I'm trying to choose a workstand for my wife to get me for my birthday as I'm tired of the bike swinging around on the ropes attached to the garage rafters.

I've got a budget of £100-130 (I'm not adverse to ebay) and need it to cope with both my Stumpjumper FST and my Kona Stinky (which ways about 40lbs). The stand will be for home use, I doubt it will be taken 'on the road'.

I've discounted the park series, they are either too expensive or (on the cheap ones) the clamp looks a pain to use whilst balancing a bike.

The Minouras look ok, I'm not sure about the strength of the 5000 as it's foldable and made of ali. Does anyone know if the 3000 would be stonger/ more stable for a heavy bike?

Does anyone have any experience of the veloman work station, I'm not sure how stable they are?

Many thanks, in advance!

I use the one that Merlin Cycles sell (as do others and can be found on eBay, but Merlin's price is good). Good clamp, stable, foldable. Copes with 32lb of bike no problem.

Thanks Gary, is that the Bike Tools one at £59.95?

The Minoura 3000 is solid but the height is not adjustable. Excellent clamp though.

Yep, it's the BikeTools one @ £59.95 (it isn't actually branded, a factory in the far east are probably producing them by the millions). I'd say it's a bargain at that price and once you've used a stand you wonder how you'd ever managed without one.

I took the combined deal with the toolkit. It's not up to Park Tool quality but good enough as an all-in starter kit. I needed a chain-whip, casette remover, bb remover and cone spanners and I couldn't get these (even at unbraned quality) for less than the £30 the whole toolkit cost.

Another vote for the one from Merlin. Sturdy piece of kit and collapses pretty small to be stored away

I'd recommend the Lifeline Spin Doctor Deluxe workstand. My girlfriend bought me one for crimbo from Wiggle for about £65. The height and clamp adjustments (angle and on/off) are well thought out and the legs can be folded up into clips on the upright for storage.

I haven't tried anything of the weight you mention on it (30lbs max for one of my bikes), but it works well if you have more than one bike as the rotation of the clamp is so easy to adjust.

I am another one who uses the merlin model. Bargain for the money.

However if yer being picky about the park one i think you may have something a little sturdier in mind cos the merlin one (Although perfect for me) is a little plasticky.

I'm still deliberating! I like the look of the Merlin one but I'm uncertain how stable it will be with the V-shape base. Anyone care to comment?

I'm still considering the Velomann -

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/WORKSTAND-VELOMAN-BIKE-MAITENANCE-STAND-SSP-119-99_W0QQitemZ7245349291QQcategoryZ109122QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

as this appears to have a more stable base arrangement. I'd discounted it as it looked a bit 'spindley', but when you see the picture next to the bloke the scale changes things!!

The main downside is that clamp rotation isn't by quick release like the Merlin one.

Has anyone got any experience of these stands?

The Veloman looks good. The clamp looks to be all metal (unlike the merlin that is plastic), but as you say the rotation (and height) isn't QR.

Stability on the Merlin isn't a problem. The upright leans forward and hence weight is transferred onto the two legs making it more stable. This also ensures that there is pedal clearance with the upright. As the Veloman is vertical I suspect it needs the extra two legs at the back to stop it tipping over left/right. As a result I would guess they are both as stable as each other but through different design routes.

The Veloman doesn't look as if it folds for storage, depends if this a requirement for you though.

Thanks Gary, I didn't realise the leaning of the Merlin one help it's stability!

The Veloman looks like it would be easier to 'bolt down' should I find I need more stability for the big bike!

Just can't decide...

Would really like to here from someone who owns one of the veloman ones though...?

Adrian - can you describe the clamp on the LifeLine stand?

I recently bought the latest Park PCS 10 & have to asay it's great. Easy to set up/fold down & the adjustments are simple & effective - as is the redesigned clamp.

Merlin are knocking them out cheap at the minute too.

Wrench Force does a great one rrp is £110, it's all metal and foldable with a great clamp design. Not light but handles heavy bikes easy.

just got a velomann for £29 off ebay - pretty damn good.... better than £80 minouras i've used