Work/Repair Stand: Park vs. Ultimate
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Anton posted 11 weeks ago.
Here's mine:
http://www.parktool.com/products/detail.asp?cat=23&item=PCS%2D4
It's great. Had it for 5 years and never had a problem...holds bikes super well...easy to schlep around.
I vote Park!
"What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?" - Vincent Van Gogh
My Blog: http://anton.trifuel.net
119
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243 days
ryanweeg posted 11 weeks ago.
I have that Park Tool stand. Got it a little less than a year ago and has worked fine for everything. It is a heavy sucker but it works great. Too bad both my road bikes (a P2C and a Soloist) have aero shaped seatposts. I will rest the top tubes in the clamp sideways but would have prefered getting the Park Tool stand where you take the front wheel off, clamp the fork in, and strap the rear wheel down.
I do all my own work, builds, etc. so my stand gets used alot. I also have a couple mountain bikes, and help the neighbors out with stuff (heavy beach cruisers) so the thing is portly and definitely sturdy. I would recommend the stand for sure, and am guessing its a bit less expensive than the Ultimate.
"If one can stick to the training throughout many long years, that willpower is no longer a problem. It's Raining? That doesn't matter. I am tired? That's beside the point. It's simply just that I have to."
-Emil Zatopek
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ryanweeg posted 11 weeks ago.
Sorry, just checked the prices...and my guess was wrong. But I would still recommend the Park, after experimenting with a few and using a different ultimate, I would venture a prediction that the Park Tool stand (any of them) will outlast one made by Ultimate. Clamping will be much more reliable.
"If one can stick to the training throughout many long years, that willpower is no longer a problem. It's Raining? That doesn't matter. I am tired? That's beside the point. It's simply just that I have to."
-Emil Zatopek
727
Member
450 days
theShiba posted 11 weeks ago.
Thanks guys... I think that the Park is only like $10 more than the Ultimate, but I have a 15% off coupon, so I think that more than makes up for it. I figure I'm going to have it a long time, so I might as well do it right. I don't want to have the clamp-in fork one, because I'd like to be able to do some front-end work as well, and not have to take the wheel off. It can be a pain to adjust brakes and stuff, especially since I do most of the work by myself, and there's nobody to hold the bike for me.
The clamp on the Park also looks much beefier, and I think that plus the added weight and your guys' recommendations is enough to steer me in that direction. I'm going to call REI right now, and put it on hold...
Thanks!
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368 days
callco posted 11 weeks ago.
I really like to work on bikes, and I'm the de facto neighborhood repair man, so I picked up a stand. I bought the Ultimate. Love it. No problems. Super stable. I have four boys (ages 1.5 - 8) who are constantly playing in the same vicinity as the bike stand (typically with a bike in it) and they haven't been able to tip it. Not even close. I've had it for less than a year, so I can't speak to longevity.
Although I looked at the Park, I've never used it. I made my decision primarily based on reputation, price, and weight.
Recognize that the Ultimate offers more ways to move the bike around after it's on the stand. The Park is stuck at a fixed position. That is admitedly a minor issue, but every now and then it's nice to be able to swing the bike around without moving the stand itself.
119
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243 days
ryanweeg posted 11 weeks ago.
callco wrote:
The Park is stuck at a fixed position. That is admitedly a minor issue, but every now and then it's nice to be able to swing the bike around without moving the stand itself.
Don't really know what you mean by this. I can swing my bikes around enough to get at stuff, and it rotates itself around nicely. It doesnt do a complete 360 degree turnaround but I like to consider myself somewhat "mobile" when I work on stuff and don't mind moving around some.
"If one can stick to the training throughout many long years, that willpower is no longer a problem. It's Raining? That doesn't matter. I am tired? That's beside the point. It's simply just that I have to."
-Emil Zatopek
85
Member
368 days
callco posted 11 weeks ago.
ryanweeg wrote:
callco wrote:The Park is stuck at a fixed position. That is admitedly a minor issue, but every now and then it's nice to be able to swing the bike around without moving the stand itself.Don't really know what you mean by this. I can swing my bikes around enough to get at stuff, and it rotates itself around nicely. It doesnt do a complete 360 degree turnaround but I like to consider myself somewhat "mobile" when I work on stuff and don't mind moving around some.
The Ultimate is supported by an equilateral triangle with a post that extends from the center of the triangle. Its post is vertical. These two characteristics make it so the mechanic can swing the bike anywhere (360 degrees).
Like I said, minor point.
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914 days
fpugsley posted 11 weeks ago.
I have the ultimate one and it is GREAT. The clamp is super reliable and holds well with minimal pressure (good for my carbon seat post). The only thing is that the little plastic collar where the two height adjustment tubes meet on the vertical portion cracked one time. I replaced it, but I wish i would have gone with the more expensive Ultimate stand with the metal height adjustment clamp.
I agree with callco. its nice to be able to spin the bike around like a merry go round to get it out of the way. I use the stand to hang my bike from when i am not riding.
727
Member
450 days
theShiba posted 11 weeks ago.
Well, got the Park stand, and I'm really happy with it. It rotates enough for my needs, and I like the weight of it. I looked at the Ultimate, and like most of their other products (I'm thinking speaker stands) there is just too much plastic. Plastic and I don't get along, especially when there is a tension screw involved. Because I usually end up over-tightening it, and it breaks.
The Park has little pop-out metal buttons that snap the legs into place, and nice bike-type quick release levers for angle, and height adjustment. I had several bikes in all kinds of crazy positions, and it held well, and was very useful... All the bikes got a nice derailleur tuneup last night...
Ok, so I finally decided that it's time to get a stand to make it easier to work on the bikes. I do almost all the maintenance on our bikes (except for wheel truing).
It's pretty much come down to the Ultimate Sport
and the Park Home Mechanic
Anyone have experience with either of them? I am leaning toward the Park because, although it looks less stable, it weighs like 10lbs more, and the review say that it is pretty stable. I would like to be able to take it with me on trips, and honestly, 9lbs isn't a make-or-break it deal for me... I'd rather have something more sturdy than more "portable"... as if 22lbs is impossible to pick up or something.