Review: 7 bicycle work stands compared
A repair stand makes working on your beloved bicycle(s) so much easier. We present you a selection of seven with all their pros and cons.
From simple tasks like switching a chain or adjusting the derailleur to more complex projects that involve the removal, exchange and re-mounting of many components, there is so much we can do and fix ourselves on our Road or Mountain Bike in our own little shop at home. Apart from good tools and good lighting, a quality work stand makes all the difference for the successful execution of your bike repair projects. A repair stand gives your bicycle a secure mounting at a convenient height and frees your two hands to do the actual work. There are many good stands with varying features on the market. I have reviewed clamp mount and bottom bracket mount repair stands from Park Tool, Feedback Sports, Contec, Elite and Tacx to make your choice a little easier.
Elite Workstand Race Pro
The initial impression of Elite’s three-legged bottom bracket mount Workstand Race Pro is very positive. Solidly built, premium craftsmanship, only a few plastic parts and still neither heavy nor bulky when folded for transport.
The Elite Race Pro: fully assembled, compact design, easy to transport.
The bottom bracket mount is very stable.
The Elite Race Pro is not compatible with thru-axles.
The unfolding mechanism and set-up is intuitive and fast, the stands sits very stable on the ground and is easily adjustable in height. The bottom bracket of the mounted bicycle sits well on the stand. There is a drawback though, the Workstand Race Pro is not compatible with thru axle forks.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 360° work radius | Not compatible with thru-axle forks |
| Foldable for transport | |
| Adjustable height and wheelbase | |
| Stable three-legged footing | |
| Solid aluminium frame | |
| Few plastic parts |
Tacx Spider Team
Tacx’s Spider Team bottom bracket mount work stand comes pre-assembled, but I still had to dedicate it a little time to attach several parts with the help of a well-written manual.
A stable and secure repair stand.
The Tacx arrives partially mounted.
The height is fully adjustable.
Although Tacx uses quite a bit of plastic for the fixtures of the Spider Team, they are of premium quality and should withstand long winter hours of tinkering with the bike. The variable feet on the three-legged stand make for a stable footing. The bottom bracket mount works really well in general, but could give the bike a little more stability for tasks that require lots of force.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 360° work radius | Unstable bottom bracket mount |
| Stable, variable three-legged footing | Many plastic parts |
| Compatible with all axles | Axle adapter switch is cumbersome |
| Solid, but lightweight aluminium build | Limited transportability |
| Adjustable height and wheelbase | |
| Functional trays |
Tacx Spider Prof
The Spider Prof is very similar to the Spider Team, but instead of a bottom bracket mount, the Prof features a clamp mount.
Adjusting the height is really easy.
Unboxing the Tacx clamp mount work stand.
Some aero seatposts just don’t fit.
It also come pre-assembled, but requires some final set-up. The steps are well documented in the manual. The lightweight aluminium repair stand is foldable, but still a little bulky, which makes transporting it in a small vehicle not practical. Again, Tacx uses some plastic parts, but they are of sturdy quality. Overall a very stable repair stand. The clamp itself is very solid, but will not be compatible with some aero seatposts.
| Pro | Cons |
|---|---|
| 360° work radius | Clamp not fit for some aero seatposts |
| Stable, variable three-legged footing | Many plastic parts |
| Compatible with all axles | Limited transportability |
| Solid, but lightweight aluminium built | |
| Adjustable height and wheelbase | |
| Many plastic fixtures can be bought separately |
Park Tool PCS-10
The clamp mount PCS-10 repair stand by American tool specialist Park Tool is a very solid piece of equipment made of solid, blue painted steel.
The height can be freely adjusted.
The Park Tool PCS-10 has to be assembled before you can use it.
The clamp is compatible with any kind of seatpost.
The two-legged base makes for a very solid footing.
The two-legged work aid arrives in a box and wants to be assembled by you. This takes a little time, but is not complicated. There are only a few, well-crafted plastic parts and the clamp allows for fine adjustment, which is great for carbon frames. The repair stand is very stable due to its build and the material used. No trills or add-ons apart from a tray that can be purchased separately if needed.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Solid, premium quality steel build | Requires final assembly |
| Stable footing | Two-legged footing problematic on uneven ground |
| Clamp is highly adjustable | Very heavy for transport |
| Adjustable height |
Contec Rock Steady
Not too different from the Park Tool stand, the Rock Steady clamp mount stand is made of aluminium and plastic instead of steel.
The Contec Rock Steady offers a lot of bang for the buck.
The clamp can be folded over for easy transport.
The Contec Rock Steady arrives fully mounted and ready to go.
The clamp is compatible with all types of seatposts.
It comes completely assembled and weighing in at 5 KG, it’s a great travel companion. The individual parts promise good quality and the 360° clamp mount, which is compatible with all kinds of seatposts can be operated by one hand. Its low price point and high functionality make it one of our bestsellers.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 360° clamp | One-hand operation of clamp takes a little practice |
| Completely foldable and lightweight for transport | |
| Robust aluminium and plastic frame | |
| A lot of bang for the buck | |
| Top Preis- / Leistungs-Verhältnis |
Feedback Sports Sport Mechanic
The Sport Mechanic is a real “plug & play” clamp mount repair stand on three-legs.
The Sport Mechanic has a stable footing and completely adjustable.
The Feedback Sports Sport Mechanic arrives fully mounted and ready to go.
The clamp mount is well designed and easy to operate.
The Sport Mechanic is compatible with any type of seatpost.
It arrives completely mounted and can be unfolded in a matter of seconds. Its low weight of only 5.7 KG make it ideal for travel and races. The handling is intuitive and easy, the height adjustable up to 1.65 metres.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Arrives fully assembled | Angle adjustment of the clamp arm difficult |
| Stable three-leg stand | |
| Fast setup in seconds | |
| Adjustable height | |
| Functional add-on available separately |
Feedback Sports Pro Elite
The Pro Elite clamp mount repair stand is the weapon choice for travelling race mechanics.
The Pro Elite leaves nothing to desire: complete adjustability and easy handling.
The Feedback Sports Pro Elite work stand is completely mounted and ready to go.
The Pro Elite work stand’s cast iron clamp is premium quality.
The Secure-Lock clamp mechanism is state-of-the-art.
The solid, large diameter, powder-coated tubing, stable three-legged base, thought-through features like the Secure-Lock clamp, low weight and easy set-up make this one of the best stands on the market. It arrives fully assembled and is ready for use. The setup and handling is very intuitive. The bc crew uses the Feedback Sports’ Pro Elite at the bc Trail Trophy and at many other cycling events
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Fully assembled | Angle adjustment of the clamp arm difficult |
| Stable base | |
| Secure-Lock Clamp | |
| Completely foldable, easy setup | |
| Lightweight | |
| Solid build, premium quality |
Now get to work
I hope my selection of clamp mount and bottom bracket mount work stands has provided you with a good overview to find the right one for your shop projects. It really depends on your type of bikes and the type of repair and maintenance projects that you will perform. There is a work stand for every use case.
