Bicycle Mechanics - workstand w/ CF bike...tips?

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re-cycler
08-03-08, 11:41 AM
Just got a Tarmac recently, first all CF bike. Would like to pick up a workstand, but I don't know how to safely put this bike into a stand. Can't clamp to main tubes. The seatpost is also CF, but a denser layup. Do people clamp to that? Guy at lbs said I could have a separate (alloy) 'dummy' seatpost to put in and use when working on it. That the usual deal? That means I need to be careful whenever I put my standard seatpost back in, and torque correctly, right? Are there little allen torque wrenches for this kind of thing, to control torque?

Any other basic tips on working on CF bikes in workstands, and in general? Thanks.

mikespug
08-03-08, 01:34 PM
The seatpost, even a carbon fiber one, is a pretty stout piece of equipment. Think about it...they are designed to hold a 200+ lb person for a duration of typically 20+ miles however many times a month a person rides for the lifetime of the seatpost. Taking that into consideration I can't imagine that there should be any concern clamping a carbon seatpost to a stand specifically made for doing so to hold up a sub 17lb bike.

If you still have concerns another practice is to "hang" the bike from the stand by the nose of the saddle. Hope that helps!

I will add that the tension on the seatpost, carbon or otherwise, should be such that the weight of the bike pulls directly down on the post so pressure isn't put on the side of it. Make sense?
operator
08-03-08, 01:57 PM
Park makes a stand that clamps to the droppouts and straps the BB area.

PRS-20 or 21/.

http://www.ebikestop.com/prodimages/TL8264.jpg

The other thing you can do is remove the seatpost and use a generic alloy + crappy seat and clamp to that.

If you want to get fancy:

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/imgWrapper.aspx?img=/tl/TL402H00.jpg&type=3

Which doesn't use your frames seat collar to keep it in place.