The 10 Best Bicycle Stands
Special Honors
Team Tejbrant Cycle This line of stands from Team Tejbrant — a street furniture manufacturer based in Sweden — is geared more toward businesses and outdoor public spaces than personal users. It offers everything from colorful arc stands to heavy-duty racks and massive vertical models that can hold several bikes at once. teamtejbrant.com
Vadolibero Domus This Italian designer crafts made-to-order bicycle storage solutions that also serve as functional and stylish furniture. The Domus is a shelving unit with a large illuminated display space for your prized machine, along with gear hooks, modular compartments for drawers, and a clothes rack shaped like a handlebar. It's crafted from birch wood with an oak or walnut veneer, while the wheel clamp that holds your bike in place is made of stainless steel. vadolibero.com
Editor's Notes
October 29, 2020:
While updating this list, we focused on models that make use of vertical storage space. This was partly because of their added efficiency, and partly because it's nice not to have to worry about getting dirt or tire scuffs on your floor. Our new #1 pick, the Delta Cycle Michelangelo, is a great example. The splay-legged construction lets it sit flush against a wall if need be, meaning it won't take up much room, and its arms can be moved to any height so that you can find the right placement for your bikes. The hooks can also adjust horizontally, and independently of one another, in order to accommodate a broad variety of sizes and styles. We also added the CyclingDeal Vertical Hanger, which has a wider profile than the Michelangelo, but compensates for that with a much higher weight capacity. It can support up to four bikes of up to 33 pounds each, with staggered holders that avoid the problem of handlebar interference between cycles that are stored side-by-side.
We did remove two standing racks from the list, namely the SportRack SR0012 and the Thule BSTK2. These models were extremely similar in design - in fact, they both appear to be manufactured by Thule - and both of them cost more and took up more floor space than the Michelangelo, while holding less weight than the CyclingDeal Hanger.
We also took out the Bikehand Rear Mount, which can't be used with many kinds of disc brakes, making its application somewhat limited. Its main selling point is its portability, but it's not actually all that much lighter or smaller than the Feedback Sports Rakk or the Bikehand Floor, and unlike those items it can't be folded down for storage. Similarly, we downgraded the Bike Nook Handstand since many customers reported that it doesn't work well with fenders or rear-mounted baskets. It still has some utility due to its small size and vertical storage capability, but it doesn't save as much floor space as a hanging rack since bikes have to be loaded horizontally.
The Bikehand Pro Mechanic is a decent budget repair stand, but it's pricier than the Yaheetech Workshop without offering significantly better functionality. We replaced it with the Park Tool PCS-10.2, which is much more sturdily built, and can hold even fairly heavy cycles like the increasingly popular e-bikes.
December 03, 2019:
Availability concerns led to the removal of the EZ Bike, and we eliminated the Racor PBS-2R due to a combination of reported quality issues, including a burdensome assembly process, shoddy hardware, and an inability to smoothly accommodate certain types of bikes.
We upgraded the Bikehand Pro Mechanic, noting that it allows the user to position the bicycle at multiple angles. This is especially helpful for those using it as a work stand to make repairs and adjust gears and other components.
Added two new models — the Bike Nook Handstand (a vertical mount) and the Hollywood Racks Single (a basic, one-piece floor stand). The former is quite useful as a space saver, though we made sure to mention that the process of loading the bike can require a bit of effort. The latter is basic, strong and affordable.
How To Choose A Bike Stand
Depending on what sort of bicycle you own and how you use it, you may need a very different bike stand than your Tour de France training neighbor.
Depending on what sort of bicycle you own and how you use it, you may need a very different bike stand than your Tour de France training neighbor. They would need a racing stand. These are designed with the thin, light frames of racing bikes in mind. The stands themselves are very light, have smaller clamps, and do not hold your bike by the seat post or frame tube, so as to reduce the risk of any damage to it as you work on it.
Another reason these stands are so light is that a bicycle racer needs to be able to carry them along on their rides, and since the overall weight on the bike impacts how quickly it can go, the rider cannot afford to bring a heavy stand. Racer bike stands usually fold up into a compact shape, and unfold quickly, too.
If you just ride for recreation, and you live in one of the cities hoping to boost their bike score, then you might have even more reason to brush off your old ride and tune it up. Hobby cyclists can use a home repair stand. Home repair stands typically have a very firm hold on your bicycle, and allow you to rotate it 360 degrees while working on it.
Some riders bring their bicycle into a professional shop for the advanced repairs, and only need a stand for minimal upkeep like pumping air in the tires and doing light cleaning. Those cyclists should look for a miniature stand. These simply hold a bicycle up. They usually do not rotate it or elevate it, but they take up a very small amount of space, and sometimes even fit in a backpack.
Additional Features To Think About
Even though racers don't want their bike stand clamping their ride at the seatpost or toptube, this type of stand has its benefits. For starters, seatpost clamping stands don't require the user to remove a bicycle wheel in order to do their work, making it easy to quickly get to work and get your bike back on the road. It also makes it simpler for the user to preview their bicycle's performance, before getting back on the road. On this type of stand, one can spin all of the pedals and wheels while the bike is mounted. These will also accommodate almost any style of bicycle, so they're ideal for a household that has a variety of bikes.
It also makes it simpler for the user to preview their bicycle's performance, before getting back on the road.
Axle/bottom bracket stands will offer the most stability when you're doing intensive repairs. You can put as much force on a tight bolt as you want with this stand, and the bike will not fall over. That being said, because these mount a bicycle at the axle, they do not fit all models. Once you have decided on what sort of mount works best for you, there are some extra features that can be helpful. Some stands come with a helpful tool tray that holds your wrenches and rags at arm level while you work. If you're particularly tall (which, studies find can affect your cycling performance) make sure your bike stand has extended height adjustability.
Some bike stands even double as an indoor workout tool, allowing you to attach your bike to them and ride it stationary in your home. This is a great feature for people who live in a climate that isn't conducive to much outdoor riding but don't want to miss out on the benefits of the activity.
Common Bicycle Repairs Every Cyclist Should Know
For major repairs, like a bent tube or broken chain, cyclists will probably need to go to a professional shop. But there are a few simple repairs that every cyclist should know, and be able to do on-the-go. A flat or leaky tire can not only slow a person down, but it can be dangerous, causing the rider to tip over or crash at high speeds. Being able to check the air pressure of a tire, and pump it up the appropriate amount, is easy with a good bike pump.
If you're an avid rider, you'll end up putting a lot of pressure on your seat post, handlebars and the stem of your bike. Over time, this can loosen the bolts that hold your machine together. Before long rides, it's important to check your bicycle for any loose bolts and to tighten them with a wrench. While you cannot control many of the causes of cycling accidents, you can at least be in control of your bicycle by making sure it is running properly before taking it out.
Another important safety consideration is the seat height; riding a bicycle too low or too high can be very dangerous. So it's important to know how to fix a stuck seat so you can adjust the height. If a seat will not budge, remove the bolt and collar and soak the entire thing in WD-40 overnight. The height adjustment should work properly when you reattach the seat the next day.