Workshop clamp for carbon
I have my first full carbon frame with a carbon seatpost. (Giant TCR Advanced) I am wondering how I can use my workshop stand with the carbon? I know that clamping onto the carbon frame is not clever in terms of possible damage to the tubes, and a normal method would be to take the carbon seatpost out and stick an alloy one in to put the clamp onto, however, the seatpost on my bike is an aero design and so won't be able to fit a normal alloy post. Anyone have a solution as to how I can use my stand, as I'm sure there must be an easy way that I'm unaware of?
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Wrap a rag around the top tube and clamp there - just enough to stop it moving. I've been clamping my carbon frames that way for year with no problems. For BB jobs and where you need a bit of 'heave' keep the bike on the floor.Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..0
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Okay. You got (probably) one bike. You are also probably quite fit and slim, and do not mind beding down to do the odd repair that your one bike demands every now and again. What cyclist really needs a workstand?
Never put anything carbon in a workshop clamp. And sell your workstand.0 -
Check out this youtube video of someone abusing a (broken) Cannondale carbon frame in a vice and tell me that lightly clamping is a problem :?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDVpRSNt ... re=relatedMake mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..0 -
Just switch to a spare seatpost when you need to - will help keep the aero seatpost clean in the frame anyway.......just mark the height of the post in the seat tube with a bit of electrical tape.Summer - Dolan Tuono with Sram Force and Dura-Ace 7850 CL Carbon wheels
Winter - old faithful Ribble winter bike
SugarSync cloud storage referral link (better than DropBox atm imho) https://www.sugarsync.com/referral?rf=mzo2tcrhm5gn0 -
I use an old turbo trainer - no clamping to carbon and keeps it perfectly rigid and stable. Allows full access to everything, although admittedly setting up rear mechs can be a bit fiddly, but hey ho, how often do we do that?
If you get tired of kneeling on the floor to do any jobs you just put it on a table/workbench.
Also use the old turbo trainer to clamp it on when cleaning it.0 -
Monty Dog wrote:Wrap a rag around the top tube and clamp there - just enough to stop it moving. I've been clamping my carbon frames that way for year with no problems. For BB jobs and where you need a bit of 'heave' keep the bike on the floor.
I have seen it done this way in a few LBS's.
My own LBS clamps to seat post with a Ritchey Torquekey fabricated into the clamp mechanism somehow. They still have a BB clamping stand for heavy work though.Coach H. (Dont ask me for training advice - 'It's not about the bike')0 -
I still clamp on the top tube, but it is so lightly clamped that your hand has more pressure, I do that for just general tasks that involve no pressure.
If I am building a new bike or doing something that involves heavy pressure then I clamp on the seat post.
Really it's just using your brain and not clamping stupidly or exerting force whilst in the clamp.0 -
Thanks for all the replies. Has given me a few options, including just selling my stand and not being so lazy!0
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Berk Bonebonce wrote:Never put anything carbon in a workshop clamp. And sell your workstand.
Imagine if they started building cars from carbon fibre, it would be madness!0 -
Nuggs wrote:Berk Bonebonce wrote:Never put anything carbon in a workshop clamp. And sell your workstand.
Imagine if they started building cars from carbon fibre, it would be madness!
There really is a case for erring on the side of caution as CF tubing can easily suffer compression damage - this is exactly why a lot of pro teams now use the clampless version of the Tacx Spider workshop stand. And as for fitting an alloy seatpost each time you want your bike elevated a few feet off the ground is a waste of time.
I think too many on here are perhaps somewhat fixated with the idea of a 'home workshop' and a fancy workshop stand. Getting on your hands and knees every once in a while works better in the case of the one or two bike owning cyclist.0