Compact workstand?

[Mick F]

I have a Park Tool PCS-9 stand and it's very good indeed.
It's big and heavy and very strong and stable. All good attributes of course.

https://www.parktool.com/en-int/product ... tand-pcs-9

The issue - for me at least - is that it's big and takes up a lot of floor-space. Difficult in a small workshop. Fine outside on the patio, but not when the weather is wet and awful - like today and yesterday.

I want a stand that I can carry easily, and is strong and stable enough and that I can use indoors in a small bungalow without having to move furniture!

Does such a thing exist?
Any recommendations?

[Jdsk]

Discussion of the ALDI workstand:
viewtopic.php?p=1797348#p1797348
https://www.aldi.co.uk/bike-assembly-st ... 9578216200

And LIDL have:
https://www.lidl.co.uk/p/crivit-bike-workstand/p497961

Jonathan

[DevonDamo]

Does such a thing exist?
Any recommendations?

I've got exactly the same stand as you, and I think it's the most compact you're going to get, because it folds down so nicely. (Edit: mine is actually the PCS-10, but the Park Tool website seems to show them folding down the same.) You're still going to have to move furniture to open the legs out and use it, but I can't see any way round this unless you're happy to start drilling holes in walls etc. to attach something like this: https://www.wiggle.com/p/lifeline-works ... lsrc=aw.ds

[Jdsk]

...unless you're happy to start drilling holes in walls etc. to attach something like this: https://www.wiggle.com/p/lifeline-works ... lsrc=aw.ds

That's interesting. Thanks.

And of course it could be mounted on a Workmate or similar.

Jonathan

[Mick F]

Thanks for the comments.
I've just Googled and found this from Evans.
Sounds like a click and collect from their Plymouth store.

Any comments on this one?

https://www.evanscycles.com/brand/fwe/c ... e=91250203

[Jdsk]

...
https://www.evanscycles.com/brand/fwe/c ... e=91250203

Does that allow rotation of the short arm around its long axis?

Jonathan

[Mick F]

The Park Tool doesn't.
If you loosen the stand to rotate it, it drops down "telescopically".
You'd have to take the weight of the bike plus the top half of the stand and clamp to turn it. Quite heavy a lift at chest height.

Anyway, I've never needed to do it, and `i wouldn't recommend it. Unless the bike is central to the stand legs, it would be in danger of tipping over.

Better to rotate the bike in the clamp.

[roubaixtuesday]

Thanks for the comments.
I've just Googled and found this from Evans.
Sounds like a click and collect from their Plymouth store.

Any comments on this one?

https://www.evanscycles.com/brand/fwe/c ... e=91250203

I used to have one, the plastic collar broke and they don't do spares.

Have just bought a Park one after its replacement from Rose also suffered.

The Park one is superior in clamping mechanism, rigidity and generally higher quality and more robust feel. Plus you can buy spares.

I don't think the footprint is that different either.

You could consider fixing one of these on a convenient wall, remove and cover with a picture when not in use?

https://www.parktool.com/en-int/product ... Wall+Mount

[Jdsk]

Mick F wrote: ↑14 Feb 2024, 10:59am
...
https://www.evanscycles.com/brand/fwe/c ... e=91250203
Does that allow rotation of the short arm around its long axis?

The Park Tool doesn't.
If you loosen the stand to rotate it, it drops down "telescopically".
You'd have to take the weight of the bike plus the top half of the stand and clamp to turn it. Quite heavy a lift at chest height.

Anyway, I've never needed to do it, and `i wouldn't recommend it. Unless the bike is central to the stand legs, it would be in danger of tipping over.

Better to rotate the bike in the clamp.

I was asking about the horizontal short arm that holds the clamp, not the long near-vertical telescopic support.

Jonathan

[Paulatic]

...
https://www.evanscycles.com/brand/fwe/c ... e=91250203

Does that allow rotation of the short arm around its long axis?

Jonathan

Are you asking, "will it clamp a seat tube"?
Then yes it does.

[Jdsk]

...
https://www.evanscycles.com/brand/fwe/c ... e=91250203

Does that allow rotation of the short arm around its long axis?

Are you asking, "will it clamp a seat tube"?
Then yes it does.

Yes, the movement about which I was asking is the one that would allow adjustment for angle of seat tube or other frame tube, And for rotation of the whole bike to get at difficult bits.

Jonathan

[slowster]

Park Tool and others offer clamp heads that mount to vertical and horizontal surfaces. Instead of mounting them to a permanent surface, they could be bolted to a demountable fixture.

For example, the PCS-12.2 below could be bolted to a couple of sheets of plywood (four holes in the bottom sheet to provide recesses for the bolts securing the clamp to the top sheet). Sheets of large enough length/width could be placed on a table and held in place with g clamps.

[Brucey]

if you are able to work in the same place indoors every time, it is worth considering a ceiling-mounted hoist. The hardware on the ceiling and wall need only be about the same as that required for a victorian clothes drier/airer. I suggest that the hoist terminates in two hooks, to which the bike-specific stuff is only fitted when the hoist is in use with a bike. The rest of the time, the hoist can look like (or even be) part of a clothes drier. Typically, the bike can be lifted/supported using a strap around the saddle, and a wire frame on the other cord, with two plastic-coated hooks for the handlebars; more than good enough for most workstand work, plus you might get some extra Brownie points for 'thoughtfully supplying a clothes airer' too, if you play your cards right.

[AndyK]

OK, a tricky one this, as I've used the Park Tool PCS-9 extensively in the past in a workshop and I hate the thing. I think it's vastly overrated. If Mick enjoys having a stand that falls over easily and doesn't allow you to swing the arm round, he may not appreciate my suggestions. However...

TacX Spider Prof. Rigid, stable with a proper tripod leg arrangement, not-too-heavy, versatile, folds up neatly apart from the fact that the arm doesn't fold down so you end up with an elongated L-shape. Easily-adjustable height, which is very handy: I raise it high for working on drivetrain or internal cable routing, while for bar tape work I can lower it right down so the front wheel rests on the floor while the frame is still firmly clamped, so everything stays level and stable. With lightweight bikes I can alter the height without removing the bike. Much, much, much easier to carry around than the PCS-9. I have one that I've been using for years and it's still in excellent condition. The current model as shown in my link looks a little different from mine, but the basics look the same. The tripod arrangement does make it a little more difficult to put up in a small space, but you can change how far you put the legs out (within reason) and unlike the Park Tool one, once it's up it's not tipping over. And one of the legs can easily stick out under a table. And being able to swing the arm round while it's holding the bike is a huge bonus when you're working in a confined space.

Topeak Prepstand Elite. Lighter and more foldable than the TacX and with similar features, but not as strong or robust. Has a tendency to bow slightly under heavy weight. Comes with a little toolbox built into the arm which immediately becomes useless if you rotate the arm so that the clamp is vertical. Also comes with a useful if flimsy carry bag. Again I've used one in a workshop, taking it to events and Doctor Bike sessions, and I'd say it's a much more versatile stand than the Park Tool stand; just a shame about that rigidity issue.

Feedback Sports workstands: A whole range of them with different degrees of portability. Not got one but it's on my wishlist (specifically the Ultralight). If you're really wedded to the stupid Park Tools falling-over type of stand, the Recreational Workstand 1.0 may be the one for you. Same "advantages" but lighter and packable.

None of these is cheap, but I feel the cheap ones are only suitable for very occasional light work, and I'm guessing that's not appropriate for Mick F.

[Paulatic]

+1 for what Brucey suggests. I’ve only got experience of an ALDI bike stand bought because others praised them and they aren’t much money.. I tried it , I binned it and went back to my rope from the ceiling. Leaves the floor clear nothing to trip over, and I usually have it at a height I can sit on a chair and work.