cowmumble

I have a Specialized Roubaix Elite 05 Bike. I've heard carbon frames are sensitive to being clamped. What part of the frame should I be clamping to on this park repair stand? (Just bought this stand yesterday and it's really cool!)

Raiyn

Don't clamp the frame at all. Get a cheap 27.2 seatpost to use when you want to put it on the stand.

biker7

Raiyn...is right of course. Even with my new steel Bianchi, included in the packaging is a sign that shows clamping to the seat tube with a big X through it meaning do NOT clamp to the frame at all. The adjacent sign shown in the same illustration shows clamping to the seat "post". Buy a good cheap long seat post to take the abuse from your stand....especially with a carbon or thin walled aluminum and even steel frame bike.
George

joejack951

I'd say it depends on what you are trying to do. If you the bike needs to be clamped so tight that it may crush the frame in order to do the work you want to do (torquing cranks or BBs), then I wouldn't want to have the bike clamped in by the seatpost either for fear of cracking that area. If all you are doing is derailleur adjustments and the like, then lightly clamp the bike in place by the top tube and do you work. Just my opinion of course.

DieselDan

None of it. Never clamp a CF frame in an older pinch type repair clamp. I second the cheap aluminum seatpost. You can hang the saddle to do small repairs and adjustments.

sewupnut

Recently bought a Minoura RSX stand. It cradles the bottom bracket and holds the bike
rigid with a front fork quick release (like a trainer). I think it was on sale for $40.00. No clamping required, plus no front wheel flopping around. It takes up a little room, but is very stable for a free standing work stand.

sun

cowmumble

The guy at my LBS said clamp it to the seat post and it'll be fine. He said maybe a little too excessive to buy a new seatpost since I'm not doing too many major repairs, just some basic stuff that doesn't require a lot of heavy wrenching.

Raiyn

I disagree. Your seatpost is a composite as well. Spend the 15 bucks https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...eid=&pagename=
and save yourself the headache

oldspark

It's posts like this that make me glad I read this forum, bought a used carbon fiber bike last fall and had no idea there could be a problem with clamping it into a bike repair stand but I do now.

skydive69

I clamp my Roubaix Pro to one of my two stands every day by the seat post - no problems here.

DieselDan

Why even bother spending any money? Just find a junk bike with a compatible seat post size.

wannaride

It's a real pain to take out the "real" seatpost, replace it with the "fake' seat post and then remove the "fake" and reset the "real" seatpost which hopefully you have carefully marked for proper seat height everytime you put the bike on the stand. And if you have a nice carbon fiber seat post you have to be very careful tightening down everything.

Since I do not have enough seat post I always use a clean rag to wrap the top tube and I adjust the clamp on the stand where it is not too tight. So far no broken, bent, or warped tubes.

skydive69

That sounds like fun - change out the seat post every day prior to putting your bike on the stand, then changing it out to the proper one on completion. I think I would stop working on my bike every day if I had to do that.

Pfoot

I clamp my Trek 5000's seatpost to a similar bike stand and haven't had any problems.

jamesjems

I have the same ParkTool PCS1 stand that you do. I noticed that it has two things that told me that ParkTool wanted to care for our frames: 1) three width adjustments for us to use and 2) a spring on the clamp that ensures that not too much clamping force/leverage is used. Reckless people in a hurry using other people's stands might hurt thier bikes (or other's)...Just be careful and consistent when using your own.

11.4

Tacx Spider Team Stand or Park PRS-20 are two stands designed specifically with carbon in mind. They don't clamp where it hurts. You do have to talk one wheel off (typically the front) but that's not too much hassle. Both are built like iron. The Tacx is very hard to find in stock (poor distribution and low volumes manufactured) while the PRS-20 is available everywhere. I actually scored one new in the box for $123 on eBay.

None of the other solutions are great, and I've seen enough carbon damaged by traditional clamp-type bike stands to go that way.

DieselDan

If your working on your bike EVERY day, I think you may need a new bike.

ShinyBaldy

I think it is safer not to clamp any frame period... not alum alloy, not cabron, not steel. A seatpost is designed to be clamped - I don't think frames are. Why not just clamp your regular seatpost? If it is an alloy one and isn't an ultralight - it'll be safe to clamp.

pinknoise

Don't let temptation get the better of you one day and go clamping to the frame. But if you do the possible consquences might be trumatic. I suffered a similar millay when a young guy at the bike shop clamped my new aluminium Scottusa to the top tube during the first service. It sure dinted the frame and worse it took four months to finally get a new replacement from the bike shop!

forum*rider

I clamp one of my frames all the time.

It's a 30 year old steel Bianchi with tubes thick and strong enough to be used as a cyclocross bike. But then again I don't clamp my E5's frame.

I say just be careful what you clamp.

skydive69

If you are not working on your bike everyday, you either don't ride everyday or you take crap care of your bike. You, in fact, might be the one who needs a new bike. I guess there are people out there who don't put their bike up on a stand, clean the sand and debris off, thoroughly inspect and clean tires and wheels, lube where necessary, wipe off at least the sides of their chains, etc., etc. I pay too much for my equipment to simply park my machine in the garage, and just hop on the next day. No wonder so many describe putting on new chains, etc., with so little mileage.

DieselDan

Take it easy and find a threapist. You're a bit obcessive with your cleaning and maintainence if you must clean your bike after every ride. Once a week at a minimum, and after you ride in the rain or wet. If your really concerned about how much you spent on that expensive carbon fibre frame, you should change that seat post instead of clamping that tooexpensivetoridewithyou carbon fibre post. Just wipe the crap off after you take it out of your ass.

skydive69

Gee, thanks for the crap, unsolicited advice pal! I'll stay obsessive and keep my bike clean - you can ride your grease trap. I can't remember worrying about how much I spent on my carbon frame. I love you 16 mph wonders.

formulaben

A good friend of mine just had his seat tube mangled on his VERY EXPENSIVE and un-replaceable Klein by a professional shop using a repair stand with a clamp. The worst part is he is very attached to the bike because it was given to him by a dear friend that is no longer with us. I am about to take deliver on a new bike and you can be assured I'll be speaking with the shop about their clamping procedures. Word to the wise...

DieselDan

How do you know how fast I go, or anyone else for that matter? You're too busy fixing your bike to ride with anyone.