CF frame in a home workstand - best way to clamp?
#1
bill nyecycles
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Houston TX
Posts: 3,328
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 789 Post(s)
Liked 350 Times
in
190 Posts
CF frame in a home workstand - best way to clamp?
What's the best way to put your CF bike into your home workstand? I tried clamping it by the seat post, but there wasn't enough seatpost showing to clamp it. The seatpost is also CF, though.
I ended up clamping it lightly on the top tube - just enough to keep it from swinging, really. All I was doing was putting on some bottle cages and a saddle bag.
I hear horror stories about about clamping and crushing and whatnots - thanks for any info!
I have a Parktool PCS-10 stand.
Bike is a new Specialized Roubaix SL4 Sport.
I ended up clamping it lightly on the top tube - just enough to keep it from swinging, really. All I was doing was putting on some bottle cages and a saddle bag.
I hear horror stories about about clamping and crushing and whatnots - thanks for any info!
I have a Parktool PCS-10 stand.
Bike is a new Specialized Roubaix SL4 Sport.
#2
Not actually Tmonk
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 14,081
Bikes: road, track, mtb
Mentioned: 140 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2601 Post(s)
Liked 3,105 Times
in
1,641 Posts
I would just extend the seatpost so you had enough purchase to clamp on the post. You can clamp a CF post, and it's for sure lower liability than clamping your frame.
__________________
"Your beauty is an aeroplane;
so high, my heart cannot bear the strain." -A.C. Jobim, Triste
"Your beauty is an aeroplane;
so high, my heart cannot bear the strain." -A.C. Jobim, Triste
Likes For TMonk:
#3
FLIR Kitten to 0.05C
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Posts: 5,331
Bikes: Roadie: Seven Axiom Race Ti w/Chorus 11s. CX/Adventure: Carver Gravel Grinder w/ Di2
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2349 Post(s)
Liked 406 Times
in
254 Posts
What's the best way to put your CF bike into your home workstand? I tried clamping it by the seat post, but there wasn't enough seatpost showing to clamp it. The seatpost is also CF, though.
I ended up clamping it lightly on the top tube - just enough to keep it from swinging, really. All I was doing was putting on some bottle cages and a saddle bag.
I hear horror stories about about clamping and crushing and whatnots - thanks for any info!
I have a Parktool PCS-10 stand.
Bike is a new Specialized Roubaix SL4 Sport.
I ended up clamping it lightly on the top tube - just enough to keep it from swinging, really. All I was doing was putting on some bottle cages and a saddle bag.
I hear horror stories about about clamping and crushing and whatnots - thanks for any info!
I have a Parktool PCS-10 stand.
Bike is a new Specialized Roubaix SL4 Sport.
I really would not do what you're doing.
#4
Woman make me faster
Top tube is bad, much cheaper to replace a crushed seatpost. I use a stand that clamps front fork and frame is supported by BB.
Likes For FeltF2Tarmac:
#5
Mostly Harmless
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Chittenango, NY
Posts: 56,564
Bikes: Have two wheels
Mentioned: 169 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13694 Post(s)
Liked 4,518 Times
in
2,499 Posts
This.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Toronto, CANADA
Posts: 6,201
Bikes: ...a few.
Mentioned: 47 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2010 Post(s)
Liked 408 Times
in
234 Posts
I've read that you can buy a cheap alloy seatpost to use for this purpose. Just do do any sort of heavy duty wrenching work on it.
#7
Not actually Tmonk
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 14,081
Bikes: road, track, mtb
Mentioned: 140 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2601 Post(s)
Liked 3,105 Times
in
1,641 Posts
this is a good option too.
__________________
"Your beauty is an aeroplane;
so high, my heart cannot bear the strain." -A.C. Jobim, Triste
"Your beauty is an aeroplane;
so high, my heart cannot bear the strain." -A.C. Jobim, Triste
Likes For the sci guy:
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Bend Or.
Posts: 573
Bikes: 2 TiSports and a Ho Ko E Koo
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 54 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
1 Post
I just clamp my bike lightly on the top tube, any heavy wrenching I would rather do with the bike on the floor.
#11
Not actually Tmonk
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 14,081
Bikes: road, track, mtb
Mentioned: 140 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2601 Post(s)
Liked 3,105 Times
in
1,641 Posts
^
that probably works too.
Really, anything BUT routinely putting a tight clamp on a CF Frame should work just fine.
that probably works too.
Really, anything BUT routinely putting a tight clamp on a CF Frame should work just fine.
__________________
"Your beauty is an aeroplane;
so high, my heart cannot bear the strain." -A.C. Jobim, Triste
"Your beauty is an aeroplane;
so high, my heart cannot bear the strain." -A.C. Jobim, Triste
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: SoCal
Posts: 6,496
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 276 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
3 Posts
I'd imagine it would be pretty hard to actually crush any tube on the frame with the force of a workstand clamp but I also clamp my bike by the seat post regardless of frame material
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 28,682
Bikes: 1990 Romic Reynolds 531 custom build, Merlin Works CR Ti custom build, super light Workswell 066 custom build
Mentioned: 109 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6556 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 58 Times
in
36 Posts
Perhaps a question of more interest is why your seat post has so little extension. Since most CF frames are compact design with sloping top tube, and you only need about 4 inches exposed for the clamp, that suggests the frame is considerably too large for you. Not a definitive conclusion, but that is my first guess.
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Toronto, CANADA
Posts: 6,201
Bikes: ...a few.
Mentioned: 47 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2010 Post(s)
Liked 408 Times
in
234 Posts
Perhaps a question of more interest is why your seat post has so little extension. Since most CF frames are compact design with sloping top tube, and you only need about 4 inches exposed for the clamp, that suggests the frame is considerably too large for you. Not a definitive conclusion, but that is my first guess.
#16
Advocatus Diaboli
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Wherever I am
Posts: 8,631
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4729 Post(s)
Liked 1,531 Times
in
1,002 Posts
I've never thought about this much before. I've always clamped on the seat tube, and my bikes are Ti with CF seatpost, and Steel with alloy seatpost.
This attached snapshot from the PCS10 PT video makes me cringe a bit.. Maybe it's just me, but I'd would never consider clamping on the seatpost if working on a bike clamped at this angle.
#17
FLIR Kitten to 0.05C
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Posts: 5,331
Bikes: Roadie: Seven Axiom Race Ti w/Chorus 11s. CX/Adventure: Carver Gravel Grinder w/ Di2
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2349 Post(s)
Liked 406 Times
in
254 Posts
Combine carelessness, with high mechanical advantage, add in some country boy biceps and you'd be amazed at what you can break. Had it happen at work yesterday.
#18
FLIR Kitten to 0.05C
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Posts: 5,331
Bikes: Roadie: Seven Axiom Race Ti w/Chorus 11s. CX/Adventure: Carver Gravel Grinder w/ Di2
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2349 Post(s)
Liked 406 Times
in
254 Posts
+1 I'd have to be surprised if carbon tubing is really too fragile to clamp in a bike stand that is made to service bikes. Wouldn't Park Tool for example be the first to have disclaimers? OTOH most ParkTool videos always show the seatpost being clamped. Are seatposts generally considered stronger tubing than the frames?
I've never thought about this much before. I've always clamped on the seat tube, and my bikes are Ti with CF seatpost, and Steel with alloy seatpost.
This attached snapshot from the PCS10 PT video makes me cringe a bit.. Maybe it's just me, but I'd would never consider clamping on the seatpost if working on a bike clamped at this angle.
I've never thought about this much before. I've always clamped on the seat tube, and my bikes are Ti with CF seatpost, and Steel with alloy seatpost.
This attached snapshot from the PCS10 PT video makes me cringe a bit.. Maybe it's just me, but I'd would never consider clamping on the seatpost if working on a bike clamped at this angle.
#19
Advocatus Diaboli
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Wherever I am
Posts: 8,631
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4729 Post(s)
Liked 1,531 Times
in
1,002 Posts
#20
Not actually Tmonk
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 14,081
Bikes: road, track, mtb
Mentioned: 140 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2601 Post(s)
Liked 3,105 Times
in
1,641 Posts
You're not going to crush a CF frame by clamping it hard, but you could induce some micro fractures that propagate over time.
__________________
"Your beauty is an aeroplane;
so high, my heart cannot bear the strain." -A.C. Jobim, Triste
"Your beauty is an aeroplane;
so high, my heart cannot bear the strain." -A.C. Jobim, Triste
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Very N and Very W Ohio Williams Co.
Posts: 2,458
Bikes: 2001 Trek Multitrack 7200, 2104 Fuji Sportif 1.5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I have a cheap amazon work stand, one of the $80 or so ones, I just cut down my clamp and the soft plastic end pieces to suit my Supersix Evo. I used a slide miter saw to cut the stuff, took all of ten minutes.
Bill
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 9,201
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1186 Post(s)
Liked 289 Times
in
177 Posts
Agree that seat posts are thicker and stronger than most tubes on a bike but seat post clamps are designed to provide uniform pressure on the seat post. Depending on the clamp you could end up with much higher pressure focussed on a small portion of the clamping surface.
#23
FLIR Kitten to 0.05C
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Posts: 5,331
Bikes: Roadie: Seven Axiom Race Ti w/Chorus 11s. CX/Adventure: Carver Gravel Grinder w/ Di2
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2349 Post(s)
Liked 406 Times
in
254 Posts
IMO, the extra 15 seconds of seatbag removal is worth it to use the post. Course I ride a Ti bike anyway
#24
Señor Blues
I don't clamp my CAAD 10 frame, especially the top tube. Don't want to do that, the top tube is very thin walled. I do, however, regularly clamp my CF seat post. If the seat post is designed to support 200+ lbs, I don't think it's really an issue to suspend an 18 lb bike from it. I try to keep the center of gravity of the suspended bike in line with the upright of the workstand, which is perpendicular to the floor in my case. I raise and lower the bike on the stand, depending on which part of the bike I'm working.
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 28,682
Bikes: 1990 Romic Reynolds 531 custom build, Merlin Works CR Ti custom build, super light Workswell 066 custom build
Mentioned: 109 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6556 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 58 Times
in
36 Posts
sci guy, when you are trying to clamp the seat post, and having trouble finding enough length for the clamp, are you aware you can safely clamp around the upper part of the seat tube where it extends above the top tube? Since the seat tube is supported by seat post inside it, you don't have to worry about crushing it there. On many bikes that will give you another inch or so of area to clamp onto.
Likes For rpenmanparker: