Why 45 pound plates?

[bonebreaker]

You've got 1 1/4lb., 2 1/2lb, 5lb, 10lb, 25lb., then 45's. Where the hell did that come from? Why aren't they 50's instead? And why does the bar weigh 45 instead of 50? Just curious. Also, there are 100 lb plates. Why aren't they 90lbs. Also, why does it go from 10 to 25 instead of 20? BB

[Chris]

Because it wouldn't boggle the mind if there was a specific order to it... Could it have to do with kilograms?

Chris

[Shibby]

Most gyms also have 35lb

[Stonecold54]

good question. I think the big question is why the barbell is 45. they would probably have to make the biggest plate 45 because anything higher might tip it over when there is just one on one side. if they made 50 pound bars they probably would have 50 pound plates. but i have no idea why 45 pound bars. it might have a lot to do with the physics of lifting. anything lighter might have broken to easily with high weights and anything bigger would just be to bulky for a gym. just a guess on my part.

[Chris]

100 lb plats aren't that much bigger than 45 lb plates. II don't get it either.

Chris

[SMACKAVELI]

Whoa? Damn good question bro.

[GearTripper]

it's because 50# plates are too heavy to lift

[TheStromba]

I think it has something to do with requirements for the olympics.

But I am not sure

[Irishgirl]

haha I've never thought about it, but good observations!

[speedracer59]

My gym has 35's and 100lb plates. I like the 45s though (it looks better than 2 100's )

[Mr. Shoulders]

It has to do with increments as you pyramid the weights up and down...It's just a fact of life...Who thinks about this s*^t anyway?

[bonebreaker]

Mr. Shoulders--It's not a matter of life and death, you realize, it's just a curiosity I have. Fertile minds "look outside the box" and just because something is a certain way, doesn't mean it's wrong or right, but may warrant a reasonable answer. If the world was full of people who didn't think about s*^t like this, nothing would ever be questioned, thus no progress would ever be made in any area. It's your perogative to accept everything as it is and never question why it is that way. Personally, I like to learn new things. BB

[imonboardtoo]

Man, my head hurts. I'm just gonna lift 'em...not gonna think about 'em.

[njjuicer]

yea instea dof wonderign why the fuck they are the way they are jsut lift 'em and no that either way u should be getting bigger

[Lethal]

My guess it had something to do with the safety clips back in the day, have you seen the size of the old school ones. I know the ones in my high school gym weighed exactly 2.5lbs each.

[Chris]

Oh shit, thats a good point.

Chris

[Haz43]

I think it has to do with Kilos too. I used to Olympic Lift and the bar and the 45lb plates are 20 kg. Makes it easier to count for kilos cuz a bar and a 45 on both sides is a 60kg load.

[Skyefire]

Originally posted by Chris
Because it wouldn't boggle the mind if there was a specific order to it... Could it have to do with kilograms?

Chris

You gave them the answer and there still scratching their heads?

J/k

Most any international sport or event is going to be done in metric. Same for the weights. A 10k run is about 6miles but no one, not even Americans (nowadays) calls it that.

[golilla]

metric what the fuck is that kilos? glad you are the genius that you. Nice thinking outside the box without brains like yours we would be relegated to caves and crude wood tools. Thanks genius.