Park Tool Co. PRS-5 Race

Price Paid:  $215.00 at Performance

Favorite Ride:
Lebanon Hills in Eagan, MN

Bike Setup:
Vista 5-speed with brown glittery banana seat, black sissy bar, monkey-hanger handle bars, Rear slick tire, and a stick shift! -- Oh wait, that was my ride when I was 10!

Summary:
If you're obsessed with cycling, then you need to have a repair stand. This is kind of a nice one. It's a little pricy, but it's worth it, because you're more likely to perform routine maintenance on your bike if you have one. It's foldable, so you can take it with you to the race or hide it in a closet. It's relatively easy to use, and despite the predominantly plastic parts, it does indeed hold a bike in virtually any position. Park also sells a rudimentary wheel-truing attachment for this stand for about $23. I would recommend this stand to anyone who wants or needs to maintain their bike on a regular basis, especially those who have a limited amount of shop space. I'm giving it a rating of 4 overall. I'd give it a 5, but I'm concerned about the long term durability of the plastic parts.

Strengths:
The clamp is solid and easy to use. Both the height and angle of the clamp are adjustable. It's foldable. You can attach a wheel truing device to it. It will facilitate working on your bike, so you're less likely to neglect routine maintenance.

Weaknesses:
Lightweight design reduces the stability of the stand. The plastic fittings increase the likelihood that this stand will not last forever. Sometimes, the lever that locks the rotational orientation of the clamp sticks, and tends to loosen-up the fixing bolt (Loctite sort of corrects this problem). It tends to sag slightly under load (You don't want to be snuggin' up the crank-arm bolts with your bike in this stand)

Similar Products Used:
Rope hung from floor joists, or turning bike upside down, bungy cords

Price Paid:  $0.00 at velocite bicycle spo

Favorite Ride:
the next one

Bike Setup:
colnago classic, chorus groupo, proton wheels, itm fibre handlebars, itm millenium carbon wrap stem, stella azzura seatpost.

Summary:
excellant! initially received the pedro's repair stand...nothing but problems w/that one.
returned and got the park stand. easy to set up, stable, well made. very adjustable-being short am able to work on my bike w/out a step ladder.
clamp is the best-easy to operate and secure. one weakness to be noted below.

Strengths:
adjustability, well made, great clamp, ease of use-folds w/out a problem.

Weaknesses:
clamp can scratch paint-I wrap the rubber part of clamp w/bubble wrap to minimize damage to bike paint job. (although colnagos are known for paint chipping-I don't want to contribute more to this problem than I have to!)

Similar Products Used:
pedros portable race stand

Price Paid:  $185.00 at www.greenfishsports.

Favorite Ride:
Love'm All

Bike Setup:
Road Bike, Ultegra, Ksyriums SSC

Summary:
Awesome! No regrets

Strengths:
Very user friendlt, fully adjustable, very portable.

Weaknesses:
none,

Similar Products Used:
none

Price Paid:  $180.00 at United Bicycle Tool

Favorite Ride:
Anything with no cars and big hills

Bike Setup:
Custom mix of Columbus Cyber and straight gauge cromoly TIG welded by yours truly, Shimano Ultegra group with Performance Forte brakes and DuraAce shifters, Speedplay pedals, 650C Open Pro rims on Mavic MR601 hubs, Hutchinson Krono Gold clinchers, Profile BRC fork, Salsa Moto Ace stem

Summary:
Relatively stable considering how light it is, clean construction and got it at a great price. Can't ask for much more in a stand that you can bring anywhere. Wish it was a little less expensive but can't complain considering its suggested retail price at other places. I think a tripod base would be more stable but I could see how it might take up more floor space. Will keep ya updated with any changes...

Strengths:
Sturdy, good height adjustability, portable, folds up in a bag, best clamp on the market.

Weaknesses:
Maybe a tripod leg system would be more stable?

Similar Products Used:
Park Professional