Originally Posted by The Baron
I train where I work. I have a homemade bench, a pair of 20" olympic dumbbell handles, two pairs of QuickLee collars (love those things!) about 300 lbs of loose plates in 4 milk crates, a pair of gloves and a pair of straps, and a place outside where I can do chins. That's all I need, and I own it. No maintenance, no fees, and I don't have to go somewhere to train.
Okay, so there are no dummies between 105 and 120... big deal. Buck up! Use the 105ers and modify your form so you still hit failure with that weight. When you can't achieve failure, then go with the 120s, and cheat a little if you have to. Remember, as you go up in weight on the dummies, the cost increases bigtime. At 50 cents a pound, how much does it cost to buy 10 through 40 lb dummies in 5 lb increments? Okay, now from 100 to 120? A lot of gyms scrimp on the bigger fixed dumbbells. They aren't cost effective. Only about 1/3 of the membership probably would ever use them that size.
When I used to train at a commercial gym, I kept a pair of olympic DB handles and some good collars in my locker. I could make up whatever weight I wanted to the nearest 2-1/2 lbs. If having 110 and 115 lbers is a big deal, bring your own oly handles and use the gym's plates, or get some of those magnetic plates that stick on the end of the dummies.
I read a post on a usenet forum a few years ago. the original poster complained about his gym not having hot water in the showers and the AC not handling the load in the summer. This other guy replied... he was from one of the bits and pieces of Yugoslavia... don't remember which. During the fighting, he trained in a gym that an enterprising neighbor established in an unused nuclear shelter. No ventilation, no running water. Some of the plates were cut out of old scrap steel. Fixed dumbbells were often as not made from pipe, tin cans, and concrete poured in the cans with the pipe set in place as the handle. The power was usually out, so they trained by candle light. Bombs falling nearby would rattle plates and stuff. They had to bring in their own drinking water and the smell was awful but lots of guys trained, some natural, and they were some big boys.
Buck up. You should appreciate the fine gym that you have. Just my two kopecks.