Topic: Are bumper plates %100 necessary? Help needed.

[StoneBear]

For Clean and Jerk and Snatch lifting, I just started. I've been using my powerlifting set, which is iron plates. I have 150 kilo worth of them. But I can now do the dead lift at 175 kilo in reps of over a dozen pretty easily (150 + weight of bar stuff).

My Clean and Jerk rig, I've just been lifting it on a dirt lawn (because have an outdoor gym in Thailand here). So the floor does not damage/not an issue. I can only C&J 85 kilo right now because just started, but I plan to soon enough get passed 175 as I am 115 kilo and counting and trying to get pretty good/serious about training.

But since I can already deadlift my entire weight collection, I might need to buy more weights sooner rather than later. The idea is buying bumpers now, even though I don't need them for dead lifting, is I'll not have to buy them later on.

My question is about how necessary is getting the proper kit for a person who wants to get serious. I own a tiny boxing gym in rural Thailand, and have an indoor space I can convert to weightlifting. But do I need to? Would lifting on gravel with a strip of concrete under my feet be adequate for when the lawn is too torn up? Or should I get what is it? A pine floor? I really don't know? I need someone to explain what I need and why, or if I even need it.

I will be able to purchase all the gear in Bangkok. The price will be cheaper than US or Europe or where most you guys are from. But abouts how much does it cost in your own countries for 400 kilo worth of bumper plates and a wooden floor (400 kilo for dead lift, I know I can't C&J that much!). Plus what sort of floor would it need to be? What's involved in the flooring?

I really need to weight up the expenses and worthwhileness of it. Especially need to know about the floor and what it is.

Thanks.

[Matt Erdman]

A lot of questions that only you can answer. What can you afford? Is there a facility nearby that has platforms and bumper plates?

You don't need bumpers for deadlifts. If you get a pair of 25kg bumpers then you will increase your total amount of weight substantially and allow you to do heavy snatches and cleans with bumpers.

[Andy Dick]

I would say 2 things.  Make sure you have a bar with a good spin that will make a huge difference especially if your bar does not have a good one now, as you get heavier you'll see the diff (you didn't mention it but to me it is very important).  Besides that I would not lift on concrete my joints hurt just thinking about that.  You could however buy a 1/4 inch rubber mat which you can place most places.  We do this with a 4'x6' mat, its easy to move and store and will do fine for shock absorbing.  As far as bumpers like Matt said look at a 20 or 25 kg.  I'd look for the old school fat rubber ones (the ones that are like 2 or 3 in thick in width) that way you can put a few metals (25s and 35s on) before worrying about getting another pair of bumpers.

[Arturo Gómez]

A solution we used is cover the metallic discs with rubber or poliuretan.

[StoneBear]

What I need to know, but, is are rubber plates necessary only to protect the floor? Or is there an issue with the bar busting or something as such when you drop it loaded with 150 kilo of iron?
 
Thanks.

[Andy Dick]

Not an expert but I am thinking metal hitting the floor will not be good for the bar.  Also, I think it will break your weights after a few drops.  Think of the forces from dropping a solid object on a solid surface the force moves through the weight and bar.  I think it will damage the bearings on a bar and destroy its spin.  Like I said not a bar expert but just my thoughts.

[Arturo Gómez]

Andy is right.

[Chris Rice]

Not so awful long ago there were no such things as bumper plates and people did snatches and C&J just fine.  They only dropped missed lifts - not every lift.  Is it ideal - nope - but it can be done. Those old timers lifted some very big weights too - read Kono's book or go through an old Strength and Health magazine.