At most gyms, you see a large heap of
metal bars and handles sitting in a plastic
container or milk crate. This pile may look like junk
but, actually, it’s more like a treasure chest. By
attaching these handles to a cable pulley, you
create an unlimited variety of exercises. Some people are afraid to go near this
pile, so they simply use whatever bar happens to already be attached to the cable. But if
you frequently switch the handles, your workout can be more fun. Here’s a rundown of the most popular cable attachments:
_ Ankle collar: You clip this wide
leather ankle bracelet to the pulley to perform
exercises such as leg lifts, back kicks, and leg curls. The ankle collar can strengthen
your inner and outer thighs while you’re
standing. We don’t use the ankle collar in thisbook, but a trainer can fill you in on thedetails.
_ Curved short bar: Some of these are U-shaped and some are V-shaped. Both varieties are used almost exclusively for triceps exercises, such as the triceps pushdown.
_ Long bar: These bars come in
various lengths and are commonly used for back
exercises that involve pulling the bar to
your chest, such as the lat pulldown . You can pull these bars with
an underhand or overhand grip, and you can place your hands as far apart or as close together as you like.
_ Rope: This attachment is most commonly used for triceps exercises such as the
triceps pushdown.
_ Straight short bar: This bar is used in
triceps exercises, biceps curls, and rows. We especially like to use this bar for the
triceps pushdown and the seated cable row.
