20kg PODIUM Competition Barbell

What is it?

We manufacture all of our Barbells to a strict set of criteria, each set individual to the bar's intended usage.  The Podium Barbell is in fact manufactured to every specification detailed by the IWF, as detailed in their Annexes.  

The details

In developing our Podium barbell, we ensured our steel was 100% quality, and a full metallurgical profile of the steel bar was tested, and reported on by New Zealand company Metlab Limited.  Several conclusions were reported, such as the UTS (Ultimate Tensile Strength) of 200,000psi+ on all samples, and the following statement "There is no decarburisation, no inclusions evident and the steel appears metallurgically clean".  The steel is effectively pure as examined to a magnification of 500x.  We are extremely proud of these facts, and would happily stack our bar up against any in the world.

What's its best use?

Olympic barbells should always have some very unique characteristics. First is the whip (the ability to store elastic energy) of the bar. Professional athletes can use this flexing of the bar to their advantage during a lift. A true Olympic lifting bar must also have smooth rotating sleeves, bearings are preferred over bushings, due to their superior spin. This allows the lifter to get under the bar quickly without having to release their grip. Finally, the quality of Olympic bars is such that they have to withstand repeated drops from overhead positions, and abuse from offset drops, or a wayward barbells on occasion.

Barbell Warranty 

This is an Olympic Lifting specific Barbell.  Maintenance is key for any piece of gym equipment, and importantly for barbells.  Regular maintenance will keep your equipment in prime condition and lasting a lifetime.  Regular oiling between the shaft and sleev with 3 in 1 oil is essential for good rotation

Incorrect usage (misuse) of barbells includes but not limited to:

• Dropping unevenly onto a non-olympic platform surface, spotting arms, power rack, box etc
• Dropping the bar with no bumper plates (empty bar)
• Dropping the bar with weight plates other than bumper plates
• Dropping the bar in a way that part of the bar makes contact with any surface prior to the bumper plates
• Storing the bar for a prolonged period of time loaded with weights

Key indicators for barbells that have been used for purposes that are unintended, and void warrannty, include

• A slight or gradual and consistent bend in the shaft. Incorrect storage such as leaving the barbell loaded with weight for a prolonged period of time will cause this style of damage thus rendering misuse rather than a manufacturing fault
• A bend which is off centre is the result of trauma caused by uneven dropping of the bar.  Generally accompanied by a a localised surface deviation or colour change on the shaft

IMPORTANT: There are IWF specification barbells, and IWF Certified Barbells.  We maintain that the equipment we provide is IWF specification.  The certification is a costly process, and as such attained only by a few companies - less every year.