Bicycle Mechanics - Work stands anyone???

I'm considering the purchase of a bike work stand. I'd appreciate any insight on which brand/model to buy and the pros and cons on different types/brands/models.

ThanX!!!

Buy a Park - I've had mine 7 years, and it works the same as the day I bought it. Solid, strong, bullit proof.

I use a Park PCS-1. It's a good, reliable, relatively inexpensive product that suits my needs. The only feature I wish it had was adjustable height, but it's not that big a deal.

Do you need portability? If so, there are the popular Park Tool folding models... I haven't worked with one myself, so I can't comment beyond the portability aspect and the nice spring-loaded clamps. Full list of Park Tool repair stands (http://www.parktool.com/tool_indexes/catindex_workstands.shtml)


If stationary would suit your needs, check out the wall-mount and bench-mount models. If you like deluxe tools and don't need portability, consider their PRS-3OS.

I have an older PRS-2 with a custom-made 100-8C clamp, myself. Definitely not portable! ;)

My sister just bought her boyfriend a work stand from bikenashbar. I think it was around $70 with shipping and it includes a tool stand. It also folds flat for travel. So far he's been very impressed with it.

also check eBay once you've done your research. There are several sellers selling the PCS-1 and PRS-5 well below retail.

And for a grand total of $5.00, you can get a rather neat fold-down bike rack (in the garage storage section at Home Depot) that works for those of us who have pretty simple needs. I have two, and they are great for tire and chain maintenance, adjustments, etc.

BUT, definitely NOT a Park!!

I have a Blackburn Workstand. The only drawback is that it´s not height adjustable.

Anders K

My hub got me a Spin Doctor from Performance about 5 years ago...I love it . The clamps are supposed to be non-marring, but I take no chances and use an additional layer of shop towel between the jaws and my powdercoat.

All of the brands mentioned are better than
trying to work on your bike while it is perched
on its saddle and handlebars. . .
the one thing I would look at is the type of
clamp. I have a Minoura with the screw down
clamp and its a pain in the butt. If I ever buy another
it will have the quick release type of clamp like the
Park stands. On second thought when I buy a
new one (hey, I'm addicted, ok?) I'll be sure
to buy a PARK stand.

Marty

Have to go with the people reccomending the Park tool stands. I have a Park PCS-1. I've had it for more than a year and it has proven very useful and has held up well. The only thing that would be nice would be some height adjustability. You can the adjustable height Park stands for not a whole lot more.

-Moab

Mmmm...didn't know Park made stands. Anyway, last week I bought a Minoura stand (W-300 model in the UK - maybe named something else in the US). It has an adjustable quick-release clamp, two height settings and the clamp can be rotated 360 degrees. You can clamp the frame or seat post to hold the bike at a variety of angles. Great. I also use it to hang my shirt on when I'm working out in the garage. I guess I could clamp my shirt up if I was going to go completely apesh*t with the dumbells. Oh yes, and it comes with a small spring and plastic knob. When I've figured out what you do with them I'll let you know...

Sorry for dragging up an old thread but I'm thinking about buying the Minoura W-300. I have however heard that the clamp can't deal with frames that have narrow tubing ( I have a Cromoly Frame).

Anyone got any info?

I share a Park model PRS-6 (Predecessor to the PRS-3) that a friend and I went halves on about 10 years ago. Darn near bullet proof! ;)

For the home, if cost is no object and you want an heirloom quality stand
I'd strongly recommend a Park Model PRS 302 (shop quality & $$$).
http://www.parktool.com/tools/PRS_3OS.shtml

Next best and perhaps more reasonable model is the one I've been using for about 13 years, the PRS-6: http://www.parktool.com/tools/PRS_6.shtml

The other Park Consumer Workstands are also nice (PCS-1 OR PCS-4), but not nearly as "robust". IMHO, there's nothing quite like having a strong workstand with a heavy base to hold your bike steady as you wrench on it.

If you want one for the home AND road trips, consider the Ultimate Pro Repair Stand - Model BRS-80R (http://www.lickbike.com/i2637700.htm) or the Park PRS-5. I have the
Ultimate Pro primarily for road trips but it's really a great stand even for
the home. The Ultimate Pro is very stable, portable, adjustable, durable and has one of the best clamps in the biz.

I use a cymbol stand with a towel to cushion the bike. Works well for me.

My wifegave me one for Christmas called the Ultimate Bicycle Support. Says she got it at my LBS for less than $200. Easy to use, sturdy, folds up nicely and stand in a corner. Has height adjustment and hold bike at virtually any angle.

May not be the cheapest solution around but it sure satisfies me. It is wonderful to work on a bike at eye level.

Be creful about buyinng a Blackburn. The locking bolt on the swivel will strip out because of not being a high enough grade of metal.
I have had to rework mine twice in the last year.

Rick

gee fellas, I just have an old tubular hanging from a beam under the house

I would love to have a heavy duty shop stand like the Park 302, but I don't have a spot I can dedicate to a more or less stationary stand. Plus, most of the time I prefer to work on my bike outside. I have a Park PCS-1 to which I have added the recently available adjustable extension. I have found it more than adequate for my needs. The $20 wheel truing add on does a great job for me as well.

I am surprised at the comment about the Minoura W-300 and narrow tubes. When I was looking for a stand I had the opposite problem, finding a stand that would handle oversized tubes. The PCS-1 clamp will handle about anything.

FWIW, it is recommended that you clamp by the seatpost which is more robust than the bike tubing and less likely to be damaged. I don't always fool with extending my seatpost enough to get the clamp on, but then most of my bikes are old steel frames.

I have the Park PRS-5 (http://www.parktool.com/tools/PRS_5.shtml) it has been a great stand. It folds compactly for storage or to easily take on a trip. The clamp works great. Park added a quick release and easier sliding tube for the height adjustment.

I bought the Park wall-mount clamp. Then I had a local welding shop attach a piece of box tubing to a piece of 1/4" plate (about 16" x 16"). Finally, I bolted the plate to the concrete floor in front of my workbench and the wall-mount clamp to the tubing. Its not portable, but it works for me.

I would like a Park Stand but I fear they may be out of my budget (The W-300 is about £80 or $120) I also haven't seen many Park stands advertised in the UK.

Anyone know where to get one in the UK?

Hey guys, Pedro's also makes a great portable stand for about the same price as a Park. The clamp is a cool idea that'll work on any diameter tubing!

L8R

I also was going to mention Pedro's work stand. Although when I tried to find a price it was selling for almost $300. It is also a pain to find them.

I recently got a Minoura RS4000 with the adjustable clamp. I compared it to the Park models but in the UK Park are way above the odds and I could not actually see anything that makes it any better or worse but at 1/2 the price again, Minoura won the day. So far, it it's been a great stand, stable, and it's had 3 bikes on it already.

I splurged on a Park PRS-5 this past fall, the first workstand I have owned in 30+ years of serious bike riding. It is great. Stable, yet it folds into a relative small size for hauling around. Vertical adjustment is easy. Quality clamp. No regrets.

I use a Minoura, but don't know the model.

The bike rests on its BB, and is supported on the down and seat tubes, with restraints for the front wheel. Works great for me, and is height adjustable, but might not be so good for bikes with cables running underneath the BB shell.

Anyone out there using a Spin=Doctor stand? What do you think of the quality? Thanks.

The two good brands: Park--durable, adjustable, great parts availability. The "pro race" stand folds into a smallish carrying bag. The PRS3 is durable like a Fender amp or a Maytag washer. Ultimate is the other good one; it's advantages are that it has a huge "footprint" and is even more stable than Park stands, and the clamp is an arguably better design; it will fit any tube from 1" on up and grips more gently than a Park clamp.

i use a peice of rope hung from the ceiling, its a good peice of rope it was like 2 bucks and it is marine quality! i just loop it around the seat and the bars and boooyaaa bike stand (do it close to a wall so it doesnt swing)

The Park stuff is undoubtedly very good. You might also want to check for a cheaper (if available in the US) alternative from Tacx (http://www.tacx.nl/). I use their 'Cyclemotion' stand and am quite pleased with it. It's solid, 'foldable' (for storage), but not heigth adjustable.

I'm lookin at the Pedros stand.

man i wish i didnt live in a studio! i would love to be able to have a pedros stand they are pretty cool!

Does anyone know the homepage ie company website for Ultimate? Thanks.

www.ultimatesupport.com However they primarily make supports for the music industry. There should be a products link that mentions bike supports.

Hmmm, that's what I thought, and that's where I went. And there was a link under products to "bike supports" that didn't seem to work - but I saw the URL it was hooked to... www.ussbike.com

That linke fails.

This is the only way to go. Unbolt it from the workbench and bolt it to the bumper of the Land Cruiser when you want.
http://www.parktool.com/images/tools/PRS_4.jpg

Those stands with unsecured legs are a pain in the ass. They walk across the floor on you as you are trying to work on your bike. What are you going to do get out the sandbags every time you need to ream a bottom bracket or face a head tube?

I'd say look for used items. I've got two Park stands: a "travel" one and the stationary one. I bought the travel one new, and the stationary one was used. I actually paid less for the stationary one, with the tool caddie, than what the travel one cost. (Actually my wife gave me the stationary one for our anniversary last year.) The used one is the first generation Park PRS-2 and works great for me!

The pic below shows them. I've since repainted the base black so as to hide the rust spots.

Edit: forgot to mention that I got these racks within a year each other and had been riding regularly for probably 12 years prior to getting a stand. A word of advice - get a stand!

For the home, if cost is no object and you want an heirloom quality stand
I'd strongly recommend a Park Model PRS 302 (shop quality & $$$).
http://www.parktool.com/tools/PRS_3OS.shtml


Ahahahaha! Heirloom quality, that's a good one, I'm going to use that in my engineering reports.

I grew up using ParK and love the Ood double shop stands. But last year I bought a Ultimate folding stand for about $175 I needs something that would work at home and on the road. It was better than any traveling Park stand on the market at the time. check www.ultimatesupport.com the link to the bike stands is down right now. As everything goes carbon what you can clamp to is an issue. Park has come out with a few new stands. that seem to know use the clamp that the Ultimate uses which is less likely to mess up your frame or post. Park is good but it is not the only choice that it use to be.

Cheers,
Dusk

I have a Park stand that must be 15-20yrs old. They don't even offer one like mine any more (though they offer a replcement clamp 100-8c). I bought it from a guy for $25 about ten years ago. It's bullet proof and still functions perfectly.

Only 1 choice.

Ultimate.

They cost a bit more but they are strong, lightweight. Height adjustable, etc, etc, etc.

They also g=fold up for storage or transport.

Simply the best.