Fitness 101

I’ve been going there for over 10 years, and they are closing at the end of April 2012.

I love this gym. I’ve been going there for years. Unfortunately, they just announced they are closing the end of April. :-(

I joined last weekend. I don’t have a lot of experience with a variety of gyms, but this place seems to have everything I want. It never seems crowded, and I’m never waiting to use a piece of equipment. Everything’s clean because 1. They keep it clean, and B. Most of the other members have a good ethic of consideration for their fellow members. The showers and locker rooms seem nice, although the scale in the men’s LR doesn’t seem to work right, and I think the staff waters down the soap a bit too much. Anyway, I get a good workout and it’s on my way to work. I understand they’ll have to move shortly, I hope they don’t move far from where they are now.

This gym would be better if they enforced some rules for sharing the equipment, especially the elliptical cross-​trainers. The same group takes over the bank of elliptical machines for well over an hour every morning, often abandoning the machines with their newspapers, towels, and drinks on the machines to go to the bathroom, get a drink, walk off a cramp, take a phone call… or maybe they are saving a machine for a friend who will be here in a minute, who is in the bathroom, etc. You aren’t likely to get an elliptical cross trainer in the mornings. Management should enforce some simple rules, maybe put up a marker board where people could write their start and finish times, which might discourage people from keeping the machine for an hour and half. This has been going on (the same group of people) for years.

I go to this gym b/​c it’s super close to where I live, but quite honestly I’m not sure if it’s worth what they charge. The carpets are really dingy, the cardio equipment is really loud… but I guess they have most of the equipment you would want to use (although no step platform things).
The people who sit at the front desk are friendly and learn to recognize you so that’s nice. Seems like it’s mostly guys in the evening and usually the same crowd.
It fits my needs so I guess I can’t complain. The biggest plus for me is the location, and they do provide towel service (and the towels seem clean).

This is a convenient, basic gym with great staff! Classes are varied and quite good if you have the time. You can generally get in, do your workout and get out without being bugged by anyone. The showers are great and parking is usually not a problem. The price is very reasonable. I only wish they opened at 5:00 — sorry guys.

Clean, knowledgeable, friendly with great equipment… that’s all you can ask for and Fitness 101 has succeeded!

I love this gym! It has everything anyone could look for in the fitness realm. The equipment is varied and of excellent quality, the staff is personable, friendly and knowledgeable, and the atmosphere is simplistically geared to its main purpose: getting a kick ass work out!
I have been to several gyms on the Peninsula, and none of them compare. When I go work out– I just want to get in, get out, and get my muscles aching in that oh so good way. If I needed a sauna, orchids in the bathrooms, and waterfalls next to my treadmill– I’d go to a spa. That is what Equinox has, but despite their attractive atmosphere, their annoying sales staff creates a horrible work-​out environment. That also goes for the pushy staff at Gold’s too. At Fitness 101 you are treated respectfully– by not being harassed every five seconds to sign up for some type of package. They may not have cascading waterfalls, but they have incredible equipment, excellent service, and I feel worked every time I go.

Fitness 101 has always had a reputation for being excellent, and I know a couple of great trainers who have worked there for years, so I finally decided to start dropping in on the weekends, just to independently kick my butt and mix it up. I must say, the rumors are absolutely true! This is the cleanest gym I’ve ever found, and I love not having to worry about bringing clean towels to use while working out, only to run out at home and have to find time for extra trips to the laundromat.
Not only is the equipment selection outstanding, but the variety offered here in general, fully surpassed my expectations. Yes, they are a bit pricier than a lot of places, but as with so many other things, you get what you pay for, and you pay month-​to-​month, without having to worry about a contract. If you want a clean, spacious, no nonsense gym (towels included!), with top-​of-​the-​line equipment and trainers (if you need them), knowledgeable staff who will NOT pressure you, a very decent list of amenities, and friendly guests who will also leave you alone because they understand the actual purpose of a gym, then Fitness 101 is my top local choice.
Stop by, or better yet: join the best gym on the peninsula like I did; you will not be disappointed!
(P.S. My only complaint is in reference to the sometimes limited hours of operation, particularly on an commonly large number of holidays. If I could change one thing, this would definitely be it. An extension of hours in the AM and PM, and a limit on the days considered «holidays» would be greatly appreciated.)

I wrote a review on Gold’s SOMA in which I gave it 2 stars and noted that I prayed for the day I’d go to a real gym instead of the one worst in its class.
A guy who works in my office (started a new job in Menlo Park) told me about Fitness 101 and it’s right next to the office park. I am so loving this place — Finally a real gym! cold water fountains, towel service, nice smelling soap, clean (no mold like gold’s) and people let you be. It’s not crowded and the machines are all recently purchased — the treadmills and aerobic equipment is top of the line and they have lots of different options — the people seem friendly and it’s very low key. I wish my friends in San Francisco had a place like this to work out!

I have been coming to this gym for years, as I live just over a mile away. Although the price might be a little steeper than other options in the area, if I calculate the money spent on getting to them, it would factor out to be the same. Plus, having to drive at least 5 miles on a freeway always puts me off working out. The fact that I can ride my bike or walk/​jog here is awesome! Not only do I get more exercise, I am saving money AND the ozone.
Given the smaller space this gym has to work with, it has a great selection of things I actually use. I’m a treadmill/​elliptical/​free weights/​a few leg machines type of gal, and Fitness 101 has all of the above. I love that I can come here at 8.30 in the evening and know that I can get at least an hours worth of cardio in, as well as some strength training without a huge bustle of people around me. [Sometimes, I feel self concious when I’m strength training.]
Every part of the gym is always exceptionally clean. Their crew they have to keep it looking fresh does a fantastic job, and there is always someone organizing/​cleaning/​folding/​laundering. And, I think they deserve an enormous, heaping load of gratitude. There is nothing worse than a grimy, untidy gym and they continue to keep the gym from ever getting like that. I love that it smells, looks, and feels very clean whenever I am there. And, if I happen to go into the locker room when someone is cleaning it (which usually happens if I am there in the afternoon), I make sure to thank them.
I am a late night exerciser. While I like that they stay open until 10.30 Monday through Thursdays, I would appreciate it if they stayed open a little later than that. I’d also appreciate it if they stayed open until 8.00 or 9.00pm on Sundays. But, I am well aware that this is a privately owned, non-​francised/​non-​chain gym, and that the economy is rough. Staying open a little later might not be feasible.
Fitness 101, keep up the great business & work. I’ll be a fan as long as I am a Menlo Park/​Palo Alto/​Redwood city resident.

This is an excellent gym and a great value.
Gordon’s noon (m/​w) spin class is great and he’s a riot.
I’ve heard good things about the other classes as well but cannot speak from experience.
What I like best about this gym (as opposed to the ones in downtown Palo Alto, for example, of which I’ve tried as well) is that people come here to – gasp — work out; not to be seen or to watch others work out. You can work out in a seven year old t-​shirt and no one cares that it’s not some $ 100 coordinate.
The people are down to earth and friendly.
I’ve never had to wait for equipment, even during the busiest hours.
I knocked off one star b/​c it’s not fancy or as spa-​like as other (pricier) gyms in the area but I don’t care about that stuff (but recognize other people do…).

I just joined here, and I think it’s a cool place. Nothing super fancy, but everything is clean and well organized. Plenty of towels, shampoo, soap, and q-​tips. I haven’t had to wait to use any machine. It’s quiet and mellow. Not too big, but not too small. Just right.
I like that the fees are monthly and there’s no contract. And no sales pitch or variable pricing. It makes the experience so much better

Like the other reviewers, my husband and I did our research before joining. For the price, we think it is the best gym within 20 miles. Parking is a breeze, and it’s proximity to the 101 makes it very accessible. The staff is very mellow yet friendly. It is very clean and the free and white towels are nice. No trouble getting equipment time even in the busiest hours. It is not at all a meat market and there are people of all ages working out. Members are friendly but not obtrusive, and some have been coming here for a long, long time. We have moved to SF but kept the membership as on the weekends it is worth the drive to enjoy the gym. Only wish the evening hours were a wee bit later on the weekends as when I have to work a weekend it is a squeeze to get in before they close. Check out their website — it really is as low key as it seems.

I recently joined this gym and am happy I did. I researched gyms in the area for about a month before I finally decided on this one. It seemed my options were limited to super fancy gyms that cost a fortune to join or I’d have to settle for waitlists and old machines.
Fitness 101 is a good happy medium. Membership here is $ 64/​mo and so far it seems worth it. All the equipment is well-​maintained, I haven’t had to wait for machines, there is always a spot in the spin classes, they provide towels, it’s clean, and they have a friendly staff. Also, all their membership rates are posted on their website, so you don’t have to sit through a cheesy sales pitch just to join.

I’ve been heading to this gym since early 2000. It has a good assortment of equipment and you rarely have to wait to use it. They also have cheap and convenient childcare on weekend mornings and in the early evening on weekdays.
The locker room contains a sauna and a steam room. The showers are filled with shampoo, conditioner, and liquid soap, all of which smell tropical.
The price is a little steep at $ 60 per month, but it’s not crazy for what you get. There’s always enough other people there working out that you stay motivated and have something nice to look at ;)