| Most people would like to be able to fix things on their own when they break since it's cheaper that way and gives you the satisfaction of doing the job yourself. Some things may be harder to fix on your own than others such as your car or maybe your computer. If you are a serious mountain biker then you really should know how to do the basics when it comes to repairs and maintenance. But being able to do these repairs requires the right tools to go along with the right skills. And one tool that really helps make these repairs go smoother is a bike repair stand. |
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Park Tool PCS-10 Bike Stand Pictures:
Bike repair stands allow you to get your bike off the ground and adjust it to a level that's easier to work on as well as get the wheels off the ground making them easier to take off and spin while troubleshooting or testing your fix. These stands allow you to position the bike at several different heights and angles by clamping on to the bike on places such as the seat post or frame.
There are several manufactures of bike stands out there but one of the more popular is Park Tool who also make other bike repair products. They have several models of bike stands to choose from but one of the more popular and affordable models is the PCS-10 which will cost you around $160-190 depending on where you buy it.
Here are the main features of the Park Tool PCS-10 bike repair stand:
- Replaceable clamp jaws that accommodate tubes 7/8" to 3" with fully adjustable clamping pressure.
- Quick release height adjustment (39" to 57")
- Folds to 41" for storage and easy transport
- Stable 3 point leg system with reinforced center yoke
- 360 degree clamp rotation
- Spring activated buttons that lock the legs in place
- Integrated Receiver pod accessory system
- Weighs in at 25 lbs.
As for performance, the PCS-10 is a pretty nice stand and feels solid and seems like it can stand up to some abuse. The clamp holds in the bike in place with confidence and adjustments are easy to make on the fly. It uses a 3 point stand with legs that fold out and lock into place making for a stable work environment. For the most part the legs stay out of the way and you are not tripping over them. The stand has an adjustable height as well making it easy to get to the part of the bike you are working on. When making the height adjustments you may want to set it up before putting the bike on the stand since making height adjustments when the bike is clamped on may prove difficult. On the other hand, making the clamp position adjustments with the bike in place is fairly easy. Even on a bike with more of a downhill frame you can still clamp it on to the frame and make it work.
We really like how you can fold up the stand when not in use and place it in the corner otherwise it would always be in the way unless you had a large work area where you could keep it out all the time. After you get used to folding it up you can have it put away in about 30 seconds. Even when folded up it’s a little bulky thanks to the weight so carrying it around with you may not be too convenient but you should be able to manage if you need to take it on the road. Putting the stand together was a bit of a challenge thanks to the lacking instructions but once you see how it goes together you will wonder why you had an issue, assuming you do.
Overall the PCS-10 is a nice bike repair stand for home use and even for use at your shop since it holds the bike secure, has some nice adjustments and is reasonably affordable.
