20 minute time limit on the machines, though the woman who showed me around said there were ways around that if it wasn't too busy (I would walk or bike there from 30th & Girard, so the aerobic machines are not my primary concern). She also said the weekdays between 5:00 and 7:00 are the busiest.

My PSC membership just ended so I cancelled there and went over to Lifesport because my husband belongs there. The owner prorated my husband's membership and we joined as family members at a discount rate--I had a nice chat on the phone with the onwer.

It's funky but pleasant and low-key.

I went to Life Spt for 4 yrs and now go to PSC. I love love love PSC. It is cleaner, they have anti-sanitary stuff everywhere for starters and you get a towel each time. Yippe. The main thing that drove me nuts about Lifesprt is they do not put the AC on when it gets warm then when they finally do it is always a hot in there it is hard to work out. The have ceiling fans everywhere b/c I think they think it helps! The locker rooms are gross. I could go on but PSC was a few bucks more and you got sooooo much more it was a no brainer.

On the subject, the equipment is fine. The locker rooms smell. They do not have adequate ventilation - get in and get out. Don't take your children there and think they have people to watch. They put them in a small room in the free weight area with a staff person who will probably turn on a tv. It's cheap, don't expect much besides weights and some machines.

Hm. We are perhaps in alternate realities. I just came back from one of my two official orientation visits. It's certainly cramped--PSC has a more glossy and spacious facility, hands down--but in terms of helpfulness I just got more in an hour than I had in two years at PSC. The ladies' locker room doesn't smell, and it's clean with good lockers that have keypad locks. The people (especially the owners) have gone out of their way to be friendly (after I paid the membership fee, BTW). The two classes I've taken have been more my speed than PSC's classes were, and the young woman who was showing me around, unlike all three of the people I worked with at PSC, wasn't trying to make me do things I knew were too hard for me or bad for me. I had several silly experiences working with employees at PSC--they were not at all well trained and were uninterested in adapting to my requirements.

Of course I'm 56, even though I'm a competitive athlete in my sport age group, so my needs are different than many. I also don't need babysitting any more, so that's not an issue for me. But I'm glad to be forewarned that it can get hot in the summer at LifeSport!

My only complaint about LifeSport is that they don't offer towels. Every gym should.

They just scrubbed down the locker rooms at LifeSport LAST NIGHT! They do tend to get smelly... but they do get cleaned.

The locker rooms were updated to the digital locks a year or so ago. Much improved.

I've been a member for a little more than two years now and I think the staff is very helpful and friendly.

On the other hand, I did take a tour of PSC before I joined LifeSport and the two people I talked to were just rude, and they definitely tried to give me the hard sell, which is not my style. I also had a dispute over a coupon for a free one week trial, which I don't have a the energy to explain here.

One of my relatives compared LifeSport vs. PSC to Average Joe's vs. Globo Gym (if you've ever seen the movie Dodgeball)...

Bingo! Hit the nail on the head.

I looked into Lifesport a few months ago and also PSC. I felt that Lifesport was really cramped and generally smelled not so good. The limit on cardio was really unattractive as well.

PSC just had an icky vibe to me. Plus it was much more expensive than Lifesport. My roommate worked for them and as a company, they are not great. She always had trouble getting paid and wound up having to file sexual harrassment charges against a coworker, which gym management handled very poorly.

I found the perfect gym for me at Weston Fitness at 19th ad Market. They charge $40 a month with no year long contract or anything. The place is spacious, has great equipment and classes for which there is no additional fee. Yes, they have towels, a clean locker room and saunas. You really can't beat them.

I just went last week to discuss membership prices so I have current information. They said they would "discount" the one time fee to $70. Then it's $47 a month if you JUST want the gym or you JUST want classes. If you want full use of the gym and ability to take any of the classes, it's $57 a month.

I wish there was a Bally's in our neighborhood or a little north of us. Their price is $45 a month for full use of the club 24/7. It's not a deal when you have to go to Walnut, South Philly, or Aramingo and lose the convenience factor.

For the love of three oranges... will someone at Lifesport please take a friggin' Swiffer to those fans???

One of you that works there has to be reading this... I bet you are. Just go up there and DUST! The blades have more fur than my cats.

12th street seems oh so much closer every time I look up from the elipticals...