Bicycle Mechanics - bike repair stand questions...

hey for the price ($45) is this any good???:)

Performance Spin Doctor™ Essential Workstand

just wondering, if this is a good stand to get, and if it will be ok for home use... I like the parks, just no cash for one at this time, PLUS I have an aluminum frame and would hate to clamp it, and NO I cant clamp the seatpost...its way down...:)
thanks again all for the help...

It is a clever design, but I wonder about stability. Have you a way to secure its base to the floor, to minimize side-to-side wobble while you work on the drivetrain?

As long as you're not gonna do any heavy duty torquing, I guess this is fine. But I'd pretty much prefer something that can bite into the seatpost.

George!

I was interested in this one as well, but like the others I'm wondering how stable it would be for things like BB and crank work. I put together a bench-mount thing that works really well for me and cost about $13 total. I'll put up some pictures later if you're interested, or since we're practically neighbors you can PM me and drop by the house and check out the shop setup.

I have a cheaper solution, but only if you already own a hitch mount bike rack. I just back up partway into my garage and use my Rhode Gear bike rack to hold the bike. The only downside is that my garage isn't heated, but then again I don't do much repair work in the winter, since I generally don't ride after the first coating of salt hits the roads.

DEMON

I really think this stand could work for me for basic work...:) and a great price too... hey Grendel where are you exactly??? I live in The Woodlands, and just got back into cycling after a LONG time...:) I am 32 now, and gained a few pounds that I want to drop... I could use a riding partner if you ever need one ok...:)
later
Ryan

btw: I am looking for a good shop to go over my bike as I just got it and want to be sure it is fitted, and tuned up ok... I am looking at Bike Source on Gosling Rd here in The Woodlands... any ideas???:)
thanks again
Ryan

Ryan,

The best shop I've found is the Bike Lane on F.M. 1960 near I-45 (in the Krogers shopping center). They're good folks that know their bikes well, sell a lot of Cannondale stuff, and they have a top-notch mechanic (Ken Thurlow). I never hesitate to recommend these folks -- I've tried several shops and they're the best in this area IMO.

This stand has two major drawbacks that I can see. The height does not appear to be adjustable and you cannot rotate the bike on the stand.

Before I would buy this stand I would also check the details on the mountig to make sure it was not going to press on any cables running under the bottom bracket. That would make it worthless for gear adjustments.

I'd save my money and get a better stand.

I have an older Minoura that has the same basic design,
the problem I have with it is it does not accomodate unusual
shaped tubing, if it ain't round it won't fit the clamp.
I'm not sure if this uses the same clamping arrangement but
its something to take into consideration.

Marty

yah it looks like there no adjustable height so thats a drawback. I find that function really useful so mabe you should keep your money and save up for somehting better.

Demoncyclist, you are a genius! ;) I've tried numerous ways to clean and lube my chain using my chaincleaner - on the workbench, upside down, on the deck and none of them have been satisfactory. My hitchmount bike rack will work great! Thanks for the tip. Boy, do I feel like an idiot for not thinking of it on my own. Thumbs up for the suggestion! :thumbup:

Got one of these on sale from Performance (?). For the price, it is alright. Havn't had any problems with it pinching cables on the guide, and stability is acceptable. If you're serious, save up for a better stand. I am.

for $65 you can get this, height adjustable and pretty solid:

http://www.chucksbikes.com/rpstd.htm

has anyone had any experiences with the $65 from chucksbikes??

so has anyone here actually used the performance stand??? I like that you dont have to clamp the bike down... being I run aluminum, that is an issue, and NO I cant clamp the seatpost, its down pretty far...
Ryan

Originally posted by r600aero
so has anyone here actually used the performance stand??? I like that you dont have to clamp the bike down... being I run aluminum, that is an issue, and NO I cant clamp the seatpost, its down pretty far...
Ryan

So raise the seatpost. Or better yet, get cheap seatpost to put in its place.

thats a pain, to keep taking the seat on and off... I would rather take a look at some non clamping stands...:)
thanks
Ryan

Originally posted by r600aero
thats a pain, to keep taking the seat on and off... I would rather take a look at some non clamping stands...:)
thanks
Ryan

Hmmm... if your seatpost is so far down the seat-tube that you can't get a clamp around it, you must really be pushing close to the max insert line if not exceeding it. You might want to check that... assuming your post has a max insert position.

I know there is a line on seat posts for minimum insertion, but I didn't know there was a maximum insertion line.

its not that low...I still have room, just not enough for a giant park clamp to go on it...
Thanks
Ryan

Originally posted by RdRunner
I know there is a line on seat posts for minimum insertion, but I didn't know there was a maximum insertion line.

Some posts have them. I think they're generally found on carbon seatposts that have a stress relief section (as in the case of Easton carbon posts) which only goes up so far or seatposts which may neck down or up or change shape afrter a certain distance up the post. Also, carbon frames generally have a max insert position too since the metal insert in the seat-tube only goes down so far.

Originally posted by khuon
Hmmm... if your seatpost is so far down the seat-tube that you can't get a clamp around it.........
.........not to get off topic, but maybe the frame is a bit too tall??

George!

no frame seems fine... it is a 56, and I am 5'11"... I like it...curious how much clearance is normal when you stand over top tube???
thanks
Ryan

I was checking out the Performance Spin Doctor stands at their Torrance, CA shop the other day. The one you are mentioning didn't seem very stable to me. Like someone else mentioned, they probably wouldn't do some major torqueing with it. It's not a bad piece for the price, I would spend a bit more and be safer. Here is a link to a Performance Stand I thought is very nice, http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=13160
I personally thought it was equiv or better than Park's PCS-4 Deluxe Home Mechanic Repair Stand ‘03-
$199.99 .

so has ANYONE actually used the stand I asked about??? for $45 it seems like a fair deal... and I only want it for basic repairs anyway... or if not anyone used the rakk stand???
thanks
Ryan

here's the RAKK

and the Performance...:)

ok leaning on the $45 performance stand so far...:) or is this an ok deal for $15??? I just need a decent display/repair stand for small at home repairs/cleaning...I will probably buy the $45 one, but I would like opinions on this little handy stand...:)

I realized the RAKK is more a storage stand, nothing more... so that is out...:)
Ryan

I have no experience with the Perfromance stand, however
that said some downtubes will not fit the clamp (my experience
with this type of stand). I know you are trying to get a good
deal but if you're bike won't fit how good a deal is it?
(and your bike now might fit, but how about the next one?)
I'd suggest the Performance stand that is selling for 99 bucks.
more stable than the one you are looking at, and will handle
any sized or shaped downtube.

Marty

I have a aero cannondale r600... does anyone know if it will fit in thr $45 style stand???
thanks
Ryan