cpk0

I did a search, but it didn't seem to be working (0 results).

I'm thinking about getting a nice repair stand for Christmas, but I've never owned one before, and when looking at them online they all claim to be stable, portable, easy to use, etc, so it's tough to distinguish good from bad. I just want something that's going to be easy to use (maybe have a lever-clamp rather than a screw-clamp, but not sure why so many have the screw) and it can't clamp to my seat post. I also don't want one where I need to take a wheel off. Can a nashbar stand be as good a $$ Park Tool? If no, why not, what's the dif? I'd like to never think about buying one for a very long time, so I'll spend the cash to buy one that won't fall apart in five or ten years.

superdex

I had this one, the Spin Doctor Team Work Stand


and one of the clamps broke within only a few month's use. So I paid a little more and bought the Spin Doctor Pro G3


and I've been much happier.

As far as clamping to your seatpost, there are some who say that's a safer place than on the seat tube of the bike --it's a lot cheaper to replace a seatpost than a seat tube if you crack it. You can also get a cheapie seatpost you use just for the workstand.

Psydotek

I prefer ones that cradle the bottom bracket shell instead of clamping on one of the tubes...

I have this one:

https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...ruing%20Stands

Here's the Park Tool version:

https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...ruing%20Stands

dubstylee

I always clamp by the seatpost on my workstand. I was horrified a few days ago when I brought my stripped frame to my LBS to have the headset cups removed, and the mechanic clamped it by the seat tube, and proceeded to hammer (with a lot of force) on the head cup remover tool. It's a Reynolds steel frame so I didn't sweat it too much, until he reached for the larger hammer.

cpk0

Sorry that I was unclear. It's not possible for me to clamp to the seatpost, My soloist has an aero post, so the clamps wouldn't fit. Also, I said I don't want to take any wheels off, so reply #2 is out

JBS103

You're limiting about 90% of the products with that criteria.

I'm pretty sure Spin Doctor makes a stand that holds the bottom bracket and doesn't require taking off the wheels. I've never used it so I have no idea of the build quality.

cpk0

this pro g3 clamps to the top tube though, right? I should be ok with that. the frame is Al, so I'm not worried about cracking any C

SSP

^^^^^^

+1.

Why can't you clamp a seatpost? It's the best way to work on bikes (as you'll see if you look in the back of any bike shop).

If your seatpost does not permit clamping, just pick up a cheap aluminum one and swap it when you need to work on the bike...that's what I do with my TT bike (it has an aero carbon post).

As for stands...Ultimate makes the best stands. I have the Ultimate Elite Pro and have been very happy with it.

Jose Perez

If you're looking for a good deal on a stand that holds your bike via the BB and fork, check out the deal on the Park PRS-20 at www.aebike.com $153 with free shipping. The shipping alone is worth $15-20. My wife bought me one for christmas and let me use it early and I have to say I am VERY impressed thus far. Very sturdy, well built, and easy to use.

the beef

https://www.performancebike.com/shop/...tegory_ID=4216

I don't really recommend them, but this is what I'm using right now. I can't afford a real workstand, and I picked this one up for $5 on Craigslist. It's $15 brand new.

Gets the job done - an arm holds your bike up by the chainstay while a rubber hook supports the seatstay. Lifts the rear wheel off of the ground for drivetrain work. I know it's probably not what you're looking for, but it still remains a cheap option.

Geoff326

I ordered one of these last week from that same site. it should be here in two days

"Fred"

+1000

There is no better stand than the ultimate. I also have the pro elite and it is amazing to say the least. It will cost a little more but you get a lot more.

Jose Perez

Just a quick caveat to this statement, one very important reason that bike shops use these types of repair stands is because they're a very fast way to get a bike in and out of a stand and take up a small footprint in the shop, not necessarily because its the "best way" to access what you want/need to get at in order to fix something. I try never to be in any particular rush to get a bike fixed so if it takes a little longer to get things set up using the stand I have now I'm OK. Also, because you basically mount the bike to the stand it is very VERY sturdy and gives me all the access I need.

bac

I've gots to agree. I love my Ultimate. It's small enough to tote around, but big enough to get the job done with style. Nice stand for sure.

... Brad

michaelmc

+1,000,000

I just got an Ultimate Pro Elite for Christmas myself (early; I'll be away for the actual holiday). I fully expect this thing to last for my lifetime, and it's incredibly nice to use. I can't say enough good things about it.

Thirstyman

Jose: Nice find!

I think I'd like to order one of these but can you (or anyone) tell me the downside to using this type of stand, if any. I understand 1 wheel must be removed and bike mounted etc.

Thanks

adam

I have the cheapie version above (Performance Spin Doctor) and I think it's pretty crap. You get what you pay for and I paid nothing for this (used my Performance points). Don't have my bike up on the stand too much, but whenever I do I wish I spent a few bucks on a better stand.

If it's something that could last a long, long time (like a bike stand could) ... get a good one.

mactin

A front fender creates a problem. I have the Park PRS-20. Love it for working on the CF bike; not so much when working on the commuter.

DScott

Another vote for the Ultimate Pro Elite. It just works.

prendrefeu

Ultimate stands, FTW. Any of their models will be better than 82.5% of the other stuff out there, with the Pro/Elites being the top of the top of the top, which is damn well hard to top.

Jose Perez

So far the footprint the thing takes up when not in use is the only down side I've found, but the beam the fork mounts to can be un-pinned and folded down easily enough so that isn't even a downside if I think of it. It does take an extra minute more to mount a bike to it than a conventional stand and it needs to be adjusted to accommodate bikes with different wheelbases, but the adjustments are easily made so this is basically nitpicking.

Other than that the thing is built like a tank, can be folded up and moved out of the way if space is a premium, and really allows you to put some muscle into what you're doing without fear of tipping the stand or the bike over. So far so good for me.

cyccommute 

The main reason that shops clamp the seatpost is so that they don't crush the thin tubes that make up the frame. Better to waste a (relatively) inexpensive post then shell out for a new frame. Most of the newer Park stands have a clamping force adjustment but many shops don't have new stands.

cyccommute 

If you can't clamp the seatpost, then something like the Spin Doctor Pro that superdex suggested is probably best. You could set the bike's top tube in the clamp. Not the best solution if you have cables running under the top tube but it will work.

The advantage of the Park clamp over anything else I've seen is that it's one handed and quick. You put the bike in the clamp and shut the cam, the bike is secure. Other clamps require you to hold the bike and then tighten the clamp by screwing it shut. Some are worse then others but they are all kind of awkward.

Taking the bike out of the stand is even more awkward with a screw clamp.

There's a reason you find Park stands in just about every shop you walk into

George

+1

paul_858

Happy with my park stand, picked it up off craigslist for $150 used (barely used). Solid heavy stable base, with an adjustable tension clamp and rotating clamp head.