bryroth

I don't own a bike repair stand and I don't want to buy one right now, they are pretty expensive. I don't even want to buy the $25 Topeak portable stand. I told myself I'm going to try to tie a tourniquet around my bike to see if I can make it stop leaking money. That means nothing new for a while.

But for tune-ups and minor repairs, has anyone come up with any great ideas that will suspend the back tire or whole bike? I'm thinking my car rack might work.

For example, I ordered some Kool Stop brake pads before deciding to get on the wagon. So for something like installing brake pads, what do you guys do?

Any help is appreciated!

botto 

don't own one either, but a friend, and ex-neighbor used to hang his bike from his clothes line (by the saddle).

grahny

Flip it.... carefully.

Or the car rack would work too. Or a wall hanger that holds the bike by the top tube. If you do a lot of work on your bike(s) though a good stand is worth it IMO.

Spreggy

I have one of these machines in my garage, makes a great bike rack.

Sprocket Man

I have a bike stand, but I will often use my trainer (Cyclops) because it's really sturdy.

Jakedatc

Mine works pretty good.. just make sure you pad the inside of the clamp so you don't scratch anything (though i clamp to my seatpost all the time cept for this picture)
https://www.instructables.com/id/EJ1PS5NL4LEP286C55/ directions.. cost was like 15-20 bucks max

Ray Dockrey

I have a Saris Bones trunk rack that works just fine as a work stand. I just back the car up to the garage and work away.

NoRacer

+1 on the trainer. You can even flip the bike upside down while still hooked on the trainer, if needed.

MIN 

I use my indoor trainer for repairs. It's pretty effective for most home repairs without added cluster around the house.

hos13

There was a thread on this awhile back and someone posted this link, it has a few examples. Just search "Bike Stands"

https://www.instructables.com/

Asian Sensation

bike trainers a great idea... but that makes one less thing i can spend money on...

GernBlanston

I screwed three eyelets into the ceiling beams near my workbench. Two of them have a motorcycle tie-down looped through them, and one a loop of regular clothesline. The clothesline goes under the nose of the saddle, the hooks of the tie-down hook under the handlebars. Works for me.

GB

Sawtooth

I have a nearly identical system hanging from my 3rd car garage door supports. Works very well for most purposes.

Just dropped $120 on an Ultimate Sport Mechanic Stand from REI on their sale, however. Been wanting one for a long time and finally just did it. I used the hanging loops for years with no complaints other than I could not move them around or work in the house.

NYJayhawk

I created a modified version of the PVC version posted above. Mine has a 4" diameter T pipe which leads to a 3" straight pipe, which leads to a hinged T pipe like you see in the photos. After gluing up the PVC, I reinforced the whole thing internally with a long piece of threaded steel, some sheet metal, and some nuts.

This clamping device I've constructed fits around the 4" steel supports in my basement that hold up my house and which are rock solid. Using pipe clamps, I've attached this thing literally to my house to hold up my bike. Cost me about $25 in home depot parts and about 1 hour of labor. Works fantastically.

alexva

I have a cheap repair stand, $60 i think. Using a trainer for repairs/cleaning doesn't seem that good. Dirt and water in the trainer can't be good.

Oh and MIN; loose the triplet.

ted ward

trainer++

sjumper

+1 trainer

MIN 

the bike is no longer with me and the crankset was a huge reason. worse cranks ever.

Sprocket_Jockey

I made one from scrap wood I had around my workshop. It clamps into the vice on my workbench. I used some self adhesive felt pads for the cradle.

garysol1 

Before I bought a real work stand I would back my truck into the garage and simply used the bike rack as a work stand.

shabbasuraj

Workstand? what is that?

Team mechanics do all the maintenance for me.

I just drink coffee and get my picture taken atop the podium.


... ahh .. the life ... in the pro peloton.

deanp

A frame step ladder, open it up and and lay a broom handle across the steps to hold the bike by the seat rails.

bryroth

deanp, could you explain that a little more, I can't picture it.

All great ideas from everyone, thanks.

ShadowGray

Build your own out of wood?

carpediemracing 

A pull up bar in a doorway works (hang by nose of saddle). Ditto a clothes hanger bar in a big closet. Even a strong shower rod might work (not the spring loaded kind).

Having said all that, for mounting brake pads, you can do it with the bike leaning up against a coffee table:
https://sprinterdellacasa.blogspot.co...-pad-swap.html

That coffee table has also been handy for various other things - actually assembling the bike, swapping out bar/stem, later swapping out the post, installing bottle cages, polishing frame, lining up pick up sensors and magnets, etc.

I have a variety of workstands but the one I like best is a cheap, discontinued Blackburn stand that clamps one of the two dropouts and lets the BB sit on a little platform. Front wheel out you can work on the drivetrain. Rear wheel out you can do work on the front wheel/brake. When I can I even wash the bike on the stand since it's easy to wash the drivetrain and wheels separately. It stashes nicely into itself (about 2"x5"x36") so I can bring it to races, group rides, or whatever. I also own a Park PCS-4 but I almost never use that.

cdr