Several Hams have asked me what on earth is , and where did I get, the stand supporting my Antenna?

The answer will be revealed in these pages! There’s not much to reveal actually, around every 6-9 months or so, the ALDI supermarket stores sell a 5 legged “Bicycle Repair Stand” for $39.99.

It’s a sturdy stand for elevating your push bike to waist level or better to effect repairs and or maintenance to said bike. However, they also double as a brilliant stand for various Ham Radio activities, as I’ll demonstrate here.

In detail, it features a large footprint so that it’s difficult to tip over, either accidentally or by other means, is made of steel, and boasts a height adjustment and a quick release Antenn…I mean “bike” mount,  that allows stuff to be held horizontally…other bells and whistles include a chintzy tool tray and handlebar stay bar.

So what’s in the box?

You get the stand itself, the centre support with the T adapter, the horizontal clamp bar, the chintzy tool tray, and the handle bar stay. The two straps are for use with the handle bar stay, and the plastic bag contains the bolts and allen key for attaching said chintz. The allen key fits all bolts on the stand.

It comes with a set of instructions and a 1 year warranty. For something ALDI, it actually is quite well made!

Assembly is very straightforward 

just clamp it up tight or as loose as you like…

But for a park activation with a squid pole, I remove the T head and just use the pole out the top to slip the squid pole over…

For a Satellite pass, I attach the Bike head and use the clamp to hold the X-Yagi. It’s easy to turn the Yagi to adjust the AZ EL to suit the pass…The clamp is plastic and I can’t measure any increase in SWR or pattern distortion in use…

For Microwave Field Day work, the Bike Stand is a cheap way of getting a sturdy stand for Ex Sat. dishes and Gridpacks.

The stand would also do well as a sturdy portable Satellite dish mount for Caravan users and RVers.

A nice touch is the holes in the feet, ready for tent pegs as tie-downs…

So there you have it. These bike stands are a cheap way to get a sturdy stand for Amateur radio related activities, use your imagination! Keep an eye out in your local ALDI catalogue for the next sale date, and grab yourself a bargain!

*Disclaimer* – I have no affiliation with ALDI stores whatsoever!