Bicycle Mechanics - Bike stands

Does anyone make there own bike stands? or do you only buy the proper thing?

I'm only asking cause I am trying to make one myself and was wondering if anyone has any plans for making one?

I need something to keep the rear wheel of the ground so I can make SIS adjusments easier, rather than turning the bike upside down like I do now.

Yes I know I could buy one!

Evo

Anyone heard of or use the Topeak Tune up stand?

I tried to find a picture but I couldn't.
I have a chrome stand that cost $10 US, it's small and works great. The bottom bracket sits on the stand while two legs pick the rear wheel up off the ground a couple of inches. The stand balances because a third "arm" extends part way up the down tube and wraps around the tube. It works great for gear adjustments, lubing the chain , etc. I bought it at a bike shop years ago. I'll keep trying to find a picture.

I found one.

http://www.jrbicycles.com/bikestands.htm

Its the (chrome) bike stand $9.95

I made my own stand out of scrap lumber about 20 years ago and it still works.

Basicaly two upright pieces with two arms that go under the top tube and two legs that stick out under the bike for support. 2x6 fir with heavy long lag bolts.

No pictures but if you are clever it can be done cheaply.

Steve Frew

The best one looked kind of like a sawhorse. I used a 2x4 for the top and used an old axle and quick release to clamp the front fork. The 2x4 was the right length so that the bottom bracket just set on the end and the rear wheel hung out in space. You have to design the rear legs so that the crank doesn't bump them.

The nice thing about this stand besides the cost (free - I built it entirely from scrap) was it's stability and height. I didn't have to bend down to do anything and I could really crank down on bottom brackets and the like. What I didn't like was the inability to adjust front brakes and headsets.

I used two 2x4's nailed into the joists of the floor above (this is in my basement with no ceiling) and spread them with two pieces of 2x4 to keep it square. I then cut two arms out of 1x and scroll sawed a cradle for the frame.

Not the strongest or most structurally sound thing ever but it was cheap...the cost of the 2x4's.

PJ

Anyone heard of or use the Topeak Tune up stand?

This is currently the stand I'm aiming to get. I saw one at my FBS and it looked and felt very stoutly built. I know people who will swear by Parks and I think they make excellent tools too but I'm also a pretty big believer in Topeak for a combination of quality and features. All of their stuff seem smartly designed and well constructed.

http://www.topeak.com/images/PrepStandc.jpg

I found one.

http://www.jrbicycles.com/bikestands.htm

Its the (chrome) bike stand $9.95

This is what I bought, exept mine is rubberized black. Works a treat.

How about a rope hung from a joist or bolt in the ceiling (if you're working in the basement or garage).

I use to hang my old bike from the ceiling using a rope. It works, but its hard to keep the bike still and you can't get good leverage becuase the bike is not locked into place. also, it started to tear at my seat after awhile. I now own a wrench force bike stand. I swear by it. my advice is if all you do is a few minor derailler udjustments don't buy a stand but If your doing anything like removing cranksets, pedals, forks, etc. get a good bike stand.

I just use my trainer...
kills two birds with one stone

Yup I'm with Kevntri, Trainer works great.

Bikedud, do you think that stand would be ok for Alum. bikes?

Wes

I don't own an alum. bike but I can't imagine any reason why it would not work. Ask the bike shop where you purchase it. Good luck.

>I don't own an alum. bike but I can't imagine any reason why it would not work. Ask the bike shop where you purchase it. Good luck.<

Because it might squeze the head tube, and dent it. That is what I was wondering. I did ask the shop and they said they use them on alloy bikes with no problems.

Wes

>

Because it might squeze the head tube, and dent it. That is what I was wondering. I did ask the shop and they said they use them on alloy bikes with no problems.

Wes

The bike stand that I was recommending to Evo doesn't grasp the headtube.

http://www.jrbicycles.com/bikestands.htm :)

My LBS recommended to NEVER clamp a bike stand clamp to the seat tube or top tube or any other portion of the frame, no matter the frame material. Their rationale was that the frame is designed to be rigid in certain directions (to manage the forces you apply when riding) and that a frame is rarely designed for the clamping force of a stand clamp. Their recommendation was ALWAYS use the seat post, even if you have to raise it every time, as the post was DESIGNED to be clamped.

I'd hate to see anyone learn that lesson on their precious frame...

I've got a ten foot length of metal pipe in my basement waiting to be cut in half. One half is going to be a bike stand and the other is going to be a chin-up bar. Both will go in my garage. Just need a clamp for the bike stand half, and a length of chain for the chin-up.

Does anyone make there own bike stands? or do you only buy the proper thing?

I'm only asking cause I am trying to make one myself and was wondering if anyone has any plans for making one?

I need something to keep the rear wheel of the ground so I can make SIS adjusments easier, rather than turning the bike upside down like I do now.

Yes I know I could buy one!

Evo

Is it really worth making one. I just got a cheapy 10 euro (about 10 dollars) stand on e-bay (see attached image). I am sure it is not as good as one of the more expensive ones (like the Park tool) ones but it I find it Ok for home repairs and I have built a bicycle from scratch using it. It does not hold the bicycle tight (the bike can rotate about the head tube) but I am not sure I would really trust a bike stand to hold the bike against serious pressure without damaging something (e.g. crushing a tube) anyway. The stand does of course hold the bike upside down and if you prefer to work on your bike the right way up then clearly this stand is not for you.

Is it really worth making one. I just got a cheapy 10 euro (about 10 dollars) stand on e-bay (see attached image). I am sure it is not as good as one of the more expensive ones (like the Park tool) ones but it I find it Ok for home repairs and I have built a bicycle from scratch using it. It does not hold the bicycle tight (the bike can rotate about the head tube) but I am not sure I would really trust a bike stand to hold the bike against serious pressure without damaging something (e.g. crushing a tube) anyway. The stand does of course hold the bike upside down and if you prefer to work on your bike the right way up then clearly this stand is not for you.

where I wrote "head tube", please read "seat tube"- the stand of course is designed to fit in the saddle post tube- if you still want to make your own you could use the same principle and just fix a saddle tube on to a base (such as a table) this would provide the same effect.

I use a car bike rack in a bench vice. Its a simple upside down L shape design and I just move it up or down as required. Sturdy and doesn't take up too much room. It holds the bike via the top tube so may not be suitable for compact frames though.

I used a home made stand for years. It was made out of an old indoor trainer that you took the front wheel off of. I put that trainer in my black and decker folding vice/table. It definitely worked (except for headset or front brake work).

I recently bought an inexpensive "real" bike mechanic stand (Minoura) and will never go back. For tinkering, there are lots of ways to build your own, but for $100 I have something that really works well. Why not just do it right?

Does anyone make there own bike stands? or do you only buy the proper thing?

I'm only asking cause I am trying to make one myself and was wondering if anyone has any plans for making one?

I need something to keep the rear wheel of the ground so I can make SIS adjusments easier, rather than turning the bike upside down like I do now.

Yes I know I could buy one!

Evo
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3668322066&category=7295