General Cycling Discussion - Kickstand anyone?

When I picked up my Alite 1000, the shop owner said that he could sell me a kickstand, but I really did not need one. Ditto for a mirror. Well, after a week or so, I got tired of leaning the bike and worrying about it falling over, I bought two kickstands today. I got the rubber inserts that wrap around the frame so as not to damage the frame/ paint. I like it a lot better this way.

That is very cool, The Terminator, but you should have develop the art of leaning your bike with out falling or tumbling, one very simple way of leaning your bike on a wall or a street post, is that you lean the rear wheel and let the handle bar go to the incline side of the bike, I am pretty sure, your bike will remain standing, unless the thieves has gotten to your bike first.....:D :D

Kickstand and mirrors on mine. I use my bikes mostly for touring and really dont like to lay the bags down in the dirt.

I put one of those kickstands that bolts onto the rear triangle near the rear axle. It may not look stylish, but I like my bike to be standing up. I am always amused to see multi-thousand dollar bikes laying on the ground at charity ride rest stops.

I think the rear mounted kickstands hold up the bike more securely than the center mounted ones.

I have the same rear-mounted kickstand. Sure, it isn't a purist move, but when I ride on the boardwalk,, my only choice is to lie the bike down on the sandy planks or against the pipe railings. Function over fashion for me!

I'm sure it's personal preference but I feel that my bike is more secure leaning against a wall or tree than on a kickstand.

I've seen lots of bikes with kickstands go over in a breeze while those against trees stay standing.

Why are you getting off your bike????? hahahahaa

Originally posted by Kev
Why are you getting off your bike????? hahahahaa

I have to "let my son rest". Really though, we ride for about an hour or so, and go back home and rest a bit, and then go again. I also like to use the kickstand when I go in a store or something. I also need to get a lock or two tomorrow so that one of us does not have to watch the bikes while the other goes in to get something cold to drink. - Ted

I wouldn't put a kickstand on my road bicycle and I wouldn't use a commuting bicycle without a kickstand. Everything has it's place and use. The weight of a decent kickstand defeats the purpose of a road bike. Trying to pack a load evenly onto a commuting bicycle that is leaning up against a wall is almost impossible for me.

When I leave my bike I always lock it to a fence or post, so what would I want a kickstand for.

when i first bought my bike i had lots of stuff installed on it, fenders, lights, stand, etc. but over time i got rid of it all, as my riding changed from commuting to moderatly (sounding modest now:D ) intense XC riding. part of the reason was i wanted to lighten it, but most of it fell away or apart anyways:D. Plus, all thats left of my old bike is the frame:). Bottom line is, if you are using your bike to move around the city stands come in handy, but if you want to go on trails, lose it.

Originally posted by The Terminator
I bought two kickstands today.
:confused:
Did you have another bike you wanted a kickstand for, too? What am I missing?

Originally posted by roadbuzz
:confused:
Did you have another bike you wanted a kickstand for, too? What am I missing?

Well, sometimes I want to lean it to the left, and sometimes I want to lean it to the right. OK? :)

One for my Bianchi 12 speed road bike, and one for my KHS Alite 1000.

With a kickstand, there is a temptation to leave your bike standing, without being locked to anything. I always lock my bike to something solid, even if Im just poping into the shops.
Ive never had a problem attatching pannier bags to the bike, or loading shopping. My bike has only fallen over once, when it wasnt locked, but was caught by a freak gust of wind.
The only time you need a kickstand is when you have a child carrier on the back.

Here in the Netherlands most bikes (since they are commuter models) come with a kick stand. There's a variation on that theme with the 'grandmother' bike.

This particular generic model comes with a very low instep (for grandma) and the stand is a rectangular piece of metal that folds out from _above_ the rear wheel (where your friend might bum a ride) and locks in place under the rear wheel. It's looks a little like those add ons to convert your bike to an exercise bike. I tried to find a photo, but couldn't locate one.

Hey Terminator, I thought you might be using two for curb feelers!:D

No Seriously, I wouldn't ride my bent' with out one. Have you ever tried to find a good place just to lay one down? Boy, are they ever tricky to get it to lay just right! It didn't take me but 2-3 days to decide to install one!

Rick

yeah for commuting, beater bikes for transportation and around campus, i'd definitely have a kickstand on there.

For a commuter - Why not?

For a road bike - no way!

For a mountain bike - it could get you killed!!!!!!

Originally posted by supcom


I think the rear mounted kickstands hold up the bike more securely than the center mounted ones.


Actually, no...

No kickstand=less weight=looks better.

Originally posted by AndrewP
When I leave my bike I always lock it to a fence or post, so what would I want a kickstand for.

My thoughts entirely.

I have a kickstand on my mountain bike, and I have never had any problems with it. I think it is better than having to put the bike down on the ground or leaning it up against a tree. The rear kickstands are the way to go.

kickstands are cool if you need them

I'd put one on my MT bike, but it flops arounds when biking off road at 35 mph. At those speeds, everything is shaking like crazy.:D

I've considered taking my rear mounted off my sequoia. After reading this thread, I'm more confused! I'll just try both ways and see.

Originally posted by lsd87
I've considered taking my rear mounted off my sequoia. After reading this thread, I'm more confused! I'll just try both ways and see.

Do what suits and serves your needs best. Some riders, for their own valid reasons, will never use a kickstand. You can always use it for riding and stopping around town and remove it for more serious rides and races. As most of my riding is on a boardwalk, I choose to not set the bike down on the sandy, salty and busy boardwalk or to prop it up against the pipe railings. For a different ride or setting, I might remove the kickstand.

There is no right or wrong answer here...only the best one for your situation.

Rob

I have one on my heavy commuter/tourer, but not my other bikes. I have looked at getting one of the two-legged ones. I think the brand is Greenlee, maybe. Of course, to me the ultimate answer to this question is a trike from Lightfoot Cycles.

I have one on my MTB, but I also mount a baby seat on it. Try dealing with a toodler and no kickstand!!!

I had a sturdy center mounted kickstand on my MTB and never thought anything of it. It never popped open even when jumping. I took it off only because I found that I wasn't using it much anymore.

You can put a ziptie over it and the frame this way if you want to try life without your loved kickstand you have not taken it off if you like thin off it goes! if not thin just cut the ziptie

I'm probably less experienced than most here as I've only been riding 15 months (not counting before I got a drivers license!), but I have put in over 5500 miles.

I LIKE a kickstand on my road bike. It just seems so convenient. Sure, I lock it up every time I ride to town, but even in the process of getting ready to lock it, it seems easier to work with when I have the stand. I have a rack on the back where I carry two locks, plus a beach mat (hey, I live in Hawaii). It seems more stable to pull the locks out with the kickstand in place.

In my apartment, I can set it anywhere, not just against a wall - as it happens, it works best for me when it is in the middle of the floor!

Besides, how much does the weight matter? I read somewhere that on a 40 mile course, including some hills, a 10 lb difference only made a 33 second difference! Don't know if they were correct, but it fits in roughly with other calculations I've seen.

Bob

Just a hint for road bikes. I have a rubber band, one of those fat ones like they use on broccoli. It is on my left side handle bar at the top of the left drop. Sometimes when Im getting off the bike and things look questionable I slip the rubber band around the brake lever after I pull it back as if stopping and the band holds it back like an emergency brake. Hey, if the wheels cant turn its much less more chance it wouldnt fall. Oh and by the way, the rubber band is MUCH lighter than a kickstand!

Sounds like a good idea!

Bob

Having seen too many crushed chainstays, I am heavily biased against clamp-on kickstands. Although I was raised on bikes with kickstands (Schwinn 2-speed middleweight and Bianchi base 10-speed with clamp-on KS), I have not had (or missed having) a kickstand for the past 30 years. I concur with the other posters, however, that this is stictly a matter of personal preference.

Not owning a repair stand, I find having a kick-stand makes it easier to clean my bike and perform basic maintenance. Also, since I stow the bike with my wife's machine on the balcony, it's proven easier to tarp them and stage them together without leaning them against each other.

-Rob