A bicycle repair stand can really be a godsend. Like the vast majority of bike riders, I do some minor repairs on my bikes and for years I was doing it the hard way. I was either bent over or I had my bike upside down so that I could turn the pedals and spin the wheels.
It's really not a good idea to turn your bike upside down to work on it since you can damage the seat and handlebars and, when cleaning, you can get water or cleaner in the headstock and wash out the lubricant. Check out my article on
bicycle cleaning.
At first blush bicycle cleaning seems like a no-brainer but there are some tricks that can save you headaches down the road.
Also, you need to turn the pedals to clean the chain and sprockets so a repair stand is the perfect solution. Any maintenance that you need to is so much easier with a stand.
I finally listened to my aching back and got a good stand. It makes a huge difference and makes tinkering with my bikes fun. And they are so easy to use relatively inexpensive. Most stands have an optional tool tray so you can even keep your tools within easy reach.
Even for routine cleaning you can move your bike outside so your aren't dripping cleaner on the floor. Just make sure you use an environmentally safe cleaner. This is especially true if you are cleaning the chain.
Bike repair stands are light weight and collapsible so storage is no problem. I even keep mine in the trunk of my car so I have it with me when I transport my bike.
If you do elect to get a repair stand it is well worth it to spend a few dollars more to get a tool tray if it is not already included. It's not only a back and step saver, it helps to keep you from losing parts.
There are other options to a bicycle repair stand like bench mounted, or wall mounted repair clamps. They aren’t portable, and the vertical height is fixed, but they are simple and effective.
In a pinch,a bicycle hitch rack or a spare tire bicycle rack can sometimes serve as a make-do repair stand.
A bicycle repair stand can really be a godsend. Like the vast majority of bike riders, I do some minor repairs on my bikes and for years I was doing it the hard way. I was either bent over or I had my bike upside down so that I could turn the pedals and spin the wheels.
