agmetal

My parents have offered a repair stand as a birthday gift, somewhere in the under-$200 price range. It would need to be something easy to keep out of the way, as I live in a smallish apartment with two housemates. I'm also contemplating the idea of getting a set of panniers instead, since my bikes are my primary transportation, and I'm typically limited by the capacity of my messenger bag and rack with cargo net.

FBinNY 

It's pretty simple. You can't carry anything on a repair stand, and you can't hang a bike from panniers to work on it.

So, only you can answer whether carrying capacity or the convenience of a workstand are more important to you. But also consider the ease of workarounds, ie improvised ways or carrying something, or working on your bike.

HillRider

Two mutually exclusive choices. As FB recommended consider workarounds for both and decide which is more likely to be adequate.

Chesterton

If it were me, I would get the panniers first. I personally hate carrying things in a backpack on my bike, and as a daily bike commuter I make use of my panniers every single day.

Having said that, I received a Park Tool PCS-10 stand for Christmas and it has made working on my bike such a pleasure that in the last couple of months I've been motivated to fix several long-term issues that had always seemed like too much of a hassle to work on before yet too minor to merit taking the bike in to the LBS.

fietsbob

tie a rope to the ceiling and you can hang the bike .. almost free to do it that way.

AnkleWork

Sounds like you don't need either. Can you guess what you actually need?

agmetal

I have no idea where you're going with this....

Pibber

https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/SubCate..._202334_202379

https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/SubCate..._202334_202379

TallRider

My primary transportation is bicycle, and I prefer a milk crate to panniers. Securely-fastened with zip-tires and I never worry about someone stealing it. Whereas with panniers, I'd have to remove them from the bike when I get to my destination.


I love having a repair stand, but the ones I've used aren't space-efficient ways to store a bike. If you go with a repair stand, consider one that folds up.

agmetal

I have one of the Topeak MTX rear baskets, and I'm not a fan of how far I need to lean the bike over to swing my leg over. A friend gave me a pair of cheap panniers that he wasn't using, and I much prefer them in terms of getting on and off the bike. They have the crappiest zippers ever made, though, and they don't have any sort of quick-release, or fit my Volpe correctly (due to relatively short chainstays). Also, the aforementioned basket's mounting bracket broke when I slipped on ice on the way to the grocery store.

I'm not thinking of a repair stand as a way to store a bike...it would be kept folded up and out of the way most of the time. Are there people out there who actually use repair stands for storage?

TallRider

Sorry, I misread what you meant about "easy to keep out of the way" with the stand.

And I need to remember that, as my username implies, I am really tall, which means that I can swing my leg over a milk crate without difficulty (note that it is well below my saddle). For many people, the milk crate is as at or above saddle height, and thus an inconvenience for mounting the bike.

agmetal

Yeah, the basket doesn't fit my Volpe or Sports correctly, anyway...the saddles on both get in the way. It might work better on the Panasonic I'm building up, but a replacement mounting bracket is annoyingly pricy.

Drew Eckhardt 

Riding with weight on my back is more unpleasant than doing bicycle maintenance without a stand so I'd vote for the panniers.

jdowdy411

I use this repair stand. Works very well for me and I make frequent use of it. Good price too. Also, it folds up enough to fit comfortably in the closet; I live in a small apartment with three other roommates and it has never been in the way.

https://www.amazon.com/BIKEHAND-Cycle...e+repair+stand

RubeRad

There are similar stands on eBay for even cheaper. Maybe your parents would be cool with buying you both if you could point them to products with the right prices? Also, there's always the option of "kittiers": DIY panniers made from kitty litter buckets. Google "kitty litter panniers". I use one myself (instead of two, because already one is more capacity than I need!)

cyclist2000

I would suggest a cheap stand like this

https://www.amazon.com/Sunlite-Bracke...859T7J6C7PWVDP

and panniers like this

https://www.amazon.com/Ortlieb-Front-...tlieb+panniers

This would cost less than the $200.

I guess I should have asked what types of repairs are you planning to do with a repair stand?

I like the idea of getting a good set of panniers, since you commute, you will get lots of use out of them and with these nothing would ever get wet.

RandomTroll

I've never had a repair I couldn't do by turning my bicycle upside down; I've done every repair, including brazing the seat tube back into the bottom bracket. (I have forgotten to remove the computer and cracked its bezel, and the light and busted it, but that's my fault.) I bought the Nashbar cheap stand (that just holds up the rear wheel); it's been convenient and worth $15.

I've had panniers for 35 years and wouldn't go without.

agmetal

I'd be doing pretty much everything in terms of repair/maintenance work, so I don't think that stand would be terribly useful. I've mainly been interested in Ortlieb and Ironweed panniers.

SKunKWerKs

If you're handy you can always build a stand with a few 2x4's, some screws and a couple bike hooks. Costs less than $25 bucks... (if you have a drill/saw)

cyclist2000

Over the last 40 years I have been doing all my own repairs and have worked at a couple of shops in some of those years. I was too cheap to get a park tool stand until 5 yrs ago. I was able to work on all of my bikes with that "not terribly useful" stand. This includes full builds and full maintenance with the exception of frame work. Most people don't need a repair stand, its just makes it easier.

agmetal

Does it stand up to things like fighting a stuck BB?

cyclist2000

Having both wheels on the ground will stand up to fighting a stuck bottom bracket, a vice will help get a bottom bracket unstuck, pb blaster will help with a stuck bottom bracket. Will a repair stand help with a stuck bottom bracket when the leverage point is at the seat post?

Shaunbee

The Park Tool PCS-9 or PCS-10 allows it to be folded and I store mine behind the door. Here in land-scarce Singapore, space is a premium and being able to store is top priority. I also commute to work some times and panniers is the only way for me. I too, don't like to carry my stuff in a backpack as the climate here would soon have my backpack adhering to my back with perspiration. So the gist of the issue is, which is used more, the workstand or the panniers? Having both these items, I would say (strictly my opinion) that the panniers got more mileage. Both items were from Christmases past which I cherish but the workstand gets only occasional use while the panniers would be used 95% of the rides, be it spare clothes or food or just groceries.

Hendo252 

Concur. I used a rope thrown over rafters for 30 years; worked fine and it was not only cheap, but easy to store.

I bought a repair stand a couple years ago. Easier for some things, no different for others and I have to stash it away. So it is nice, but not a huge deal.

But I have a garage to work in and many do not.... which makes a big difference.

scott967

I also bought one of these after Christmas. I find it is a little "flexy" but so far it is getting the job done well and I also am surprised how I now throw the bike up on the stand and fiddle with it where in the past I would just park it and leave it until I really needed to lube/clean the chain. I also found some ideas on the interwebs for a simple chain holder and that makes basic chain work on the stand a breeze.

scott s.
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