The bike will be unstable on that Harbor Freight stand. You balance the bike on the BB and clamp the downtube. It can do serious damage if the bike tips sideways. I had that happen with a similar stand. I was lucky and caught the bike before it did more than damage a decal on a Bridgestone. I was so mad that I cut up the stand and threw it in the trash.

I ended up buying a Park PCS-4 and I've never regretted it. If you want to learn the hard way like I did, that's your business.

Yes, the clamp has a quick release and better jaws. It's quite different all around.

I bought the cheapest one eBay had, something like 24.99 from Discount Tommy or something like that. It has scissor legs, a bb holder, and a DT holder with clamp. It basically is a POS, but I only intended for it to be used a couple of times, only wanted a bike or two...

I'm still using it, but for wrapping bars and running cables, I use a rear wheel stand from PBK for $10. For building, I have an old MagnaDyne trainer on an old kid's school desk. Height is right, I can run a bike through the gears, work on bb and most of the stuff I drop hits the desk.....

I really need a good stand and a magnetic mat.

Well, I decided to take advantage of a sale at my LBS and bought an Ultimate. It was a snap to setup and I already have used it to get my C-Dale ready to ride for the season. Now it has my next project on it.

Thanks for the advice.

I agree, it can't be any worse than the $80 Performance stand I got stuck with. I went into the store with the intent at buying the Park stand, but let the sales girl talk me into the Spin Doctor Team stand that was on sale for $80. After 2 weeks, it is already falling apart. I am taking it back.

I bought a brand new Park PCS-4 on ebay for $100 shipped. Still waiting for it to show up though.

That's the one I have. It's been incredibly stable even in awkward positions.
I would like the convenience of a clamp lever, but for the price (less than $100) it's been worth it.

you could double your money if you brought them to State College

I may be thrifty Bill, I would not go cheap on a workstand. I bought a couple of good ones off Craigs List. I have a Spin Doctor Ultimate Pro that I really like.

I just picked up one of these an I'm pleased with the quality and how sturdy it feels. Couln't be the price.

https://cgi.ebay.com/Ultimate-Support...742.m153.l1262

I still have my old Minoura work stand, and it is still a POS. I thought I was the only one who thought so. Glad to hear that everyone else hates it too. I just never got around to throwing it out. Now I have plans to cannibalize part of it. I picked up an old Slocum wind trainer a few monthes ago that's missing the piece that holds the bottom bracket. I'm going to take the bottom bracket piece from the Minoura, and combine it with the front fork mount of the Slocum, and make myself an extra workstand.

Old Minoura work-stands don't get thrown away. They slowly corrode into their surroundings.

Mine did. Left in a damp basement in a corner. Slowly fading into cobwebs and strange growths.

My cute Sicilian girlfriend bought me a Feedback stand for my birthday, and wow is it nice. She got me the nicest consumer one they had, and I'm really impressed by how well made it is. I've never heard of them before either, but reading some of these posts make me think she picked a good one for me. I guess all that complaining I did while doing some of that winter maintenance paid off.

I agree that quality tools are a friend for life but I'm a cheap a## so I made this. it cost 2 bucks for the used carrier and had the scrap wood and a big bolt.

Ain't purdy or fancy but it works!

I like your approach to the stand. I'm trying to come up with something that makes sense at a reasonable price.

I like the bike too. Used to have one just like that back in the day, except I went with the blue Benotto tape.


Has anyone here tried the Harbor Freight stand? I haven't seen one in the store and really don't feel like taking a chance on it. $30 isn't much but it's too much to pay for something that will annoy you.

I saw and was given an earlier version of the HF. It collapsed and dropped a good bike.

STAND AWAY FROM THE STAND!

I've got that Ultimate stand too. Only thing I would add beyond the clamp, make it about 8" taller.

The HF-stand should be shorter. Less distance to the floor when it collapses and drops a bike.

Someone may be interested in this. Park stand $50.

https://lansing.craigslist.org/bik/1325890143.html

Anybody know a repair stand called 'Stronghold'? Looks sturdy, asking $75, in my neighborhood. I'll look at it in the AM.