Bicycle Repair
The ABC’s of Buying a Cycle Repair Stand
Anyone interested in doing home bicycle repair, maintenance and even general bike cleaning, will look into getting a good cycle repair stand sooner or later. I have read so many reviews from those who have used various types of stands in the process of doing my own research, probably read a few too many, but I learned some useful things in the process and I’ll condense my research into some short and simple tips on how to buy a good one without getting bewildered by the choices. I will also let you know my own personal choice.
There are four simple rules to follow when choosing a cycle work stand:
1. Don’t Buy Cheap!
When I say cheap, I mean around $40. Cheap stands are too risky. I’ve read too many reviews by people who have purchased a cheap bicycle stand and they are either not happy at all with their purchase because it is not very sturdy or they are managing with it but wishing for something better. If your budget is tight, wait until you can afford a good sturdy one. You definitely do NOT need a heavy duty shop cycle repair stand for home repiars, but you do need one that will hold your bike sturdy and strong while you work on it.
2. Choose Your Clamping Mechanism Wisely
The clamping mechanism is the part of the stand that is going to hold onto your bike and keep it elevated while you work on it. There are some repair stands that hold your bike by the bottom bracket, but then you can’t turn it upside down if you need to. I don’t recommend this style for most. The majority of home repair clamps will use either a screw in clamp or a cam-style clamp. With the screw in style, you need to hold your bike in place while you screw it shut. The cam-type clamp allows you to be super speed clamp man and clamp it shut with one swift clamping action. I prefer the cam-style clamp myself. Both the screw in and cam-style are adjustable so they can grip either the seapost or top tube of your bike. They should rotate your bike 360 degrees and be able to adjust to any height you need to hold your bike.
3. Brand Does Count
There are a number of cycle repair stand brands out there. Park Tool is the most well known out of all of them and I have yet to read a negative review from anyone using one of their stands. Even those who had chosen other brands often mention in their reviews that they would prefer a Park stand. I have also read positive reviews from other brands too, but personally I would stick with a Park Tool. I didn’t see a huge difference in price between Park and others, unless you go for the real cheap ones, but then remember rule number one. Very important.
4. Keep it Portable
Unless you run a bike shop, it’s not necessary to get a heavy duty non-portable stand. Home mechanic bike stands generally have a tripod base and can be both sturdy and portable at the same time. How portable you want it is up to you, but keep in mind that if you choose it too light, and therefore extremely portable, you will lose out on some stability. Look for a good middle ground between portability and stability. Portable stands can be folded up and put away when you are done or moved to another location without much difficulty.
I hope the above guide is helpful on what to look for in a good cycle repair stand. My personal pick is the Park Tool PCS-10 Mechanic Bike Repair Stand as it was one of the stands that had the most positive reviews in the right price range.
About the Author
For more information and pictures of a great cycle repair stand as well as a complete review of the popular Park Tool PCS-10 Home Mechanic Repair Stand.
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