off-road.cc

The Rimpact stand proves to be a compact, stable and almost universal stand for carpark maintenance and washes. It is well-built, resistant to the elements, and remains stable on most surfaces. Whilst there are some cranksets that it doesn’t interface with, there is a wide range of commonly used cranksets that it works great with.

• Essential tools for off-roading - seven must-have items for beginner mountain bikers and gravel riders
• Topeak Tune-Up Stand X bike stand review
• Bicycle dropouts - every standard explained

Rimpact Stand - Technical details

The Rimpact Stand is a super portable bike stand aimed at making servicing and washing bikes on the go easier. It interfaces with the crankset to hold the bike upright and stable with the back wheel off the floor, allowing bike washing, chain lubrication, and maintenance such as gear tuning. With the folding legs, the stand is compact and can be easily stowed in the car or van, which makes it a handy item for the pre-ride car park faff.

Rimpact_stand_6.jpg, by Ty Rutherford

The main arm of the stand is made from 304 stainless steel, which is corrosion-resistant and strong, while the folding arms use 6082 aluminium. To keep the arms folding smoothly, an Igus polymer bush is utilised, similar to the bushes used in some suspension pivots and pedals. This construction is designed to withstand the elements and be unaffected by pressure washing.

Rimpact_stand_2.jpg, by Ty Rutherford

The business end of the stand has three sizes, the base spindle has an 8mm diameter with two more adaptors, which step the spindle size up to 12mm and 18mm respectively. These three diameters cover a wide range of cranksets for acoustic and electric bikes, but of course, you should check your specific crankset on the Rimpact website. The adaptors are stored in the tube of the main arm with a removable rubber cap to keep them secure.

Rimpact_stand_3.jpg, by Ty Rutherford

The stand has a 50kg weight limit, which I’d question how you’d even get close to, along with a five-year warranty for peace of mind.

Rimpact Stand - Performance

With the stand essentially folding flat, its slim profile makes hiding it away in the van/car easy. Opening the stand takes a matter of seconds, although changing the spindle is a little bit fiddly. Rimpact has a how-to guide on the website to show how best to do this, and, of course, it’s not something you’ll have to do too often.

The stand remains stable on flat surfaces, handling mud, gravel and Tarmac without any issues but you’ll need to be mindful of uneven surfaces with some careful placement.

Rimpact_stand_5.jpg, by Ty Rutherford

From a durability standpoint, the stand has held up well, the corrosion resistance has been great, and even with plenty of pressure washing, the arms still fold out smoothly. The spindles have seen some wear but this hasn't affected the performance of the stand and, more importantly, the crank interface is damage-free.

Rimpact_stand_4.jpg, by Ty Rutherford

Having tried a range of cranksets from acoustic and electric bikes, I’ve found the range of adaptors to be compatible with most. The closed-off crank bolt design of the Bosch Performance SX and CX motors is a mainstream case where this stand doesn’t work.

Rimpact Stand - Verdict

Retailing at £130, the Rimpact stand isn’t cheap, but for the quality of the build and the fuss-free convenience on offer, I’d argue it’s sensibly priced.

Another option worth considering is the Granite Hex stand, which is substantially cheaper at £65. It’s a foldable stand that interfaces with the crank set but has a lower weight limit than the Rimpact at 20kg, and can be a little fussy if mud and grit get into the sliding parts.

Topeak offers a slightly different take on a compact stand with the Topeak Tune-Up Stand X bike stand, which uses the seat-stay and chainstay to secure the bike. Retailing at £70, it was praised for securely holding the bike, but it is a bit fiddly.

The Rimpact Stand is a handy little option to secure your bike for washing and maintenance when away from home. The compact stand takes up very little room, making it ideal to stow in the boot of your car/van. The stand proves to be very durable and provides a stable platform for a wide range of cranksets. It is certainly not cheap, however, as a compact stand for convenience away from home, it's a great option.

• www.rimpactmtb.com
• The reader's guide to off.road.cc's review scoring system

You might also like:

• The best mountain bike trail building tools: essential kit for maintenance and repair
• First look - Park Tool DT-5.2 Disc Facing Tool
• Granite Design Stash RT Ratchet multitool review