Kick-stands

[velomont]

I need some advice from the recumbent collective as the recumbent thing is about two weeks old for me and I don't have any knowledge based on experience yet. My bike came with a kick-stand and today, after about 150 km of riding over the last two weeks, the kick-stand fell off at some point on a 30 km ride. On DF bikes kick-stands are generally regarded as excess, unnecessary weight as DFs can easily be leaned against, and locked to, anything. Once I install a rear rack on mine in about two weeks, I will be commuting with it and using it as a utility bike as well as a recreation/fitness bike. Because the configuration/geometry of recumbents is so different from DFs, is parking a recumbent without a kick-stand a big pain or is this something easily done against any street sign or parking meter?

Your advice is greatly appreciated.

[JanMM]

It took me less than a month to remove the kickstand that was on my used RANS Tailwind when I got it. It worked well enough, but, just like on upright bikes, it wasn't needed. Haven't felt the need for one since then. I commute on this bike. (Your opinion/experience may differ.)

[Dr.Deltron]

I have kickstands on all my recumbents! :D
A Challenge Hurricane (wich also has a baby seat :rolleyes:), a BikeE and a Tour Easy.
The other 3 are trikes and don't need one. :p

Call me weird, but hey, you already KNEW that! ;)

[Rogerinchrist]

I have kickstands on all my recumbents! :D
A Challenge Hurricane (wich also has a baby seat :rolleyes:), a BikeE and a Tour Easy.
The other 3 are trikes and don't need one. :p

Call me weird, but hey, you already KNEW that! ;)


Nahhhh........
Weird would be if you had kickstands on the trikes too!

[Pockets]

I use one on my Rans Stratus, makes it easy when rummaging thru the rear rack or rear bag. Only problem I have is remembering to put it up when I take off, but I am new to bents too.

[vik]

I don't have a kickstand on any of my bents and haven't had any problem leaning them against a building or sign post. I'm not anti-kickstand though. I have them on some of my DF bikes, but unless you can fit I double legged kickstand on your bent [ESGE type] I don't think the ones that attach at the rear dropout are stable enough to justify the weight/hassle of installing one.

It shouldn't be uber expensive to mount a kickstand to your bent if you want to try one out, but if you don't need one on your DF bikes you won't need one on your bent either.

[Dchiefransom]

What kickstand did you have? The one on my Rans has a tendency for the bottom section to work loose from the top section every now and then. I was told by my dealer to keep an eye out for that.

[bobkat]

I have a kickstand on my LWB bent and use it all the time. When I have the fairing on it it can blow over if its windy, but someone (I think on this forum) told me to simply wrap a piece of velcro around the brake and it won't blow over. Works like a darn! A great parking brake!
The roadies with their DF ultralight carbon frames hate kickstands because it adds a few grams to their already expensive light weight and looks 'nerdy', which makes no difference with bents. A few ounces or so here and there is not important with bents.
One evening on the CANDISC ride, a comedian put on a show and he told everyone that ' he finally figured out the difference between a beater bike and an expensive $2000 one! The beater bikes had kickstands and the 2 or 3 thousand dollar ones were lying down in the mud and dirt! ' He drew a standing ovation!
In terms of weight, a quick trip to the bathroom more than makes up for the tiny weight of a stand. Ha!

[Doug5150]

Nahhhh........
Weird would be if you had kickstands on the trikes too!

Well there is at least one reason to have a kickstand on a trike: if you mounted a double-kickstand right in front of the rear wheel, then you could use the kickstand(s) to hold the derailler off the ground while you had the rear wheel off (to fix a flat!)......
~

[SoonerBent]

I have one on my Corsa. On group rides when we stop at a store for re-fueling I don't have to look for somewhere to lean my bike so I get in and out first. I've had the recumbent a couple of summers now I can hang with riders that I couldn't on an upright so I've learned that an ounce here or there just isn't as big a deal as I used to think it was.

[Wilbur Bud]

. . . if you mounted a double-kickstand right in front of the rear wheel, then you could use the kickstand(s) to hold the derailler off the ground while you had the rear wheel off (to fix a flat!)...
~

+1 for the double kickstand.

There is also a risk with the single version, if mounted far enough back where you could ride off and forget to raise it up -- the first time you lean far into a turn on the kickstand side it will throw you down into the road/dirt by acting as a momentary pivot capable of lifting the rear wheel before it collapses into the storage position. I've only heard of this and not experienced it personally, but it does happen. The double kickstand would eliminate this risk, and I plan to get one soon.

Having written that, I find a kickstand convenient, have one on today and probably always will, but I expect its more a matter of how you ride and if and where and how often you park anywhere by at home.

[gew0419]

I've never owned a bike without a kickstand. I guess it came from getting my ears boxed by my Grandpa when I dropped the bike instead of standing it up. I wouldn't leave home without it.

[dbg]

I added one immediately and still like it. It works perfectly.

[FlyingAnchor]

I really want a double for my Agio, anyone know who would have one that fits? Where I live it just gets to wet and muddy to lay my baby down. :)

Steven

[Artkansas]

I use one on my Rans Stratus, makes it easy when rummaging thru the rear rack or rear bag. Only problem I have is remembering to put it up when I take off, but I am new to bents too.

Glad I'm not the only one. Perhaps it would be nice if it were spring loaded to retract when you lift the bike up to a vertical position. ;)

[card]

I have a stand that is something like a tripod on my GRR. Greatest thing since sliced bread when you have a flat or have to adjust a der.

[Dr.Deltron]

I really want a double for my Agio, anyone know who would have one that fits? Steven

I don't know if it'll fit the Agio....

http://www.easyracers.com/images/PICT0006.jpg

[Rogerinchrist]

if you mounted a double-kickstand right in front of the rear wheel, then you could use the kickstand(s) to hold the derailler off the ground while you had the rear wheel off (to fix a flat!)......
~

It could also "double" as an indoor winter trainer.