Okay, so today I wanted to mess around with something called a “barbell chain.” I’d seen some fitness folks using them, and it looked kinda cool. Basically, it’s just adding chains to a barbell, making the lift harder as you go up. Sounded simple enough, right?
Getting Started
First, I needed some chains. Luckily, I had some old heavy chains lying around in my garage that I used to use for towing. They were pretty rusty, but hey, it adds to the aesthetic, yeah? I measured out two equal lengths, making sure they were long enough to hang from the bar and still touch the floor when the bar was racked.
Setting Up
Next up, getting these bad boys onto the barbell. I loaded up my usual warm-up weight, just a couple of plates on each side. Then, I draped the chains over the ends of the bar, trying to get them roughly even. It was a bit of a pain, honestly, they kept sliding around. I ended up using some smaller weight collars to hold the chains in place near the bigger weight plates. Looked a bit janky, but it worked.
The First Lift
Alright, time for the fun part. I stepped up to the bar, got my grip, and started my first deadlift. At the bottom, it felt pretty normal, just the weight of the plates. But as I pulled, those chains started lifting off the ground, and damn, did it get heavy fast!
- Bottom of the lift: Just the weight of the plates, felt easy.
- Mid-lift: Chains started coming up, resistance increased.
- Top of the lift: Full weight of the plates AND the chains, brutal!
Figuring It Out
I did a few sets, playing around with different chain positions and the amount of chain on the floor. I found that the more chain I had on the floor at the start, the harder the lift got at the top. It was definitely a different feeling than just regular weight. It really forced me to push through that sticking point at the top of the lift.
Wrapping Up
So, after messing around with these chains for a while, I think I get the hype. It’s a simple but effective way to add some serious challenge to your lifts. My forearms were definitely feeling it by the end. It’s not something I’d do every day, but it’s a cool tool to have in the arsenal. I might even invest in some actual lifting chains instead of these rusty old things. Maybe.
If you’re looking for a way to spice up your training, give this barbell chain thing a shot. Just be prepared to work, it’s tougher than it looks! And maybe don’t use rusty old tow chains like I did… unless you’re going for that hardcore, rugged look.
