide.

http://www.sover.net/~jjski/pics/pubar1.jpg

 

[SheWolf]

Gayle,


It will be a permanent mount from the ceiling. I have the door type one and it just isn't cutting it. My dad is really handy (welds and all) so I have the option to design the bar anyway I want. So I just wanted to make the best or at least the most informed decision I could on design.

BTW, what type of band are you using for assisted pushup? I am not that great at them yet.x(

Linda

 

[Gayle]

I'm just using a regular Dynaband right now, but it feels a little sketchy, like it could snap. A lot of people really like the Iron Woody pull up bands, but they are pricey.

http://www.ironwoodyfitness.com/fitness-bands.php

 

[Lynn M.]

Hey Linda-

Good to see you posting!!! Like your avatar by the way!! You look great!

I wanted to chime in and say that I think a straight bar is probably better. However, if your dad can also engineer the bar so that you can also have the handlebar things that stick out from the bar, that would be good as well. This would be so that you could do pullups with your elbows facing into each other and incorporating more bicep work into the exercise. For me they are a nice way to mix up any pullup routine you might do.

Hopefully that description made sense (?!)

Take care, Lynn

 

[SheWolf]

Hi Lynn,

Funny running into you here! I was just getting ready to email you. Trying to catch up with my life.

Thanks for the info on the bar. I think I will go straight because I can't really find any information on why to go bent. As far as the handles go that would be a good idea and I am sure my Dad could do it. The man's a genius with his hands. He said he would even make the bar fold up out of the way when its not in use if I want it to. He's already built me a great squat rack for 62 bucks! Boy, I love that man!

BTW, thanks for the compliments on the avatar.

Linda