Inexpensive Work Stand Needed

[Maximus Ram]

So I did a search here and came up with nothing. So what is everyone using to hold and work on your bicycle ?
I have googled stands and found a few..also found some on e-bay, but am curious as to what the innovative folks here on ExPo use. I have even seen plans for home built, but can't seem to find the clamps they use at my local home improvement stores./

So what do you use ?


Thanks,
Matt

 

[Christophe Noel]

In the late 80s and early 90s I worked for a couple of the most well respected bike shops in the business. At both of those shops we had proper work stands, but most of us used rope hangs. Two ropes suspended from the ceiling. One to the seat post, one to the stem. Sounds lame, I know, but I've seen the best mechanics in the biz prefer this. I know I do. I use webbing as it's softer on fancy bits. Costs less than $10 as long as you have the most important part - a ceiling.

 

[4xdog]

I use a toe strap looped over a water pipe running across the ceiling of my basement. I hang my bikes from the nose of the saddle to work on them.

The bike stays quite well balanced with or without the wheels on. Lets me have 360° rotation and the ability to turn the cranks, spin both wheels, and test front and rear brakes.

Couldn't work better for me. I've used the same system for over 30 years. Total cost -- about a buck.

Don

 

[Maximus Ram]

Interesting...never heard of hanging a bike to work on it.
Unfortunately, the garage really doesn't have room to hang anything (else ) in it.
I'm thinking of something in the way of being able to clamp it to an outside bench or even off of a hitch bike carrier.
I've tried the carrier itself, but it's no good for holding my daughters Schwinn Breeze.

 

[Caoboy]

A little ingenuity, and you can build one out of pvc

 

[keezer37]

I take it you're familiar with Park's bench and wall mount clamps? I believe they sell for $100 or less.

http://www.parktool.com/category/bench-wall-mount-stands

I use a homemade mount for my carrier but I'm figuring you don't have the room for it. It is adequate for maintenance and works for storing the carrier/bike.

 

[FreeManDan]

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200419669_200419669?cm_ite=193023&cm_pla=Go-Karts,%20Electric%20Bikes%20+%20Scooters%3EBike%20Repair%20Stands&cm_cat=Google&cm_ven=Aggregates
I don't have any first hand experience with it, but there is a northern tool store a few miles south of me, maybe I'll look and see if it can be found in store...

 

[kjp1969]

I use either the hitch mounted bike rack or my own version of the rope stand- a cam type tie down strap. If nothing else, hang it from the garage door- the one you opened to get into the garage!

I also made one once that was simply a 2x4 screwed to the workbench and hanging out into space, plus a couple of cleats that kept the bike top tube from sliding off.

 

[Pedro]

I have had this one for about 6 years: http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_184105_-1_201538_10000_202588

It pretty much folds up and you can put it away in a corner. But I use mine for storage as well as working.

 

[Corey]

In the late 80s and early 90s I worked for a couple of the most well respected bike shops in the business. At both of those shops we had proper work stands, but most of us used rope hangs. Two ropes suspended from the ceiling. One to the seat post, one to the stem. Sounds lame, I know, but I've seen the best mechanics in the biz prefer this. I know I do. I use webbing as it's softer on fancy bits. Costs less than $10 as long as you have the most important part - a ceiling.

You mean like this ghetto setup?

I bought a nice new stand a few years back when I bought my new mountain bike.
I use to have a Park stand, but I gave it to my X's husband to use to tune their bikes.

I now use a Topeak PrepStand Pro.
Sets up easily on my deck outside for when I need to clean/lube the chain, and do other work to it.

I got it for around $200 though, not the high price that the site shows.

 

[Christophe Noel]

You mean like this ghetto setup?.

Sorta. We used two virtical ropes dropped from the ceiling. One to the stem. One to the seat.

 

[Corey]

Looks like homeboy did not get the memo about the second rope.
Never seen this done before.
All the shops I have used in the past had big stands with a huge base to prevent fallover.

 

[Hilldweller]

I think it's important to seek the advice of internet ExPo vendors.

 

[Corey]

Ahhhh, I see I am famous again :sombrero:
Homeboy loves me, why else would he stalk me in threads over here all the time.

 

[slowtwitch]

Never seen this done before.
All the shops I have used in the past had big stands with a huge base to prevent fallover.

Neither had I till I went to Europe, where it seems to be common. Cheap, easy to move the 'stand' around, more floor space, no worries about over clamping on carbon, messing up paint, pulling out more seat post, etc.

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