If you’re into cycling and have a Youtube account, you have probably come across many videos on making your own do-it-yourself bike stand. I am a massive fan of building things yourself and believe we all should spend time getting handy with tools as much as we can.
It’s a time consuming job to build your own bike stand, and we have to question sometimes, is it worth the trouble? In this article, we are going to tell you all about bike stands and if it is worth building your own or just buying one?
Why own a bike stand?
I recommend every cyclist to have a bike stand. They are vital to doing so much when it comes to your cycling and just make so many jobs much more straightforward. Not convinced yet? Here are all the reasons why you need a bike stand in your life.
Cleaning
Having a stand makes cleaning your bike so much easier. Firstly, you can get it to a height where it’s much easier to work on and save yourself a tight back and the uncomfortable feeling of leaning over constantly.
Secondly, it also lets us move the parts freely to get everything clean. A good example is your wheels. They can be such a pain to clean when they are on the floor, but in a stand, easy work. Lastly, you can remove parts as well without damaging your bike.
Maintenance
When bikes get used a lot, it’s expected that they will need more maintenance and a little bit of love. Having a stand makes life so much easier.
Keeping the bike nice and high, removing parts, and changing them without having an upside down bike is better for you and the bike. Jobs are quicker, and many stands even have tool trays to keep you organized.
How do we build our own stand
Building your own stand isn’t the most challenging task, and you can make it as straightforward or as complex as you want to. In my opinion, the best and most popular design I see is the counterbalance method shown above.
This is where we have two feet coming out facing the front with a support beam in the center and one leg out and upwards.
Building a DIY Bike Repair Stand Video
Create the Lower Support
Create your lower support to look like this. The two lower legs at a 90-degree angle outwards, slightly raised off the floor, attached to the upper leg with the supports in between.
Make the Bike Holder
Then you want to attach two boards to the sides to slot the bike seat post in between. After this, you will want to make sure that the edges are sanded down, it’s all stable and safe to use, and finally, it can hold your bike.
We recommend checking out the video entirely and following the instructions of the GMBN experts if you plan to create your own.
What is better? Building or buying a stand?
The answer is not as straightforward as you might think, and I believe it’s different depending on how resourceful you are and also your budget. In the next section, I will break down the advantages and disadvantages of building or buying your own bike stand.
Building your own Stand
Pros
Price
Typically building your own stand is much cheaper than buying a stand. Most people usually use wood, which isn’t expensive to purchase, or you might even have some lying around your garden. You could even use metal and get handy with a welder.
Design
You can design the stand around your bike and to fit in with your surroundings. This might not sound like much, but it makes a huge difference. You could be tight on space and create a wall mounted stand, which you could also double as a bike rack. Designing your own, you can get creative.
Self Satisfaction
I know it doesn’t sound like much, but the satisfaction of building your own stand and going through that process from start to finish is incredible. You might even get excellent at it, come up with some inventive ideas and end up selling them to others.
Cons
Time
Building a bike stand takes time. It can be half a day you might lose building a stand when you could have been out riding or even at work earning money to buy a stand. It’s worth weighing up how long it will take you to complete the job.
Hidden Costs
Although on paper, it is cheaper to build your own stand, you need to think about the hidden costs. Do you need to pay for fuel to go and get the wood? Do you have all the tools you need to do the build, or are you going to have to buy some?
Is it going to be good?
Are you going to do an excellent job of it? I know it’s a tricky question to ask yourself, but are you capable of making something as good as what you could buy from Amazon or your local bike shop. Will it be adjustable, and is it safe?
Buying a Stand
Pros
Time saver
Yes, it does cost more to build your own stand but think of all the time you could save. In that time, you could earn the money for a top-end stand or ride your bike.
Adjustability
When you buy a stand, it will come with lots more adjustability than if you make your own. Bought stands are much more adaptable and are made by professionals to make your life easier.
Flexibility
One thing the majority of stands you can buy have in common is they all fold away. Unless you are a skilled craftsman making a stand foldaway can be very challenging, and having it on show all the time could be annoying.
Durable
Typically, when you buy a stand, they come with a year or two warranty. You know they will be built to last, and you will be able to trust it long-term with your posh bike.
Cons
Price
It probably is going to cost more to buy than build your own. You might even have delivery costs in there, so make sure you pick wisely, and it suits your budget.
Universal
When you build a stand, you can make it to your surroundings. When you buy, you are getting a universal model, and some, when open, can be pretty large, so you need to make sure it will fit.
Is it worth building your own?
In my opinion, it comes down to a few things. Time, budget, and equipment. If you have the time, the tools, materials, and the experience, it’s a great idea, and you can make something special.
You should make a stand if you feel passionate about doing it. If you don’t have any experience, tools, and time, it will make the very challenging task of building a stand and just not worth it.
Conclusion
Having a repair stand is helpful, and I believe every cyclist should have one. If you plan to build one, do it because it will be a fun project, and you can save yourself a bit of cash. If you are not interested in building a stand, then purchasing one will be your best option.
Robbie Ferri has spent years working in a bike shop, has worked with industry leading brands on product creation, has been a semi pro athlete, and is a fully qualified strength and conditioning coach. He has broken World Records, bikepacked all over the World and raced ultra distance at a top-level.
