Gege-Bubu

I would like to buy a good bike repair stand. I don't want to spend more than $100 for it, but will consider it.

I will use it for maintenance of my existing aluminum bike and later this year for building new carbon bike.

From what I read, good stand means good clamp. I do not mind to build the stand myself with pipes, and add a clamp to it.

Any advise will be appreciated!!!!

FrenchFit 

There are many fans of the Park PCS-10 on this board, I have one and am very satisifed. I think they are $140 all in at Amazon. The bench mount clamp itself is under $100, PCS-12.

Doane

For light adjustments and repairs, I use my car rack that was about $50 It has two clamps and the one furthest out from the tire allows me to operate the crank, etc. Obviously not a replacement for a bike work stand, but functional and very useful if you are on a trip with your bike.

jyl

I built a stand with black iron pipe and pipe clamps, per the various instructions found on the internet. It is disappointing and I'm going to get an inexpensive Park stand. Here's why:
- The pipe clamp can't be closed quickly. You have to hold the bike up, positioned in the wood clamping blocks, while you screw the clamp closed. Meanwhile the two halves of the pipe clamp can get turned out of alignment. It is a pain.
- For an aluminum bike and especially a carbon bike, you want to clamp the seatpost, not the frame. Unless you have quite a bit of post exposed, it gets even fiddlier to position the post in the clamping blocks.
- It'll cost $40-50 for the pipe, fittings, clamp, etc to make the thing. That was money basically wasted.

himespau 

Often you can still find a park PCS-9 for around $100. I've thought about going that way. Those $40 stands on ebay look very tempting, but I bet they're pretty much single use then disposable.

I've been trolling my craigslist for a couple of months, but haven't seen a good one come up for an affordable price yet.

jyl

In the meantime, you can hang some hooks from the ceiling (e.g. garage rafters) and suspend the bike by the top tube or seat/bars. At least lets you spin everything.

CACycling

+1 I am a very satisfied PCS-10 owner. They are $135 w/ free S+H at Bike Island. IMHO, bite the bullet and get a good one now. If not, you'll be wanting to upgrade later.

Hendo252 

Or a rope thrown over the rafters/hooks.

I've used a rope since forever, and it is a quick/easy/cheap "good enough" solution. Nothing to store, and it sets up in seconds.

I originally started using the rope as a temporary, "until I can afford a real bike stand" but so far, it has done the job and so I've stuck with it.

-Tom in SoCal

echo

Feedback sports make very nice ones, I have the pro and love it.
https://feedbacksports.com/shop/Pro-C...tand-P4C1.aspx

wrk101

Think USED. Get a good brand, I prefer Park, as they stand behind their product even when you buy it used. Why build one when you can get a nice Park stand used for around $50 (if you look aggressively, $75 if not). It would be very hard to replicate the functionality of a Park stand with a home made unit.

bkaapcke

Ratcheting cargo tie downs and rafter hooks work really well. A bungee from a chainstay to an eyeplate set in the floor holds it all still. No clamp, clear access to both sides of the bike and ultra low cost. Works super with recumbents, too. bk

bobotech

I have never seen a used bike stand for under 130 dollars anywhere. A good one that is, not the junky ones that Harbor Freight sells.

Altbark

Yup, I was going to go with a work stand and decided to use the rope and hook thing from the rafters until I made my purchase. Works so well that I never bothered with the stand. Total cost to me - nothing.

I've noticed that more than a few of the LBS mechanics around here use a more elaborate version of this set-up in their shops. AL

consumes

i picked up a pcs-9 on amazon for $104 shipped to my door .... i love it

himespau 

Around here used stands (and truing stands, and trainers and lots of other bike accessories) appear to be bought, never used and then put up on craigslist a couple of years later for as much or more than they would cost new if you search around a little. People figure they didn't use them so they should be able to get all their cash back.

jyl

Same here. Wonder why the ad sits there for weeks or months . . .

aljohn

I've mentioned before that , in Europe, Aldi and Lidl stores usually sell a well made bike stand for £30,probably twice a year. I noticed someone was selling a new one on Ebay for more than that....! I bought one and I'm well pleased with it. Personally, I think that £30 should be as much as any stand should cost -they are a simple construction. Alternatives are rope from the ceiling, upside down on the floor or in a Black and Decker workstand, and for working on your gears then use your turbo trainer.

doctor j

PCS-9 here. Works well. No problems.

Gege-Bubu

Thanks everyone!
I have read all your posts carefully, and make up my mind....

I have never seen used bike stand for any price, actually, I have seen one, but almost at the same price as a new one. Probably because it works as new

Using a rope is probably a nice idea, but I am not sure if ropes will be that helpful when it's a time to build new bike. Besides, I have couple bikes for youngsters living with me, work on stand will be much faster, if let say I want to spend my time repairing their bikes, instead riding mine.

Feedback stands are little more than I want to spend.

Interestingly, only one mentioned DIY bike stand, but with negative experience.

Following CACycling's advise I bought PCS-10 from Bike Island for $135. I should get it by the end of the week. Thanks!

ratdog

Works when it's warm but try getting that into your apartment on the 5th floor on a winters day in the NE.

NCbiker

Go ahead and bite the bullet and get yourself a Park PCS-10, you won't regret it.

larwyn

That's probably a wise choice.

I have had extremely positive experience with my DIY repair stand. But if you do not have the welding skills and equipment as well as a well stocked scrap pile it would be cheaper to buy one of the portable stands even though they are less stable than the one I built.

Gege-Bubu

Already did

Gege-Bubu

Larry,
Wow, this is the best DIY stand I've seen. Amazing. Is the height adjustable?

PS. No, I do not have such skills.... I bet you ride faster too

larwyn

Thanks, my repair stand did turn out well.

I doubt that I ride faster than anybody. I spend more time working/playing in my shop than riding.