rpenmanparker 

The pros do only use fork mount? You have that on good authority? I don't believe it.

woodcraft

With a standard stand, more than half the time you just hang the saddle nose over the clamp, right?

Well I do, anyway.

BoSoxYacht

The teams I've worked with have used both, but most techs at demos use tube clamps.


The fork clamp style can be a PITA with some mountain bikes.

rpenmanparker 

Huh? What are you talking about?

rousseau

Define "good authority." Just kidding. I've always had a problem with authority.

I avidly watch racing and enjoy the behind-the-scenes features, especially interviews with mechanics where they show you their setup and give tips on maintenance and bar wrapping, etc. In all my years of watching these programs I've never seen bikes mounted on anything other than fork-mounted workstands. Search for "pro cycling mechanics" on Youtube and you'll be hard pressed to find even one video with a tube-mounted workstand.

This is the norm, as far as I can tell:


I'd be curious to know if any UCI teams do indeed use workstands other than the fork-mounted ones. Are there any?

woodcraft

BoSoxYacht

I'm amused that you feel your needs are similar to a UCI team mechanic's.

jf19451

I agree the Park PCS 9 is the way to go. It also folds up so it is easy to store.

kbarch

You make it sound like UCI team mechanics are something special. Inspecting is inspecting. Tightening a bolt is tightening a bolt. They put their pants on one leg at a time, just like anyone else, so to speak. They just do it more often. If I had the space and inclination to do much work on my bikes, I would DEFINITELY want one of those kinds of stands! But as it is, 99.9% of the time the stand I have is just used for storage - to hold a bike in place, off the floor - so in that respect you'd be right if you said my needs were not similar to a team mechanic's.

sirkoondog

great feeback folks, but I am leaning towards the fork mount. For my NYC apartment, it seems that is will allow me to clean the bike better. The version they sell on performance bike seems to fold up fairly well to store under my bed. But at the end of the day, it sort of comes down to price. I'll all depend on whats on sale on black friday. Side note, is there a site that consolidated the bike gear sales/deals?

SSRI

dont forget to get a tarp(or shower curtain) for the floor, the grease/crud/dirt that comes off the bike it is a pain to clean off the floor.

rousseau

I don't understand this overwrought response to my reasoning for suggesting a fork-mounted workstand is superior to one clamped to a post. I made a simple choice as a consumer. If you're just using road bikes, it seems clear to me that the the fork-mounted stand is far superior to the other type. The fact that the pro teams use fork-mounted stands exclusively would seem to bear this out.

And yes, actually: on the continuum between UCI mechanic and shop mechanic, the needs of a road cyclist with a couple road bikes are more closely aligned with the pro team mechanic.

It's not rocket science. Choice: A or B? People in the know use A. Why do they use A? Ah, I see. I'll choose A. Why the heck not? Doesn't mean B doesn't work, too, but A is better.

Shrug.

BoSoxYacht

Yep, you're right. Just let it go.

rpenmanparker 

I'm surprised, but apparently Rousseau is right. So it appears shop mechanics predominantly use tube clamp mount and race team mechanics predominantly use fork mount at least at races and in their travelling vans. Even though I only deal with one size and type of bike, I think my maintenance activities are more like a shop mechanic's than a race team mechanic's. Tube clamp for me.

BoSoxYacht

Rousseau is nothing like a team mechanic, or any professional mechanic for that matter.

3alarmer 

.
...****. (You can't be too careful these days. )

LAJ

I have both. I know it has nothing to do with the original question, but it just depends what your needs are. With an aero seatpost, the fork type is the way to go. If I'm just popping a wheel off, or something simple, I'll hang the nose of the saddle over the stand, as was pointed out earlier. @rousseau makes an excellent point in the fact that bike stores deal with all kinds. The post type would be the stand of choice for that application. Not many beach cruisers with aero seatposts.

PhotoJoe 

Please show me where he said (or even implied) that he is. This is as close as I can find, and nowhere do I see him claiming to be.

I think this is excellent advice...for everyone.

3alarmer 

...nice stable base, solid Park adjustable bench clamp. Good for a lot of things but painful to transport.






...still occasionally useful, cheap to buy if you can find one, easily transported. Not real good on stability, and painful if used for longer repairs.





...nice compromise. I find this steadier than the three legged, tripoddy things I've used.

rpenmanparker 

That has nothing to do with my choice, right?

BoSoxYacht

No.

BoSoxYacht

some people here give good advice, and some people don't know enough about the topic to offer advice(but they do it anyway).

I won't mention any names, but I'm sure you understand.

Rowan

Two hooks in a ceiling joist, and two 700c bicycle tubes, one looped around the seat, and the other around the stem and handlebars worked for me for a while. A bit jiggly because of the stretch in the tubes. Nylon strapping probably would be better now.

I also have worked on my bikes flipped upside down if doing BBs and chains. That comes from touring and the need to do whatever one has to do to get the job done. And other times, I have just lifted the bike on to a bench and worked on it suitably supported by a broomstick up to the saddle.

I do have a "proper" work stand -- had it for a decade or so -- and it does what it is meant to do. But I still do stuff like torque a BB with the bike on its wheels on the ground (maybe that's why we are now dealing with those press-fit BBs... ).