As far as true weight-lifting gyms go, this one is "OK". It's no planet fitness, golds gym or any of those other big name gyms but it's the best that minot has to offer.
Pros - There are a decent selection of heavy weights that aren't offered at most cardio focused gyms in the area. Large areas make it feel open and airy. Great staff and being open 24hrs are also a huge plus for people with non standard shifts.
Cons - A majority of the heavy weights are "broken up" (meaning the ends are loose- I'm talking about you, dumbells). Some are missing their pairs. A majority of the barbells are bent. A few of the wire pull attachments are worn dangerously thin from repeated use and have not been retired. I also notice that allen bolts (which are usually securing the weight that you are working with) are loose enough to screw back in by hand. I've made it routine to check these as 90% of them are loose when I pick up equipment for use.
Another area of contention is the automatic key fob system. It operates sporadically at best and just this morning, every patron I came across has been locked out, including myself. Multiple times I have witnessed patrons attempt to scan fobs and ultimately walk away frustrated. If there were someone at the desk, they could assist but more often than not, there isn't anyone at the desk (usually during the weekends - when someone is actually looking for assistance...
Lastly, the size of the locker rooms are terrible. For the amount of people coming and going on a daily basis, they are just to small to be effective. I must commend ASK on this point though as the locker rooms went from being disgusting to relatively clean as of late.
All in all, for what we pay in order to have a 24hr, legitimate weight lifting gym, this is a far cry from what is to be expected in terms of quality from past experiences in larger cities. ASK needs to understand that in a buisness such as this, weights and weight lifting equipment should be treated as consumables and replaced accordingly. It also wouldnt hurt to have someone inspect the equipment at least daily, before someone gets hurt. Ultimately, due to lack of options this is all we have up here for now.