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On test: Topeak PrepStand Pro, February 28, 2006
Versatile but flawed
Topeak enters the high-end repair stand market with its PrepStand line of repair stands. Cyclingnews’ James Huang gives the top-end PrepStand Pro a whirl to see if it can stand up to some serious wrenching.
Ah, winter... For many of us unfortunate enough to reside in the less hospitable regions of the Northern hemisphere, the winter months often bring along a rather unpleasant environment for riding: bitter cold, grey skies, blustery winds and sheets of ice and snow, all conspiring against you. With this weather change often comes a paradigm shift from working on your body to working on your bike, and having the right tools and equipment can sometimes ease the pain a bit.
The right tools for the job can make all the difference
Topeak makes an effort to facilitate that shift with the PrepStand Pro repair stand. The basic layout incorporates a linear-action clamp perched on top of a telescoping central mast, all supported by a large and stable folding tripod base. The clamp can accommodate tubes up to just under 2in (50mm) in diameter and is lined with a pair of soft, yet grippy, replaceable jaws. The clamp can be adjusted from 42in to 71in (109cm to 181cm) in height, and the tripod legs can be opened fully for maximum stability, or locked partially open for working in tight spaces. Both the height adjustment and tripod base are managed with a pair of sturdy quick release levers and the stand is constructed of beefy, large-diameter 6061-T6 aluminum tubing.
Topeak dresses up this ensemble a bit with a handy clip-on tray to organize your tools and other bits as well as a built-in digital scale to satisfy the weight weenie crowd. The scale itself includes a handy small parts tray up top and a hook below to hang larger items to be weighed.
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By definition, portable repair stands must be just that, and the PrepStand Pro satisfies the requirement by folding down to a compact 7in x 46in package that slides into a form-fitted, and well-padded, heavy duty nylon carrying case. The total package weight is about 13.7 lbs (6.2kg).
The sincerest form of flattery
You know the saying about imitation, and the overall appearance of the PrepStand Pro looks awfully familiar. Regardless of its origins, the stand’s basic layout is a decidedly effective one so Topeak at least chose a solid design to mimic. The broad tripod base provides excellent stability on a variety of surfaces, indoor or out, and the beefy rubber tips keep the stand from sliding about on slick floors. The quick release height adjustment works well and the clamp head holds securely without undue slipping. The quick release levers perform their function dutifully and without complaint, and the folded package is lightweight and very easily transported using the cleverly designed carrying case (the handles are offset to the stand’s center of mass, rather than the center of the bag, which, ahem, is a noticeable improvement over a carrying case I have for another repair stand).
I'm a self-professed weight weenie, so the scale and its associated paraphernalia saw plenty of use. The tray is certainly very useful for smaller parts and the underlying hook easily handles bikes or other larger items. With today’s plethora of lightweight wares, it’s nice to see that someone has acknowledged the trend and incorporated a means to weigh all of this stuff into a mainstream product and Topeak says this scale can handle up 55 lbs (25 kg).
Flies in the ointment
Although the PrepStand Pro was certainly a very effective tool for the job, I would not say, however, that it’s a particularly fast one. The clamp head jaws, in particular, lack any method for quickly opening and closing them. The threaded knob is easy enough to use but requires a lot of twisting in use, all of which must be done while holding the item to be secured with your other hand.
Additionally, rotating the clamp head is less than elegant. Topeak uses two serrated surfaces to prevent unwanted movement which definitely are effective in terms of security, but rotating the head requires loosening a knob at the back of the stand enough so that the serrations clear each other. Not only is this a bit of a slow process, but once the serrations clear each other, the only thing preventing your bike from swinging around uncontrollably is you. It is possible to have the serrations just partially clear for an incremental rotational adjustment, but the serrations won’t last long using this method.
Finally, the scale is a great idea, but it’s not as useful as it could be. The small tray is great for keeping little items from rolling away, but Topeak only guarantees a 20g weight resolution so lighter stuff can’t really be accurately measured. I didn’t have access to any calibrated masses for this test so I couldn’t verify the overall accuracy of the system, but this feature is probably best for weighing bikes or other medium to heavy items plus maybe obtaining ballpark figures for little stuff.
Not bad, but you probably won’t see it in a pro pit any time soon
In short, the Topeak PrepStand Pro definitely gets the job done. As a tool for positioning your bike during its repair, it’s undoubtedly effective but it is definitely not the most elegant solution. Professional wrenches and other heavy duty users will likely pass the PrepStand Pro over due to its somewhat inefficient style of operation, but casual users will appreciate the sturdy construction and the inclusion of a scale makes it solid value.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by James Huang
- Topeak’s top-of-the-line PrepStand Pro - ready to go.
- The PrepStand Pro knobs are big and rubber-coated for easy rotation. Opening and closing the clamp head requires turning that knob a lot since there is no rapid-adjust feature.
- Topeak uses a pair of serrated surfaces to lock in the clamp head rotation adjustment.
- Without some sort of clutch mechanism to control the clamp head rotation, unlocking the serrated surfaces makes for free rotational movement… but also uncontrolled rotational movement.
- Topeak’s PrepStand Pro folds down to a compact size and fits neatly inside the included padded nylon case.
- The clamp arm locks securely in both the extended and folded positions using a unique threaded collar.
- Sturdy tripod base is a proven design that is stable on uneven ground with grippy rubber feet to prevent sliding on slick surfaces.
- The clip-on tool tray is handy for organizing tools, lubes, and small parts… and maybe a beverage?
- A portable repair stand is a perfect platform for weighing stuff, and Topeak is wise enough to integrate a digital scale directly into the stand itself.
Price: US$249.99
Weight: 13.7 lbs (6.2 kg)
Pros: Excellent stability, clamp head accommodates a wide variety of
shapes and sizes, highly portable due to compact size and light weight.
Cons: Clunky clamp head rotation and disappointingly slow loading/unloading
of items given its intended market, poor scale resolution.
Cyclingnews rating: 
James Huang is chief guru at mountain bike suspension site www.angryasian.com
