Bridges Rock Gym — Local services in Richmond

Though I was so excited for my Intro to Bouldering Class, unfortunately, I not have a good experience at this Rock Gym.

First, I wasn't greeted upon arrival, and me and two other folks were confusedly waiting for 5 min or more as no one was at the front desk. During a busy time of day, they would benefit from having a couple of staff members at the front to assist/check in etc.

I am upset that I wasn't offered climbing shoes or told I needed chalk.... Was my first time and I got no introductory info on site. Hands are all blistered and I'm upset and frustrated. Front desk gal was alone and it was busy. On a positive note, she and curly haired guy, were very nice!!! :) Intro to Bouldering Instructor did not notice I was not using chalk our whole class and he knew I was new to climbing. He should have checked that each student was prepared with necessary supplies.

Next, I was not informed that I needed to show a vaccine card. It was not in the information on the class confirmation page instructions, or in the initial class description. I was almost denied the class, even though I drove over 30min and had already paid and filled out waiver 2x. He seemed skeptical about giving me a refund for the class I had paid for-- if I wasn't able to take the class. I was there and ready to go, so that's not fair to me as it was based on lack of communication from Bridges. They were unwilling to make a one time exception for a 1 hr. class, even though I suggested showing it next time when I came back-- and could be prepared, now that I was aware of requirements. If a place is going to be this rigid, they need to also be vigilant about this in class description prior to sign up and in confirmation information afterwards.

Lastly, I tried to get my concerns addressed internally by giving feedback to the manager. He offered me to take the same class again for free, but wouldn't just comp the class I had already taken. Either way, I would get a free class--why couldn't he be flexible to work with what is best for me? I don't want to repeat the class I just took. That's random. I explained that I don't live in East Bay and drove in especially for the class. He said he couldn't credit me for the class I just took, because I stayed and took it...yet I would be staying and taking the class that he was willing to offer me--so I'm not sure how that logic checks out. I don't want to come back and take the same class again, nor do I want to return to this gym, so I'd rather he just comped the original class.

Anyways, I found this small gym disappointingly rigid, discriminatory and inhumane. I got injured because of their lack of care, and inability to properly inform me regarding class supplies. I wasn't given the guidance I paid for and deserved. They weren't willing to work with me, and neglected to provide good service all through the experience and weren't willing to try to make things right after the fact. I felt compelled to take my experience public in hopes of it benefiting others in their understanding of...

Updated 3 (7/2013): After nearly three years here, my conclusion is that this is a climbing gym with a lot of potential that is not particularly well managed. The staff, while generally nice (though one new staff member has much to learn about customer service) is not very motivated to respond to customer complaints (again, with a couple of exceptions). For example: The soap dispensers in the showers are almost always empty. I can mention it days if not weeks in a row and NOTHING changes. If you come here and need to leave clean (e.g., if you are going to work or a meeting after you work out), bring your own soap. The Pilates balls are almost always under inflated. After mentioning it for about a month, maybe they will get inflated. Sometimes it takes 2-3 months. The fan near the elliptical machines is invariably so caked with dust it might as well be called a "dust mite dispenser" -- it is truly gross. When somebody accidentally knocks it over, it emits a dust cloud that spreads for a good 20 feet in all directions. I always make sure to turn it AWAY from me when I am working out. The sauna is broken in some way about half the time, which would not be the case if they posted the sign with the language that I recommended 2 years ago to tell members not to douse the coals with water, which fries the coils. They also need some kind of protocol for what kind of behavior is acceptable versus nauseating in the sauna. For example, there is the guy who stands there naked with sweat dripping from his, um you know, creating a big disgusting puddle of genital sweat on the wooden bench. There are others who leave the sauna soaked with sweat and water and the coils shorted out, so you have to reset the unit. Some seriously strange behavior... The toilet stalls are frequently out of toilet paper My wife and I tried their massage program over a year ago, but after two cancellations in a row for me (one of which I wasn't told about until I arrived) and two more for my wife, we moved on. 7/13/2013: my apparently tried the massage program again and her Saturday morning massage was just cancelled last minute b/c therapist was "sick" (right...we are guessing "hung over" is more accurate). Unbelievable - again?! Really?!

In conclusion, the ownership should really take some steps to hold staff accountable for taking care of the facilities and maintaining the equipment. If they did, Bridges could quickly rise to 4 or even 5 stars. But given some recent bad experiences, it is...

Bridges is one of the best bouldering gyms I've ever been to. I can't say that I am the most experienced; however, I've been to a handful of gyms now. Bridges definitely stands out.

They offer a wide variety of climbs, and a good spread of difficulty levels. The crash pads look worn, but they're ready to take your fall. You can climb confidently!

The climbs are fun, too, because they encourage you to climb over the top, and then reward you with easy, ladder like installations from which you may then climb down.

If I had to say anything negative about Bridges, I would say that some of their handholds are worn to the point of being smooth (but not entirely, of course). This is frustrating to someone like me; however, I also have to say that this was different from what I'm used to, and in that spirit it was good for me to try to keep my grip on smoother handholds.

Bonus: They have slack lines, and I pluralize to indicate that there are a variety of slack lines. If you're like me, and had only ever been on a gibbon classic or surfer, then you're in for a treat.

All I all I would say that this is my in my top two favorite gyms, and I would recommend...