Best (style of) work stand

cyclingsheep

As the topic suggests I'm asking which type is best/preferred. Is it better to have one that clamps onto the seat post/top tube or the sort that rests on the bottom bracket with the front wheel off? I'm leaning towards the first option, the reason behind my thinking is that surely the later restricts work on the forks, headset, etc? Am I wrong?

declan1

I would love the BB resting type that swings around as they would be brilliant for cleaning. The clamp type are good for everything else but if you have a carbon frame and/or seatpost you'll need to clamp the seatpost (which you should do anyway) or replace the carbon seatpost with an alloy one temporarily.

rolf_f

cyclingsheep wrote:

I'm leaning towards the first option, the reason behind my thinking is that sure the later restricts work on the forks, headset, etc? Am I wrong?

Yes, you are wrong! The latter type (which I have) are a little more hassle to get the bike on (unless you have to do the seatpost swapping thing which will pretty much even out the hassle factor) but, once on, rather good. You have equal access to both sides of the bike and it is supported where you are likely to want to exert most force (ie BB). If you want to work on the forks, headset, you just clamp the frame on the rear dropout. If you want to work on headset and eg indexing, you might have to swap round but that takes moments.

I think the BB supporting stands are probably better overall in most respects other than price. But you (hopefully) only buy a stand once so you might as well make it the one you really want.

binkybike

I prefer the seatpost clamping type (although i have hardly tried that many BB resting stands, i have only used one!)

I have a Park Tool PCS 10, which means I can have the bike at any angle or even completely upside down and wide height range so I can work standing up or sitting down, great for cleaning or any type of maintenance. for someone who only does cleaning and indexing it is probably overkill.

giant_man

It depends how much work you are going to be doing around the BB area, most stands out there are similar ie clamps to the top tube type, but ones such as the Tacx Spider Team T3050 are better for BB work and they swivel.

mercia_man

I have both types but prefer the B/B supporting Tacx because it holds the bike more steadily so it doesn't wobble when you apply force. You leave the front wheel in place. It is held in place by two arms either side of the rim. I find the seat post clamping stand is not so stable, is more fiddly to attach and there is more risk of marking your bike. For bottom bracket and headset work I find it easier to put the bike on the ground and lean it against a wall rather than use either stand.

cyclingsheep

Thanks everyone for your replies. I hadn't even thought of turning the bike round to be able to work on the front if I was using a bottom bracket mounted sort (duh)

StillGoing

Rolf F wrote:

cyclingsheep wrote:

I'm leaning towards the first option, the reason behind my thinking is that sure the later restricts work on the forks, headset, etc? Am I wrong?

Yes, you are wrong! The latter type (which I have) are a little more hassle to get the bike on (unless you have to do the seatpost swapping thing which will pretty much even out the hassle factor) but, once on, rather good. You have equal access to both sides of the bike and it is supported where you are likely to want to exert most force (ie BB). If you want to work on the forks, headset, you just clamp the frame on the rear dropout. If you want to work on headset and eg indexing, you might have to swap round but that takes moments.

I think the BB supporting stands are probably better overall in most respects other than price. But you (hopefully) only buy a stand once so you might as well make it the one you really want.

Fully agree with the above. I previously had the top tube/seat post clamping type but it just didn't offer the same security for working on the bike. You also had to keep taking the bike on and off to get to each side. The BB holding type are simple to mount, are at a good height so I can stand or sit as I want to do my work, the stand swivels so I can get to whichever side I want without removing the bike and it folds away neatly when not required.

smoggysteve

http://www.cycle-basar.de/Werkzeug/Montagestaender/Tacx-T-3075-CycleMotion-Stand-Montagestaender.html

Expensive, but worth it.

mechanism

It was just the cost of the "team" stands that put me off otherwise I think I'd prefer one, and I take the wheels off for cleaning anyway. £30 for an Aldi/Lidl stand was too tempting compared to £135 for the Tacx T3050 for example.

rolf_f

SmoggySteve wrote:

http://www.cycle-basar.de/Werkzeug/Montagestaender/Tacx-T-3075-CycleMotion-Stand-Montagestaender.html

Expensive, but worth it.

Looks like you need quite a bit of space for it though. I have the Park BB mount stand (forget the number) - like most Park stuff it is decent quality, solid but expensive and not quite as good as Parks reputation would lead you to expect but it has served me well and I do make a lot of use of it. I would recommend it. The swivel base means I can get to either side easily and, inside the house, means I can get the light on the bike where I need it.

binkybike

Mercia Man wrote:

I have both types but prefer the B/B supporting Tacx because it holds the bike more steadily so it doesn't wobble when you apply force. You leave the front wheel in place. It is held in place by two arms either side of the rim. I find the seat post clamping stand is not so stable, is more fiddly to attach and there is more risk of marking your bike. For bottom bracket and headset work I find it easier to put the bike on the ground and lean it against a wall rather than use either stand.

I find my seatpost clamping one very stable i use it for every kind on maintenance except changing the bottom bracket bearings, which is just easier to do with the bike upside down. That being said I haven't used the Tacx stand you have ... I suspect it it isn't so much which type of stand you have but the quality of either type.

mercia_man

It's right that quality makes a difference. My seat post clamping stand is a Brill - cheap but flimsy. My Tackx is about 15 years old and is much more strongly constructed. It's virtually the same as the latest Tackx T3000 which costs around £82 from Wiggle etc so it's not that expensive and it folds up well for storage. The T3050 is even more secure because it clamps the fork dropouts but costs more and I suspect doesn't fold up so small.

cyclingsheep

Well I've gone for the Tacx Team Spider for ease of storage (shed is full of bikes, no room for maintenance stuff) and I have to say so far I couldn't be happier. It's very stable and seems well constructed and as others have said being able to swivel it makes cleaning very easy. Thanks for everyone's suggestions and help