Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie

Bike Workstand

Options
  • 10-06-2019 1:59pm
    #1
    Tim76
    Registered Users Posts: 953 ✭✭✭


    Any recommendations for a decent bike mechanics stand that doesn't cost a fortune?

    I just returned one I bought from a well know retailer as the clamps that attach to the frame/seat post were made of hard plastic and ended up damaging the bike.


Comments

  • Options
    #2
    crosswords
    Registered Users Posts: 252 ✭✭crosswords


    I have 2 workstands. They are both rubbish.

    The Halfords one is fiddly to set up and not very strong. It is very stable though.

    The park tool (basic model) is very strong but really unstable and can topple over easily. The clamps will damage the bike too.

    I am still looking for the Teresa May of workstands..."Strong and Stable" and willing to take endless abuse. :)


  • Options
    #3
    ED E
    Registered Users Posts: 36,166 ✭✭✭✭ED E


    Lidls Crivit stand is fine. There are plastic covers on the clamp but not seen any marking.


  • Options
    #4
    magicbastarder
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 48,492 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    not that hard to find pipe lagging or similar to protect the frame; i've seen it being used in bike shops by mechanics anyway, if you're working on a carbon bike you're probably going to be using it regardless.


  • Options
    #5
    Raam
    Registered Users Posts: 14,317 ✭✭✭✭Raam


    I have this a long time now. Works well. Didn't get a mat with mine.
    https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/x-tools-home-mechanic-prep-stand-workshop-mat/rp-prod133219


  • Options
    #6
    Raam
    Registered Users Posts: 14,317 ✭✭✭✭Raam


    Raam wrote: »
    I have this a long time now. Works well. Didn't get a mat with mine.
    https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/x-tools-home-mechanic-prep-stand-workshop-mat/rp-prod133219

    Doesn't come with a tool tray but I just made my own and attached it myself.


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #7
    Wishbone Ash
    Registered Users Posts: 24,960 ✭✭✭✭Wishbone Ash


    Tim76 wrote: »
    .... as the clamps that attach to the frame/seat post were made of hard plastic and ended up damaging the bike.
    Did you clamp directly onto the frame? Standard practice is to put a piece of cloth between the clamp and bike.


  • Options
    #8
    C3PO
    Registered Users Posts: 3,742 ✭✭✭C3PO


    I've had one of these for at least 10 years now - still works perfectly and I expect will do for another 10 years! With tools and such, I usually find that you get what you pay for!

    https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/park-tool-home-mechanic-deluxe-workstand-pcs10-2/rp-prod185564


  • Options
    #9
    smacl
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 15,722 Mod ✭✭✭✭smacl


    I have one of the LIDL ones which is grand but most of the time I just put the bike in the turbo and use that.


  • Options
    #10
    doiredoire
    Registered Users Posts: 120 ✭✭doiredoire


    I have two stand a pro tool ones that you hang the bike on and this one

    https://tacx.com/product/spider-team/

    Never use the pro tools one now. Much prefer working with the tacx. It also folds up very small if you want to travel with it


  • Options
    #11
    Macy0161
    Registered Users Posts: 9,290 ✭✭✭Macy0161


    I've a work bench in my shed, and I use a version of this although the version I have is a lever clamp rather than screw down.


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #12
    Cetyl Palmitate
    Registered Users Posts: 537 ✭✭✭Cetyl Palmitate


    doiredoire wrote: »
    I have two stand a pro tool ones that you hang the bike on and this one

    https://tacx.com/product/spider-team/

    Never use the pro tools one now. Much prefer working with the tacx. It also folds up very small if you want to travel with it

    How do you adjust front brakes with this type? Or if you want to true your front wheel?

    Is there s way to flip it around or something?


  • Options
    #13
    doiredoire
    Registered Users Posts: 120 ✭✭doiredoire


    Cetyl Palmitate wrote: »
    How do you adjust front brakes with this type? Or if you want to true your front wheel?



    Is there s way to flip it around or something?

    You have to take the front wheel off

    No you cant flip it around


  • Options
    #14
    cletus
    Registered Users Posts: 7,884 ✭✭✭cletus


    Jaysus, why is everything related to bikes so expensive? It reminds me of weddings. Want a bouquet of flowers, €30. Want a wedding bouquet,€130 :D

    I bought one of Halfords bike stands on offer, got it for about €20. It's the solid finest. I really couldn't justify paying the park tools price for their stand, unless I was in the business of repairing bikes perhaps.

    Regarding the "you get what you pay for" comment, sometimes all you get is overcharged


  • Options
    #15
    07Lapierre
    Registered Users Posts: 8,219 ✭✭✭07Lapierre


    doiredoire wrote: »
    You have to take the front wheel off

    No you cant flip it around

    You sure? I have the park tool stand. To work on the front end of the bike, you remove the rear wheel and put the bike in the stand the opposite way round.

    The stand has two squewers..one is the same width as the front wheel, the other is the same width as the rear wheel.

    This is the one I have...

    https://www.bicyclehero.com/ie/parktool-prs-20-team-race-stand.html?fee=6&fep=17518&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Ireland&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjcvk94ni4gIVirztCh0WQAw8EAQYHCABEgJ1BvD_BwE


  • Options
    #16
    C3PO
    Registered Users Posts: 3,742 ✭✭✭C3PO


    cletus wrote: »
    I really couldn't justify paying the park tools price for their stand, unless I was in the business of repairing bikes perhaps.

    Regarding the "you get what you pay for" comment, sometimes all you get is overcharged

    So the park tool stand cost me approx €150 10 years ago - €15 a year and counting! It’s used at least twice a week so at least 1000 uses and will be used for another 1000! Cheap at the price in my opinion!


  • Options
    #17
    cletus
    Registered Users Posts: 7,884 ✭✭✭cletus


    C3PO wrote: »
    So the park tool stand cost me approx €150 10 years ago - €15 a year and counting! It’s used at least twice a week so at least 1000 uses and will be used for another 1000! Cheap at the price in my opinion!

    Well, I only have the Halfords one for 6 months, but with the above maths, if it lasts 2 years it cost me a tenner a year, so I'm winning :D


  • Options
    #18
    a148pro
    Registered Users Posts: 2,204 ✭✭✭a148pro


    cletus wrote: »
    Well, I only have the Halfords one for 6 months, but with the above maths, if it lasts 2 years it cost me a tenner a year, so I'm winning :D

    If you can afford it definitely pay more for something that makes your life easier. Life is for living not dicking around with poorly functioning yokes.

    If you can't afford it rock on and be happy chiseling away.


  • Options
    #19
    07Lapierre
    Registered Users Posts: 8,219 ✭✭✭07Lapierre


    Tim76 wrote: »
    Any recommendations for a decent bike mechanics stand that doesn't cost a fortune?

    I just returned one I bought from a well know retailer as the clamps that attach to the frame/seat post were made of hard plastic and ended up damaging the bike.

    There's one for sale in adverts:

    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?goto=newpost&t=2057987847


  • Options
    #20
    magicbastarder
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 48,492 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    my aldi (or was it lidl?) one is absolutely fine for me. though life is a little easier when you've a couple of steel bikes which are a bit more robust, but i have a carbon one now too which i have to treat carefully in the stand.


  • Options
    #21
    Tim76
    Registered Users Posts: 953 ✭✭✭Tim76


    Wishbone Ash wrote: »
    Did you clamp directly onto the frame? Standard practice is to put a piece of cloth between the clamp and bike.

    The stand (it's the Halford's Bikehut one) came with 4 mysterious pieces of rubber and no instructions on how to fit them. Turns out there weren't instructions cos the things actually didn't fit in the clamps.

    Anyway, after a lot of frustration i managed to get the rubber between the clamps and the seat post but they came loose after 5min. of work and that's when the damage was done.


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #22
    Tim76
    Registered Users Posts: 953 ✭✭✭Tim76


    Think I might take a punt on the X-Tools one from Wiggle (link below). Can't determine what the clamps are made of but as one poster suggested I might just use some pipe lagging to protect the seat post.

    https://www.wiggle.co.uk/x-tools-folding-bike-workstand/


  • Options
    #23
    cython
    Registered Users Posts: 4,758 ✭✭✭cython


    Tim76 wrote: »
    Think I might take a punt on the X-Tools one from Wiggle (link below). Can't determine what the clamps are made of but as one poster suggested I might just use some pipe lagging to protect the seat post.

    https://www.wiggle.co.uk/x-tools-folding-bike-workstand/

    The clamp looks the same as the Lidl/Aldi ones, so I expect hard plastic. As you say though, some padding around the tube and they're perfectly adequate.


  • Options
    #24
    Tim76
    Registered Users Posts: 953 ✭✭✭Tim76


    Apparently the clamps on this one are covered in thick rubber...

    https://www.wiggle.co.uk/feedback-sports-pro-ultralight-workstand/

    But at 2.5 times the price I don't know if it is worth it. Although it does seem to work better for carbon frames should I upgrade next year!


Advertisement