The Park PCS4.1 Deluxe Home Mechanic Workstand. I love that Blue! Shame about the scratches and dinks... |
The part that allows your bike to be rotated through 360 degrees at a range of heights. |
There are eccentric hard rubber "feet" that can be rotated so as to compensate for uneven floors |
The difference between the substantial, heavy duty"shop quality" 1003 clamp and others like my Lidl below right, is immediately apparent - your local bike shop has probably got one |
The Lidl offers a lot less flexibility when positioning the bike; whilst it can hold a maximum of 30kg, you have to position the bike according to its centre of gravity, if you don't, the bike falls back to it...
But what did you expect for £30? It's still a great entry model, I'm glad I bought it and can commend it.
The next ones up start from £80 or so. They tend to have quite a low weight capacity, say less than 20kg, and whilst offering greater choice in positioning, the clamp is on the simple, crude side. Park themselves do budget models - the PCS9 & 10. The 10 has a better clamp that makes it look particularly attractive for £110-150, depending on where you buy it. It also has the same 45kg load capacity - well above most others particularly in this price bracket - a major plus point.
As most of my bikes are on the heavy side >20kg, especially the Gazelle, I wanted something that could comfortably accommodate this; if I was going to upgrade, I would do it properly...
Park Tool are a premium brand company making bike maintenance things. They've been around about 50 years. They do do a range of workstands to suit most budgets but most of their other products are professional quality and this is reflected in the price.
The Park PCS4.1 is for the hobbyist, but has what Park calls a "shop quality" clamp, the 1003C that they claim is found in more bike shops than any other. I've certainly seen a few in some that I've visited. It has a heavy, cast aluminium clamp with powerful jaws, the capacity of this workstand, provided you keep the bike centred over the two legs is 45kg. The jaws come with rubber inserts and a warning that they could damage the bike's frame if you aren't careful. I clamp my bikes by the seatpost so as to avoid this happening.
The two legs fold up for storage.
I'd had my eye on one of these for some time, but wasn't quite willing to part with the £275 or so recommended retail in the UK for awhile. In the US where they're made, they're roughly the same amount in dollars which works out a lot cheaper sterlingwise, but the postage charge to the UK bumps it up to pretty much the same in pounds...
Some places on Amazon were selling for £220 and I was all but ready to buy at this price until I saw it going for £182 at Singletrack bikes in Scotland. I snapped it up! Sure I've seen some vendors on the 'net selling just the clamp for that!
Park Tool official site
Alternatives - I haven't seen any of these up close, but I'm sure they'll meet your needs and there's plenty of reviews on the internet - try Bike Radar.
Feedback Sports. Some pretty nifty stuff here...looks like they fold up real compact and come with a bag.