Bicycle Mechanics - What's the best (cost x sturdiness x performance) repair stand?

In trying to do more of my own work, I'm hampered by not being able to get the bike off the floor. So I'm resigned to buying a stand, and probably a wheel-trueing jig as well. But I have very little money to play with, so whatever I buy had better do the whole job and last forever.

Recommendations from personal experience?

I've never regretted paying a little more to get my Park PCS-4 and I expect it to outlast me.

http://www.parktool.com/products/detail.asp?cat=23&item=PCS%2D4

I'm extremely happy with hanging my bike from 2 ratcheting tie down straps hooked on the garage rafters. A bungee from the chain stay to an eye set in the floor steadies the whole thing. Cost; about $35.00, and I had to borrow a masonry drill & bit from a friend. What I like most about it is free access to both sides of the bike. The little bit of swaying has never been a problem. bk

I worked on bikes for years by hanging them vertically from the front wheel. I've hung them horizontally by the stem and saddle but that's a lot more work to set up. I once built a bike work stand from scrap lumber that looked like a sawhorse and held the bike in place with an old front axle and quick release. None of these cost more than $5.00 to knock together.

Today I've got a couple of Park workstands that clamp onto the bike's seatpost. They're faster to use and look more professional but, other than headset and front brake adjustments, I can't think of anything I couldn't do just as well with my scrap lumber workstand. In fact, when you build your own, you can design it to be as high as you like so there's less bending required to do things like common derailleur adjustments.

Your Park workstands aren't adjustable for height?

I've been very happy with the Spin DoctorPro G3 (http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?sku=19982). IMHO impossible to beat for the price ($140).

I suppose you'd be happy with a plastic and aluminum stand if you had never used a Park professional shop stand, bur there's really no comparison.

The Spin Doctor is fine for occasional work. You can usually find it on sale. If you are setting up a permanent work station, I would buy a more robust stand that had a lever release and a multi-position clamp. Park isn't the only name to look for; Pedros has a very nice shop stand.

I suppose you'd be happy with a plastic and aluminum stand if you had never used a Park professional shop stand, bur there's really no comparison.
Not debating, but there's very little plastic on the G3, and the aluminum pieces are very beefy and sturdy.

Blackburn made a portable 3 legged stand that sold for maybe $50. The three legs unscrew and store inside of the main beam so it becomes very compact. It clamps your fork and your BB sits on top of a little cradle. Or you can clamp your rear dropout (if you need to work on your bike with your front wheel in) - it has two "axles" to which you clamp your frame. If I go on a bike wash binge I use it, best thing for it.

Although I bought it primarily to clean my bike, I found myself tossing it in the extremely limited space of the trunk of my car and bringing it to races and such for "just in case" situations, esp fine tuning a derailleur or something.

Pics help I know so let me see if I can find any. It's small enough that I actually misplaced it and I'm currently using my less favored Park PCS-4 stand. I prefer a fork clamp type of stand (or rear dropout clamp if you reverse it).

Can't find pics, not even on eBay. Arg. Anyway if someone has one that'd be my choice for a cheap as dirt but still effective stand.

If you have a very high bench with lots of clearance under it Blackburn made a bench top "clamp" type thing that would clamp your seatpost (recommended for aluminum posts where you don't mind a bit of marring). It doesn't work that great but it raises the bike just a hair off the floor. Ideally I'd have the base of it perhaps 5 feet off the ground so that you'd have the bike in front of you, not below you (depends on your height of course - I'm about 5'7"). I like working on drivetrains which are 3 or 4 feet off the ground so the bike needs to be quite high (esp if I want to pedal and shift the thing - twisting the bike so the derailleurs are high will result in the brifters being down by the floor). Anyone who has one will probably give it up for close to free including me. I found one on eBay (not mine).

http://cgi.ebay.com/Blackburn-Bench-Top-Bicycle-Repair-Stand_W0QQitemZ110212340125QQihZ001QQcategoryZ27953QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

hope this helps,
cdr

Spin Doctor G3 Pro from Performance Bike, about $125 - $150 depending on sales. Very sturdy, completely adjustable.

I suppose you'd be happy with a plastic and aluminum stand if you had never used a Park professional shop stand, bur there's really no comparison.

Especially one that is bolted to the floor and never moves even under the heaveist loads.

Ultimate Pro and Ultimate Pro-Elite has its fans. Jensen has the Ultimate Pro-Elite (http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/TL410G00-Ultimate+Pro-Elite+Repair+Stand.aspx) for $209.99 (free shipping) or $229.99 with tote bag (also free shipping), Ultimate BRS-80R Pro Classic (http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/TL501G00-Ultimate+Brs-80R+Pro+Classic+Wo+Bag.aspx) for $189.99, or the Ultimate Pro Ultralight (http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/TL308G00-Ultimate+Pro+Ultralight+Repair+Stand.aspx) for $169.99.

Just read the (magazine and consumer/owner) reviews for the various stands and look at them close up (if possible) before buying.

Thanks for the suggestions, all. Keep them coming, if there are others.

I realise now that I should have mentioned one additional minor factor, but I supposed you already knew it (I mean, I know it, so why wouldn't you all :D ): I and my bikes live in a small apartment (and the books make it seem still smaller) with no access to any other enclosed space. So I can't use the very sensible suggestion of rigging something to garage or cellar rafters. The bike-of-the-season lives in the kitchen, nestled in between the sink and back door, and the off-season one lives in the hallway near the front door, taking up most of it. If I got a non-folding stand like that wonderful looking Park one that Dirtdrop suggests I might be able to leave it in the kitchen, up against the same wall where the bike lives, but I'd be more confident if it folded. I also like RG's idea of a scrap-lumber one (I'm both cheap and poor). The G3 seems to get good reviews, so maybe it's not as cheesy as its photos make it seem.

Anyone have any experience with the Kettler Profi? It's steel, and folds.