I just got a Park Tool workstand for my carbon fiber bike (Felt F4) and have a couple of questions for you all:

1. When I work on my bike, where should I clamp the bike?

2. Can I use the workstand as a bike rack by clamping onto either the down tube or seatpost and keeping it there between rides?

Thanks in advance for all of your help!

I clamp the bike by the seatpost. I even do this with steel bikes as it saves wear and tear on the paint

I've always thought that clamping on the top tube of carbon bikes is a bad idea.. Clamping on the seatpost is the more reliable place. I guess it all depends though.. Some bikes are impossible to clamp on the top tube because of their shape..

I clamp to the seatpost.

Usually, I clamp to the seatpost on the old Nag or the Roubaix. My C-50 is a traditional frame without enough seatpost available so I 'loose clamp' with a rag cushioning the clamp to the seat tube. Or if it is just something quick, I will throw the nose of the saddle over the clamp with a rag between the two with a box under the front wheel for stability.

I clamp the seat tube on my Orbea Orca.

I don't clamp any of my bikes by anything but the seatpost. Why take the chance that you'll damage the frame?

I'm also in the clamp the seatpost group, for all my bikes regardless of frame material. Only exception is my TT bike with an aero post and, for that one, I just hang the nose of the saddle over the clamp covered with a shop towel.
I always put the bike I'm going to ride the next day in my workstand since I usually lube the chain before every ride and its just more convenient to pump up the tires, etc., when its time to ride.

To the OP: Depends, but for a CF frame almost always on the seat post. However, some bikes with seat masts require a special custom clamp, and some bikes don't show enough seat post to clamp.

For those reasons, I use a stand (custom made, in my case) that holds the BB and the front forks. I know I have to remove the front wheel, but with carbon the way it is, seems to be another way to hold the bike. I know you already have a stand, I am just posting to let others know there are other options in bike "stands."


zac

Thanks for all of your replies. It seems like the consensus is to work on the bike with the seatpost clamped.

That said, can I leave my bike clamped by its seatpost for several days until I ride? It seems like that would put the seatpost under a lot of stress, no? I don't want my carbon fiber seatpost to break! Thanks again for your help!

carbon bike and alum. seat post... to it off the frame and on the post.
carbon and carbon, clamp in the overlap of the seat post and seat tube

non carbon frames here, most often i clamp the TT. There is no reason to cinch it down like a vice. a gental grab is all you need and won't ever do damage to whatever the material