Bicycle Mechanics - Need Advice on a Repair Stand

I have decided to start doing more of my own repairs and am going to purchase a repair stand.. Many years ago I purchased a no name one and turned out to be a peice of you know what... I have been looking at Park stands now mainly becuase I feel I can trust the name.. I am thinking of either the PCS10 or the PCS 4.. I would like this purchase to be my last as far as stands go.. Assuming these are both quality stands I am not sure which one I want..
At present I would be using it for my Mountain bike, Confort bike, old Raleigh, and a cruiser...
The PCS 10 only raises to something like 56 inches... I am 73 inches... Isn-t that a little low to stand and work on a bike ?... Also the jaw in the clamp says 7/8 to 3"... This won't clamp on a seat post will it ?...
The PCS 4 will raise to 72 inches which is good.. It appears a little sturdier also.. Thes specs on the clamp jaw just says it opens to 1 5/8 inches.. Doesn't say closed size.. Is 1 5/8 wide endough to handle the majority of bikes ?... Tandoms etc ?... There may be one of those in my future..
I would appreciate input from anyone who has experiance with these
Thanks....

While the PCS-4 is a more solid and professional (shop grade) stand, I have the PCS-10. It is plenty tall enough for easy access to all parts of a bike. The clamp will grab a tube that is up to 3 inches in diameter (!) - which is WAY bigger than a seatpost. That's bigger than most... oh please just get a ruler and hold it up to a bicycle frame - any part of the frame.

It's solid. The clamp is micro-adjustable and easy to use. Has full rotation. And it is very secure. The PCS-10 is plenty of stand for the home-mechanic to use on their bikes - and their friend's bikes. And it easily brakes down for easy storage. Either would be a good choice.

I love my PCS-4 and I have never regretted paying the extra money for it. The professional grade clamp makes it worth it. My only complaint is that I sometimes get so focused on whatever I'm doing to the bike that I trip over those protruding legs.

I just checked and I've been usung it at the lowest position. I'm 5'10".

I tell this to everyone looking to buy a repair stand
skip the Parks and the Spin Doctors, buy one of these
http://www.velo-orange.com/twolegstand.html
If it's too low for you, put in on a table. They work great and they cost next to nothing. No reason why not too.

Wow that's awesome, fuzz!

While the PCS-4 is a more solid and professional (shop grade) stand, I have the PCS-10. It is plenty tall enough for easy access to all parts of a bike. The clamp will grab a tube that is up to 3 inches in diameter (!) - which is WAY bigger than a seatpost. That's bigger than most... oh please just get a ruler and hold it up to a bicycle frame - any part of the frame.

It's solid. The clamp is micro-adjustable and easy to use. Has full rotation. And it is very secure. The PCS-10 is plenty of stand for the home-mechanic to use on their bikes - and their friend's bikes. And it easily brakes down for easy storage. Either would be a good choice.


Thanks... I did do the measuring and it is more then enough for the larger tubes... My question is will it close tight enough to grab a seat post ?... My seat posts look to be about 5/8ths of an inch,, Specs say it will close to 7/8 of an inch... While doing a search on here regarding this subject one of the things I did pick up on was to clamp to the/a seat post to avoid crushing tubes and stuff.... Have you found it ok clamping to a tube ?...
Thanks

I tell this to everyone looking to buy a repair stand
skip the Parks and the Spin Doctors, buy one of these
http://www.velo-orange.com/twolegstand.html
If it's too low for you, put in on a table. They work great and they cost next to nothing. No reason why not too.

This before or after back pain from bending over to adjust stuff?

That stand is fine for a quick adjustment. Work on your bike for any length of time and you need a *real* stand.

I love my PCS-4 and I have never regretted paying the extra money for it. The professional grade clamp makes it worth it. My only complaint is that I sometimes get so focused on whatever I'm doing to the bike that I trip over those protruding legs.

I just checked and I've been usung it at the lowest position. I'm 5'10".

Thanks for the reply
Yea, the PCS 4 specs say it goes up to 72 inches... Plenty of height... Nice looking stand.. Can you clamp to a seatpost with that clamp ?... Specs don't give minimum size it will clamp ?..
Specs say the clamp will go to 1 5/8... My tubes seem to be about 1 1/4 - 1 3/8... Is that wide enough to cover most bikes ?...
Thanks

Thanks... I did do the measuring and it is more then enough for the larger tubes... My question is will it close tight enough to grab a seat post ?... My seat posts look to be about 5/8ths of an inch,, Specs say it will close to 7/8 of an inch... While doing a search on here regarding this subject one of the things I did pick up on was to clamp to the/a seat post to avoid crushing tubes and stuff.... Have you found it ok clamping to a tube ?...
Thanks

Buy the PCS-4. Clamping is always in this order - seatpost, seattube, toptube. You can ixnay all of that if you have any carbon frames/posts.

Both of the mentioned stands is more than enough to clamp any size seatpost on the market. You don't need to worry about it.

Thanks for the reply
Yea, the PCS 4 specs say it goes up to 72 inches... Plenty of height... Nice looking stand.. Can you clamp to a seatpost with that clamp ?... Specs don't give minimum size it will clamp ?..
Specs say the clamp will go to 1 5/8... My tubes seem to be about 1 1/4 - 1 3/8... Is that wide enough to cover most bikes ?...
Thanks

You're thinking too hard, we use the PCS-4 type clamp head in the shop and not a single instance where we couldn't clamp a seatpost because it was too small.

If you can't work on your bike while lying on the floor watching tv (My preferred pose) then try putting the little stand on a table, not only do you get a goo height, and the ability to sit down, but you also have an almost unlimited flat surface to store bits and pieces on, without having to buy an accessory stand.

I've spent more than enough time working on my bike to have figured out that it works well, honestly, better than most of the park stands I've worked with.

Hey thanks guys... This is what I wanted to know...
I am confused though.. For instance on the PCS 10 specs say the clamp goes from 7/8ths to 1 5/8ths... If the clamp will on go to 7/8ths how will it grab on to a 5/8ths seat post ?... Am I missing something here ?.

Hey thanks guys... This is what I wanted to know...
I am confused though.. For instance on the PCS 10 specs say the clamp goes from 7/8ths to 1 5/8ths... If the clamp will on go to 7/8ths how will it grab on to a 5/8ths seat post ?... Am I missing something here ?.

Cam-type clamp allows single action clamping of tubes 7/8” to 3” (24mm to 76mm).

I'm not sure how much more explicit this needs to get.

I've spent more than enough time working on my bike to have figured out that it works well, honestly, better than most of the park stands I've worked with.

If this is the case, then you really haven't spent enough time working on your bike.

Cam-type clamp allows single action clamping of tubes 7/8” to 3” (24mm to 76mm).

I'm not sure how much more explicit this needs to get.

That's my point !... A clamp that will clamp tubes 7/8 to 3" will clam a 5/8ths ttube ?... On my ruler 5/8this is 2/8ths SMALLER then 7/8ths.. This is where I am missing something...
If you guys say it will clamp to a seat tube so be it... That's what I wanted to know..
Thanks

T - I would think that wrapping your seat post in a rag might do the trick.

That's my point !... A clamp that will clamp tubes 7/8 to 3" will clam a 5/8ths ttube ?... On my ruler 5/8this is 2/8ths SMALLER then 7/8ths.. This is where I am missing something...
If you guys say it will clamp to a seat tube so be it... That's what I wanted to know..
Thanks

Most seat posts are 27.2 which is greater than 1". Most people put a rag in the stand to protect tubes, or posts, so that will add some extra diameter

The smallest diameter seat tube I've ever come across is 1" (25 mm) so the Park stand will clamp it just fine. If you really have a 5/8" seatpost (??) it must be on a child's bike and the other tubes are plenty robust enough that you can clamp them with no problems.

As to the stand fuzz2050 recommends, it's fine for very occasional, very lightweight work, or just for storage but is completely unsuited to major jobs. How do you do a fork or headset installation on that thing? I have one of them and would not even consider it a real work stand.

BTW, the Park stands are deservedly popular and very solid but also look at the "Ultimate" work stands. They too are professional quality and highly regarded.

If this is the case, then you really haven't spent enough time working on your bike.

Though none can match your bike-working superiority, but we try on occasion to elevate our lowly selves.

A difference of opinion does not negate the validity of another's work, sir.


I tell this to everyone looking to buy a repair stand
skip the Parks and the Spin Doctors, buy one of these
http://www.velo-orange.com/twolegstand.html
If it's too low for you, put in on a table. They work great and they cost next to nothing. No reason why not too.

I have one and use it regularly as well. I find it very comfortable to sit and work.
The one thing I will say is many frames have their bottle rack in a place that interferes with it, so sometimes you'll have to take off the bottle cage. Most times that's not necessary, you can usually just loop the top inside the cage, but for some the interference is too much.

Though none can match your bike-working superiority, but we try on occasion to elevate our lowly selves.

A difference of opinion does not negate the validity of another's work, sir.
If much experience by many mechanics goes against the claim, then the "opinion" loses it's validity.


I have one and use it regularly as well. I find it very comfortable to sit and work.
The one thing I will say is many frames have their bottle rack in a place that interferes with it, so sometimes you'll have to take off the bottle cage. Most times that's not necessary, you can usually just loop the top inside the cage, but for some the interference is too much.
As I mentioned above, I also have one of these stands and find it useful for very minor tuneups, chain lubeing, shifter adjustment and the like. It is worthless if you need to do any serious work like bottom bracket replacement, headset and/or fork work, etc. It is not stable or strong enough for most work beyond the simple. It's only vitrues are low cost and ease of storage when not in use.

Ok guys my bad... I have been measuring the post on my Cypress... It is a 23 inch frame so the seat sits low... I pulled it out and the main post is 1"... The top 3 or 4 inches narrow to 5/8ths... Right where it narrows there is a reflector attached so it isn't apparent unless you pull the seat...
Thanks for the help

If you can't work on your bike while lying on the floor watching tv (My preferred pose) then try putting the little stand on a table, not only do you get a goo height, and the ability to sit down, but you also have an almost unlimited flat surface to store bits and pieces on, without having to buy an accessory stand.

I've spent more than enough time working on my bike to have figured out that it works well, honestly, better than most of the park stands I've worked with.
Though I do not lie down while servicing; I will say this; That little stand is damn handy for quick jobs/inspections.
I have a PCS-4; but am now going to get one of those small stands as well.
I am to old for constant stooping; and the bench in my garage-shop is a touch to narrow for standing a bike on it (had to save space somewhere).
When a friend brings a bike in for a "look-see" that little stand is going to be handy (especially because I usually have a bike in the PCS-4 already).

It was obviously all that yoga I did as a child that allows me to preform any repair needed (including BB and headsets) in that little rack, and while in the lotus postion

It was obviously all that yoga I did as a child that allows me to preform any repair needed (including BB and headsets) in that little rack, and while in the lotus postion
I'd like to know how you do headset/fork work with that stand since it only supports the rear wheel off the ground and relies on the front wheel being in place to hold the bike up.

As I mentioned above, I also have one of these stands and find it useful for very minor tuneups, chain lubeing, shifter adjustment and the like. It is worthless if you need to do any serious work like bottom bracket replacement, headset and/or fork work, etc. It is not stable or strong enough for most work beyond the simple. It's only vitrues are low cost and ease of storage when not in use.


Thanks for putting it in a less "abrasive" fashion. As i've been told before.

It was obviously all that yoga I did as a child that allows me to preform any repair needed (including BB and headsets) in that little rack, and while in the lotus postion
Shutup Gumby:D.:p

If you're doing a repair and you need the front wheel to spin freely, which doesn't happen too often, then just weigh down your rear wheel and shift the balance of the bike. I just stick a dowel through the rear spokes and rest a book or two on each side.

The possibilities are endless, limited only by your imagination.

I'd much rather use a little more ingenuity than spend $100 more on a different repair stand.

If you're doing a repair and you need the front wheel to spin freely, which doesn't happen too often, then just weigh down your rear wheel and shift the balance of the bike. I just stick a dowel through the rear spokes and rest a book or two on each side.

The possibilities are endless, limited only by your imagination.

I'd much rather use a little more ingenuity than spend $100 more on a different repair stand.

Sorry guys... Way to old here to be sitting on the floor Mickey Mouseing repair jobs... I have a PCS4 on the way....
Thanks for all the input...

A very good choice. I have the Park PCS-10. I don't know how I lived without it. You'll love that '4.'

I also have one of those small folding stands for use when traveling to events or camping. My main stand is an Ultimate. I find the three leg design very stable.

I have the PCS-4 and I love it. It is nearly as good as the shop model I used except without the steel base. I have no problems using it to clamp a seat post. One thing I do is to use those thin rubber tool drawer liners to wrap around a seat post or top tube etc of a bike I am working on. No slipping and most important no marking or marring at all.
It is also decently stable when turning a bike to a vertical or angled position...however I am still careful as it is not as base stable as the shop model.
You can't go wrong with Park tools.

Thanks, glad to hear you guys are happy with yours.. I am sure there are probably other good brands out there but my experiance with Park tools so far has been a good one so I figure why mess with success.......

Yup - the joy of using "REAL" Park Tool products is what sent me to the PCS-10. Love it! Regards the seatpost, most just use a towel. If you don't want to get fancy and go with the rubber. LOL.

Getting excited... Supposed to be here today :-)
I also ordered that thingy that goes down the seat
tube of "almost all bikes" and then you camp to it.. I
like the 23 and 24 inch frames so my seats sit low and
there isn't much to clamp too.. Figured since I would have to
raise the seat anyway might just as well use the adaptor... We
will see how tat works out :-)

Many mechanics are so used to raising seatposts - they carry a 5mm hex-wrench in a holster. I just keep 2 of them in my bike-bag.

Many mechanics are so used to raising seatposts - they carry a 5mm hex-wrench in a holster. I just keep 2 of them in my bike-bag.

I kind of figure if I have to move the seat it is just as easy to take it out and use the ISC4...
Started putting it together tonight.. What a beautiy.. Really beefy too.. Could probably clamp a V8 in it and use it for an engine stand :-)
Seem to have shorted me two bolts though... No biggie.. I;ll pick up a couple tomorrow..
I am going to like this one..

I got a good deal on a PCS-9 $80.00 and I am really impressed. I have a PCS-1 and I like the screw adjustable clamps on the 9.