Work stand - do you get what you pay for ?

andyboyce

I am looking for a bike work stand and see that on the online bike shops they range from about £75 up to £200.

I only want to do some basic maintenance and cleaning to my carbon bike and wondered if the below on eBay at £17 would be adequate..

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HOME-MECHANIC ... _953wt_689

Man thanks.

BillyMansell

£17 is for the bench mounted version. The floorstanding version is nearer £34 and is exactly the same as the one available from Thursday at Lidl for £30.

I would'nt go for the wall or bench mounted versions - the brackets don't look particularly substantial plus you'll have to keep turning the bike around to get at both sides. I've had one of the floorstanding models for a couple of years now and whilst it's not the best there is for £30 what would you expect. A few simple and inexpensive modifications to the joints and barrel nut improves it a lot but for convenience I would still prefer a lever instead of a thumbwheel on the clamp.

giant_man

I doubt if you get much for 30 quid too! The clamp on the 17 quid one doesn't look very sturdy, would probably be the first thing to go.

andyboyce

Maybe this one....somewhere in the middle of the price range.....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HOME-MECHANIC ... _953wt_689

team47b

I have one of these, I would recommend it, well made, wont tip over, the base can't collapse in use, quick release to fold away.

About £55 from these people, maybe search elsewhere for better price...


http://www.rutlandcycling.com/32634/Ral ... n=pid32634

nochekmate

The workstand that I bought from Ribble a couple of years back for £50 or so is just the job for basic maintenance.

andyboyce

I bought. This one from Wiggle, looks like a great deal at £40 Elite Spindoctor Essential Workstand

JustinLeeAtkinson

That looks a good price, unusual for Wiggle...

Just posted on another thread, this is from Sheldon Brown about clamping carbon:

The clamp can crush a carbon-fiber tube -- a couple of thousand dollars' loss with one dull, hollow "crack". Clamp the bicycle by the seat post instead. If the seat post is also of carbon fiber, replace it with a metal one before lifting the bicycle onto the work stand.

The Elite workstand gets around this I presume by clamping the botton bracket area.

andyboyce

Many thanks, great advice ! I ordered it on Saturday and it was here this morning....good old reliable Wiggle !

redvision

andyboyce wrote:

Many thanks, great advice ! I ordered it on Saturday and it was here this morning....good old reliable Wiggle !

how do you find it?
is it sturdy? worth the money?

andyboyce

Here it is...I set it up yesterday and it's great. I bought it at the weekend so got an extra 10% off..
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/elite-spindocto ... ampaign=uk

JustinLeeAtkinson

I had a look at them on wiggle, and noticed that it got a few negative reviews, mainly because the bottom bracket clamp doesn't fit bikes with larger BB areas, such as those found on a lot of carbon frames.

andyboyce

I have a Specialised Roubaix Carbon and it works fine. Admitidly you need to jiggle it around a bit, but it seems fine to me.

ShutUpLegs

ilm_zero7

push the boat out and get the Park Tools one - it is heavy but the most stable I have seen

andyboyce

Unfortunately, after thinking I had got a good deal here....the old analargy of 'you get what you pay for' has come to bite me. The bike seemed to fit fine, but when I went to spin the cranks I found that the crank arm was hitting the screw adjuster. As per the reviews, the problem is that this is not suitable for bike with a large BB as it does not fit flush in the holding cradle which means that it is out of position.

Wiggle were great (as usual) and offered a full refund.

I am now looking at the Park Tool Home Mechanic Repair Stand on Amazon at £69.99. Does anyone have any experience/ feedback on it please ?? I think I would prefer to clamp the seat post rather than frame and not sure if this would be suitable.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Park-Tool-Mecha ... roduct_top

andyboyce

Just found this http://www.rutlandcycling.com/42505/Ult ... fAodr2n6WA

Wondered if anyone knew how this compred to the park...a bit cheaper too

Welsh_Wizard

Lidl are still offering their stands for £30. I bought one yesterday and it's excellent quality.

I found that stores in more socially deprived areas still have stands in stock. I'm working on the thought that the mass of youth in the area tend to steal the bikes rather than fix them.

smidsy

I did not realise Lidl had extended their offer to non socially deprived areas 8)

wishitwasallflat

+1 get the LIDL one if you can find one they are excellent (value and they work)

Bar Shaker

This is the Rayleigh one. I bought it from Ribble for £54.

Very stable, the clamp rotates to any angle and it all folds up so small you could put it in a wellie. Perfect for a bit of cleaning or maintenance/fettling.

mikenetic

andyboyce wrote:

I am now looking at the Park Tool Home Mechanic Repair Stand on Amazon at £69.99. Does anyone have any experience/ feedback on it please ?? I think I would prefer to clamp the seat post rather than frame and not sure if this would be suitable.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Park-Tool-Mecha ... roduct_top

Yes I do, and I think they're poor. I did a C&G level 2 mechanics course, and these were the provided stands. Theres a problem with the interface between the legs and the upright. It's not that secure and we had problems with the stands wobbling about once they were loaded with bikes.

Also, the height adjustment is a PITA.

At home I have one of these. http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fee ... n-ec011372

I've found it very good, easy to fold, and easily capable of handling a Pashley Roadster or a Specialized Roubaix.

andyboyce

£120 though...ouch...the Raleigh one is looking good, no ??