Bike repair stands: the good, the bad and the stable.

I use a PCS-9 and that's brilliant. Less than £80 if you shop around. It's foldable which is crucial for me when I pack up my tools and stand into my bike trailer and head to the market in Totnes for a bit of DoctorBike action on Saturdays. It's heavy duty enough for all jobs, including pedal removal, bb removal, etc.

Can't recommend that sealy one, the bike moves too much and I'm forever hitting the pedals on the clamp between the 2 vertical tubes. The park PCS10 I've got at home is hugely better.

These guys have the Park Tools PCS10 for £110, vs RRP £150
I've not used this supplier but have the stand and love it - heavy though !

http://www.fawkes-cycles.co.uk/6541/products/park-tool-pcs10-home-mechanic-repair-stand.aspx

It''s worth considering that after 10yrs hard use, you'll probably get 90% of your "investment" back when you eBay it. Lesser makes devalue a lot more IMHO.

Tacx CycleMotion Stand T3075

£71.96 delivered from ribble here -

Hey i work in a bike worksop in my lbs we use a park tool prs-20s-1 so know a good stand and at home i have one of the raleigh ones mentioned before and for a low price it as a great stand i have only had one issue of the clamp dropping but it was because i had not clamped it tight enough and has been going strong for about 4-5 years now highly reccomended !

After quite a bit of research I got one of these:

It's solid, easy to adjust and I like the fact it doesn't have too many legs to trip over. Folds up relatively compact too which is useful in a small flat.

It's sometimes Raleigh branded but is sold under other names too. I got mine from Rutland Cycling where they are currently £49.99 including delivery:
Raleigh Accessories Folding Workstand - Only £49.99 - Rutland Cycling

^^^ I have one of these. The legs are a pretty good design, but everything else is jokes.
The clamp has ><><><><><> shapes on the mechanism which means it is more than wobbly, should be NUNUNUNUNU if you get my drift.

Those decathlon ones the clamps are made from metal, but super low grade pot metal that shatters as you tighten the thing, seen many of those in skips before.
I would either get the £30 lidl one, or buy a £100+ park or pedros tools workshop stand,everything else in between is a waste of time.

Tacx CycleMotion Stand T3075

£71.96 delivered from ribble here -

Here's your winner.

I have an older version of this, it's probably 15 years old now and still super solid and secure. Ok it doesn't fold down super small, but small enough to throw into the corner of the garage or shed or room or whatever.

Most products from Park, including their stands, seem to be top quality. I have the PRS-25 which I am very happy with.

I use a water pipe below a ceiling and simply hook the saddle in. Not stable, but enough for easy stuff.
If force is needed: bike on floor, or vice.

Lidl have the stand back in stock.

Lidl have the stand back in stock.

Does anyone else have any opinions on the Lidl stand for occasional use (eg. once every week or two)?

I like some of their stuff, but some of it really is shite.

Don't imagine they'll be made from a good grade of metal.

Been doing some BB work with this:
and will be doing a lot more. Issues thus far: The strap included isn't adequate, so I've used a massive plastic re-useable zip tie which has been great for all but the most stubborn pieces. If you're over 5'9" I'd make sure to get a stool of some kind (not the potty type!).

Just got a Lidl model; will report back.

^ ditto. although I have nothing to compare it to, it is reassuringly heavy, and sturdy.

Can the Lidl one be bought online or do you have to go to one of their shops? And how do you know which shops have them in stock if that's the case?

Online, I don't think so.
If you check their website, it asks for your postcode so you can see what's on offer in your local store(s), but I don't think this'll tell you owt about stock levels, just whether or not a particular product has been delivered there.

Alternatively, give it an hour or so, and there'll probably be a load on Ebay.

Think I found a store that might have it in stock. Thanks!

When I was in Rome this year for Ciemmona my mate Piero who has just openned a bike shop had made his own bikestand use a clamp I think by BBB weleded to a scaffold pole then using scaffold poles fixed to the floor and ceiling see picture
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8144/7311181528_91789ffc21_z.jpg

Also pictures http://www.flickr.com/photos/funny_cyclist/7311177112 and here http://www.flickr.com/photos/funny_cyclist/7311179792

On the Lidl stands I bought 4 for the Hackney bike workshop they are rubbish last about three sessions.

On the Lidl stands I bought 4 for the Hackney bike workshop they are rubbish last about three sessions.

Which bit dies first out of interest?

Oh shit I just bought a lidl one, seemed quite sturdy when I assembled it in store.

where did they fail?

They have plastic nuts and clamps which stop working I guess if you use them for occasional home use they are fine but MG was talking about removing a BB on one that would defineately test to destruction.

The best I have found was on E-bay I will post which when I get access the Tacx stands are all good you have to be careful on e-bay though as the the bidding tends to go high.

Zebs

This one will fail on the clamp because it is plastic

http://www.tredz.co.uk/prodimg/45354_1_Zoom.jpg

I'll be using mine just for light jobs where it's an advantage having the elevation. I'd keep a bike on the ground for anything gruelling like fitting or removing a bottom bracket.

The main thing I'd like is to be able to pedal the bike while making transmission adjustments.