import600

This is a bike repair stand intended for public use. Placed in areas of high bike traffic to allow for quick fixes. Unfortunately no way to buy new tubes.

Do any of you have one close to you? or on your commute? or one like it?

What are the pro and cons you guys see with these? or have experienced?

It seems that, a novice mechanic may not know what to do with most of these tools. And maybe those who already commute daily would have these tools on hand.

Just curious to see other opinions.

import600

This is a bike repair stand intended for public use. Placed in areas of high bike traffic to allow for quick fixes. Unfortunately no way to buy new tubes.

Do any of you have one close to you? or on your commute? or one like it?

What are the pro and cons you guys see with these? or have experienced?

It seems that, a novice mechanic may not know what to do with most of these tools. And maybe those who already commute daily would have these tools on hand.

Just curious to see other opinions.

import600

This is a bike repair stand intended for public use. Placed in areas of high bike traffic to allow for quick fixes. Unfortunately no way to buy new tubes.

Do any of you have one close to you? or on your commute? or one like it?

What are the pro and cons you guys see with these? or have experienced?

It seems that, a novice mechanic may not know what to do with most of these tools. And maybe those who already commute daily would have these tools on hand.

Just curious to see other opinions.

krobinson103

Thats cool. If I had a few of those on my route I'd just carry a tube and levers.

Andy_K 

Nice idea, but the tools look very limited. I probably have more than that in my trunk bag. I don't see a chain tool or a spoke wrench. A pump would be nice too.

The stand itself might be handy at times.

The security desk at my office has a set of bike tools available, including a floor pump. I haven't used them yet.

Sullalto

The only one I know of has some tools chained to it, and it's in front of a bike shop.

prathmann

A local Chevron station near me has one. Next to it is a vending machine that sells tubes, Kevlar spoke replacements, chain oil, patch kits, assorted energy bars, sunscreen, etc. There's also a pump/gauge for inflating your tires.

Here's a short ride we took that stopped at it shortly after it opened and we took a few pictures:
Dublin - Danville ride - Road biking trip | EveryTrail

It'd be nice if they became common, but the chance that I'd happen to be near this one just when I need a repair is pretty remote.

Roody

I wouldn't mind having one in my driveway.

prathmann

As I mentioned in the other thread, a nearby Chevron gas station has one along with a floor pump and a vending machine with tubes, patch kits, lube, sunscreen, fiber spokes, etc. I took a few pictures when a group of us rode by it shortly after it opened:
Dublin - Danville ride - Road biking trip | EveryTrail

But I doubt it sees much business - the odds of needing something and also being close enough to this station are pretty small. Unless they were very common I'd expect most cyclists to still plan on being self-sufficient and carrying most of what's offered at this kind of station.

TransitBiker

Would be nice if transit agencies could incorporate one of these at train stations and major inter-modal centers....

- Andy

urbanescapee

There's one very similar to that (Dero Fixit) in front of the gym at my school; only the one at my school has (or had) a pump attached. I really do like the concept because most people don't have their own repair stand and this allows the average cyclist to comfortably do minor repairs without sinking a bunch of money into tools. I have been a bike mechanic for a couple years and I have my own repair stand at home, but I don't have a garage and I don't live close enough to work that I ride my bike there or take it in regularly. To keep up with lubricating my chain and to make minor adjustments to shifting/braking components I find it much easier and cleaner (for my home) to just bring a small bottle of lube to campus once every few weeks, pop the bike in the stand and get to business. I don't have to dig out my repair stand, set it up, take up living room space, make a mess, and then clean up and put everything back. It saves me a lot of trouble. Now that it's more of a routine, I actually have a little mobile kit that I keep in an old small PB jar containing a couple heavy-duty-reusable nitrile gloves, shop paper towels, and some Dumonde Tech Lite. I just put the jar in one of my bottle cages.

Really the only negatives I see in these things is a product of vandalism and theft. The one on my campus still has all it's tools; I'm amazed at that. But the pump has been destroyed. I was there when this stand was installed and it didn't take two months before the pump was broken, it has not since been repaired and this is two years later. So that part is unfortunate. Another potential negative as suggested by the OP is that apart from myself and whoever decided that the pump needed to meet it's maker, I don't think anyone ever uses it. I pass by this stand several times a day, a few days a week and not once have I seen anyone else use it. Maybe it's just not worth the cost, socially speaking. The Dero Fixit is marked at something like $1000-1500 depending on the options, and that's not including installing it somewhere and whatever bureaucratic BS one would have to hack through just to have a place set aside for it in public.

Bottom line, I like it and I use it. But I largely consider it a waste because it is an under-appreciated resource; at least in the places where I have seen them installed. The trouble is, in more useful locations, it would only see more abuse and vandalism and be rendered useless.

009jim

This looks like a great idea. Obviously not for mechanical repairs but great for fixing a flat. Most of us carry a tube, and wouldn't need any tools. I carry a pump. Flats would be the main problem anyway. I've never had any other problem on my commute.

GodsBassist

I haven't because they're not where I live.

This spring I did spend my own money and 'installed' (locked) bike pumps onto various bike racks where I work and shop and quite a few other people park. They get utilized pretty frequently.

tsl

Solution in search of a problem.

There are a couple of them around town here. Why would I want to leave the comfort of my home, where I already have the tools and supplies, to go use a bike stand several miles away? And why would I ride a broken bike to get there?

As for on the road repairs, what are the chances that I'll spontaneously have a flat or mechanical within a reasonable walking distance of one?

Unless you carpet the country with them, every 100 yards or so, planning on them for spontaneous roadside repair is just plain silly. I fix my flats now right where they happen, or within 100 yards or so if it's not safe at the exact spot. I don't walk several miles to one of those stands to fix it.

Mr Pink57

We have one at a local trailhead here (it was actually my idea ). There is one I know of on our greenway but I think it has since been removed because of too many people vandalizing it which is a shame.

Jared.

Bike stand offered by Steamwhistle Brewery in downtown Toronto. I've used it once, great public serviced by a brewery that cares about the environment and its city.

mconlonx

I would love to rig one of these up outside our shop for afterhours service needs. Anyone know who manufactures these (he asks before doing his own damn websearch...)?

tjspiel

I've seen a few around too.

I could see value in a vending machine on a busy bike route that stocked patches or tubes, along with a pump. Anything more than that I'm a little skeptical about.

ill.clyde

Funny you mention that ... Milwaukee has one.

Advocates Strive to Pull Riders into Bike to Work Week | WUWM

Tubes, patch kits, tire levers ... and it's actually pretty close (A couple of blocks) from my MUP/commute route. But then there's also the shop I bought my commuter from, which isn't far from the MUP either.

The longer I'm here in MKE, the more I realize we've got a pretty good, vibrant bike scene. And lots of commuters/riders means motorists are pretty used to us being out there.

import600

There are a few companies.

Bike Fixtation - Products - Public Work Stand

Dero Public Bike Repair Products

Looigi

The places I've seen them are on college campuses, where they seem to make some sense due to the density of bikes, the limited distances usually traveled and cavalier/utilitarian attitude of the majority of riders. They'd make no sense in the suburban/rural areas I ride in where bikes are few, distances are long, and all the riders are enthusiasts likely to have what's needed to address minor maintenance issues on the road.

fietsbob

I only Ever saw one in your other post.

Phil_gretz

I sense that there's a shill in the air...

timmythology

The community college I attend has one, as well as my employer. They are handy to have and I have used the one at school for quick adjustments.

MEversbergII

It is a cool idea, though around here it would quickly have all its tools stolen. Maybe as part of a gas station/transit station, sure, as there'd be more eyes and (maybe) a lower desire to nick the stuff.

Reminds me of this blog post: The Bike Doctor is In - The Flying Pigeon Project

M.