You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Hello, I need a new workstand and a track pump and I'd welcome recommendations or links to bargains please 🙂
Track pump: happy to spend a bit of cash if its worth it, and I will run tubeless if that's a consideration. My last track pump lasted 25 years, so hoping for another 25 years from the next one.
Workstand: Had a 50 quid special from Ebay that lasted about three years, so thinking of getting something better, but goodness me, stands can be expensive! Any recommendations most welcome. Are Feedback worth the cash? What about Park, are they still as good as they were?
TIA
There’s a review of Work stands in Mbuk this month - the value recommended options were from Decathlon and x Tools.
THe Park Tools stand didn’t score that well, but mostly on not being very portable and not quite as stable as stands with 3 legs.
For MTB and doing tubless the Leyzene Overdrive is superb. It is a high volume pump meaing it is for lower pressures, up to 60 psi. Pumps up high volume MTB tyres really quickly. The gauge is accurate (checked with digital shock pump) and easy to read too.
I got the Lifeline Professional track pump a week or so back on the recommendation of my brother who as had one for a year or so, being used almost daily and his is as good as new.
It's a nice bit of kit for 30quid.
FWE stand from Evans is worth a look for £50. Seems nice and sturdy to me and folds down nicely.
Topeak Joeblow for the pump.
And yes Feedback are worth the extra , have one now after two £50 specials and the difference is night and day.
I have a Park Tool home mechanic pump. They are less than £25 and I would recomend it
I have got a Lifeline Airblast track pump/tubeless inflator.
Used it for the first time last week to pop a 2Bliss Specialized tyre onto a non-tubeless DT Swiss rim. I was not expecting it to work, but it popped straight on with no fuss at all.
It's a bit bulkier than a normal track pump, but feels well made & should last a while.
Regarding workstands - I got one from Merlin years ago when it was reduced to £50. It's currently £70, but is available under various brands & quite often can be found for around £50.
FYI, steer clear of the lineline workstand, I have it and it sucks .
I splashed out on a feedback sprint and its ace. never a fan of clamping the bike at the seat post.
It is spot on if you have a fancy carbon frame
I had the Lidl Stand, found it hard to keep the bike level would always slip round and the jaws were not particularly strong.
I then had the Park tools PCS-9 which was ok but didn't fold up well and the rotation lock on the head was annoying as it was based on it wedging into the tube so you had to "crack it" ever time you wanted to adjust angle.
I now have the Feedback sports Sport mechanic stand, it's lighter than the two above, stronger and more stable than both of the above. All movements are easy, the adjusters nip up with little effort and the head is super easy to adjust and holds, it hasn't slipped on my at this point with all sorts of bikes mounted in it.
My bikes are Dartmoor shine, Airdrop Edit (15kg) and a Whyte Glencoe, they all fit really easily and never cause issues.
I am very happy with the feedback and would thoroughly recommend it.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Feedback-Sports-Mechanic-Repair-Stand/dp/B001F2S824
Really, really impressed with my Lezyne track pumo - it's a high volume MTB one and it seats tubeless tyres with zero isues.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/lezyne-classic-over-drive/rp-prod161911
Feedback Mechanic stand.
Just bough another for professional use.
APF
ive used most of the park range profesionally , a kestral and still i rate my feedback sports pro higher than any of them.
the sliding ratchet clamp is shit hot.
same clamp on the sport iirc just a heavier less transport friendly body.
I got a Joe Blow Mountain recently. They're about £30.
Really good - pushes lots of air and gauge runs up to 70psi so easy to read
Looked on [url= https://www.sportpursuit.com/join/DBrewster_19298 ]SportPursuit?[/url]
They have a couple of workstands half price, quite a few track pumps to choose from too.
I got a Boardman track pump for something like £30 and it's the best pump I've ever used by a million miles. It's narrow bore but that makes it so easy to pump that you don't mind doing more. Knocks Topeak etc for six.
Feedback all the way. various variations on a theme, I got one after review in ST and it's been braw.. taken it to events, rate it over the Park ones that are often there too.
track pump, last one is a Specialized one, pretty good, Topeka one eventually went after many many years and a refit, but LBS had the Speech one in on offer. can't fault it, either.
"got a Boardman track pump for something like £30 and it’s the best pump I’ve ever used by a million miles. It’s narrow bore but that makes it so easy to pump that you don’t mind doing more. Knocks Topeak etc for six"
Still running tubes I guess then
I have a nice Minoura which is getting a little tired, but I picked up a Lidl one to throw in the car and actually it's pretty excellent- a bit random in its operation but it works really well, I use it all the time now.
If you do or are thinking of tubeless then basically pump quality is secondary, the nicest pump in teh world will be rubbish if it only shifts small volumes of air (ie road style pumps). The Topeak Joe Blow Mountain isn't perfect but it's high volume and effective.
Only decent workstands on sports pursuit are the feedback ones and they look expensive on there.
Tried the X-tools/bikehand ones with the plastic clamp before and hated it. Then tried one that looks like the cheaper ones on SP and hated that. Ended up with a Feedback Sports Sport one (the black one) and it is excellent but I wish I had the top end red one with the sliding clamp. Kicking myself for not buying one the other year when halfords had them very cheap.
Feedback pro for me. I’m not too hot with bike mechanics but it was very cheap on eBay and unused. It really is as good as everyone says. The clamps is the dogs... definitely worth the money
Rennkompressor track pump from SKS You’ll never need another. Often on offer at about £40. Cheaper choice would be the yellow Topeak Joe Blow. In either case, upgrade to a Topeak SmartHead chuck.
We used a Feedback Pro Elite when I worked in the trade, and they lasted years of heavy use. I bought one myself in the end. Close to perfect.
Rennkompressor track pump from SKS You’ll never need another. Often on offer at about £40. Cheaper choice would be the yellow Topeak Joe Blow. In either case, upgrade to a Topeak SmartHead chuck.
I have a Rennkompressor - with the Topeak head too - and it's great for road / cross bikes. For mountain bikes I use it with a Fabric Accubar gauge as the SKS gauge is pretty much useless at lower pressures.
It's also not a great pump for tubeless. The Bontrager Flashcharger is brilliant for that, but the additional reservoir makes it less good for general use.
On the workshop stand front, I've got an old Minoura, which is reassuringly adjustable and solid and still going strong.
I’ve had the Specialized track pump for 10 years now. Still perfect.
I went for the Park work stand in the end. Brilliant-simple, bombproof, easy to work on the bike. Well worth the spends.
I have an Airshot for tubeless. I have a rennkompresor because the Topeak blew its internal valve at an indicated 140 psi with said Airshot. I set CX and mtb pressures on feel. Heel of hand across tyre and apply weight to see if you can reach the rim.
Will aource one of those Feedback stands now.
Tredz have the Freestyle stands for decent prices
Still running tubes I guess then
No, I have an Airshot.
Aldi cycle sale 30th September....
Good track pumps with gauges that actually work are expensive.
I accidentally found the perfect solution.
A £10 muddy fox track pump with a duel valve head (so will do Presta or shrada). The guage barely even works but it pumps well.
A £22 (if I recall correctly) digital guage (topeak D2) .
Does everything it needs to for less than £35.
I’ve got a joe blow that I’ve had for over 10 years and is still fantastic.
last year I bought a wall mounted bike stand from black dog bikes which I was really happy with as it was easily adjustable and didnt take up floor space and was a bargain at £20
(they have shut down their website and are now trading through amazon)
for big bike work that requires 360 access I have a minoura stand