Dropping In at CrossFit Bexley

It’s a hot, humid July afternoon in Columbus, Ohio and I find myself standing in front of the large CrossFit box that is CrossFit Bexley.  I showed up for the 4:30pm class and was greeted by one of their coaches, coach Amy, who was actually taking the class with me but was nice enough to get me a waiver to sign and check to see what my swag choices were (more on that later).
CrossFit Bexley is a place that I’ve been wanting to get to for a while, as I travel to Columbus frequently enough, at least before the pandemic.  Now that travelling has started ramping back up I had another opportunity.  The timing was good, so I was able to take advantage.  I typically stay by the airport and it’s less than a 10-minute drive so, it’s quite convenient.
Let’s break this visit down into the usual categories.  And here’s your regular reminder - all ratings are on a scale of 1-5 barbells.

Communication/Information Availability​

​I sent an email out expressing my interest in dropping in the week before I travelled and within 6 hours I received a response from one of the owners, Patrick Woods.  He let me know he’d be happy to have me and gave me details on the cost and where to sign up.  I asked for any information on the workout and he didn’t have it yet, which isn’t uncommon at all.  I was looking for 2 days of workout information, as I wasn’t sure which day I could make at first.  The day before I left, Patrick sent me the next day’s workout, which I ended up making. 
Looking at their website, it’s easy to navigate with a clear calendar schedule and a drop-in option under rates.  There’s a section for trainers that gives a picture and a full bio, including certifications, for each coach.
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Cleanliness

​Overall, CrossFit Bexley was pretty clean.  The coach asked us to wipe down our equipment after our workout.  There’s plenty of spray bottles and rags.  However, I did notice that several of the bars had a good bit of chalk on them.  There was a little chalk on the rig but it’s almost not worth noting.  I did not have an opportunity to inspect the bathrooms.  No big issues here.
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Facility

This category is a little more difficult.  CrossFit Bexley is a big, beautiful facility.  It’s stocked with equipment.  There’s two large rigs on either side of this very open space.  There’s loads of rowers and bikes.  There’s plenty of dumbbells, kettlebells, and bars.  I saw a fair amount of rust on several bars.  That can be harder to keep up with in the humidity between all the perspiration and cleaning solution.  The space is really nice.​

​The one downside is the flooring.  The padding is quite thin, which I don’t necessarily mind.  We did several warmup movements on the floor and there were burpees in the workout and I had no issues.  The level of protection seemed sufficient.  However, thinner flooring is more susceptible to expansion and contraction.  In my opening I said it was a hot, humid day and I noticed in several places that the flooring rolled up, which could be a tripping concern.  It wasn’t widespread but it was in more than one or two spots.  So, I’d say be aware and watch your step.

Workout/Programming

​The workout was “Lyon”, which was challenging.  It’s 5 rounds for time of:

• 7 Squat Cleans (165/115lb)
• 7 Shoulder to Overhead (same weight)
• 7 Burpee Chest-to-Bar Pull Ups

There was a 2 min rest between rounds, which we needed every second of.  As an extra added bonus after the WOD, there was a cash-out of 6 1-minute plank holds.  Overall, a good solid workout. 
I had to scale, of course.  However, to me it’s about the quality of the workout.  I’m not looking to prove anything.  
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Coaching

Coach David introduced himself to me prior to the class and introduced me as the class got started.  He reviewed the workout prior to class and then ran us through a full warmup.  He noticed a couple of things for me to correct and pointed them out to me.  We also discussed how best to scale prior to the workout.
Coach David kept an eye on all of us and was encouraging.  He communicated well during the workout,  rest and cash-out to keep us motivated.
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Culture

​It was really difficult to get a sense of the culture only because there were just two other people in the class with me.  It was 4:00 on a weekday so that didn’t surprise me.  There were a few athletes working out independently, but they were in their own space. 
I want to give them the benefit of the doubt because the few people I did get to meet were very pleasant.  The two people in my class were supportive.  Based on what I saw, I believe this was a sample of larger cultural makeup here.
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Drop-In Cost and SWAG 

​The cost to drop in at CrossFit Bexley is a mere $15.  A bargain.  If you want to add a shirt, it’s only $10 more, which is also really good.  However, swag availability was extremely limited.  They didn’t have anything in my size.  This isn’t uncommon.  You usually can find plenty of small and medium in most places.  After that, you need a little bit of luck from the CrossFit Gods.  We’ll see how things look when I swing back around to Columbus.​

The entiredy of CrossFit Bexley's apparel offering at the time of my visit.

In Summary

CrossFit Bexley has a lot going for it.  It was a positive experince.  The communication and the coaching was very good.  Although I only got to meet a handful of people, they were all friendly and welcoming.  The facility was huge and well equipped.  Yes, the flooring was a downside but I would still recommend CrossFit Bexley as a good place to workout in the Columbus area.  And, I would ask the owners if they address the flooring issue to please contact me and I will gladly ammend this piece.  

Contact Information

CrossFit Bexley
2903 E. 4th Avenue
Columbus, OH 43219
(614) 525-9073
https://crossfitbexley.fit/
​info@CrossFitBexley.fit