Hybrid Bicycles - Kick stand or no?

Out of curiosity how many of us has one? I've noticed in the pictures some have them and some don't.

Why? Weight?

I did because it seems easier to park it. I'm toying with the idea of removing it.

I am wondering the same thing. I had one put on my 7.2 fx and i am considering putting one on my 7.7 fx that's coming in a couple of days... i feel like i should get a carbon fiber one or something.. LMAO!

anyway, i use my bike for fitness and i stop on the bike trails sometimes so i definitely think im putting one on my 7.7...

OP,

I removed mine. That lasted for one club ride. I don't know for sure why most of the riders I know don't have kickstands. But, they don't. Maybe it is a frame material thing?

If it is weight thing just eat one less Twinky a week.:thumb:

Easy to park? I like easy...

Best regards,

Mike

One hybrid has one, one hybrid does not. Therefore I answered "meh".

The one without has disc brakes and I didn't want to mess with a rear stabilizer and disc brake.

I love having a kickstand on my bikes. Makes parking it easy.

Every kickstand I ever had on my bikes, as a kid, would manage to upset the bike so they fell over. I'd have one on my nicely aged 3-spd (if I ever get around to it), but I'd never consider it for a really nice bike. I feel that's inviting a disaster.

I find a method to park my hybrid so it's fully supported and stable. On my custom vintage PUCH - I found a NOS Flick-Stand for $5 and put that on.

On the hybrid and on the hybridized road bike.

My hybrid came with the kickstand and all my bikes in the past did too...Mine is pretty stable and since I"m a bit of a scatter brain for me better safe that sorry.. Hubby's bike didn't initially come with one but he had one put on when we bought it...it works good but IMO is FUGLY lol

If it is weight thing just eat one less Twinky a week.:thumb:




:lol:

Pretty much sums it up for me. I'm 225 as it is, so for the minimal addition of weight I'll keep the convenience of a kick stand.

No kickstand. Cant give the roadies and more ammo.

I like kickstands, have on on all my bikes, even my folders. There is not always a tree or other something to lean the bike against, and it is STUPID to lay an expensive (or even an inexpensive) bike in the mud/dirt/sand ...

I had one, some jackass at my workplace moved my bike with the kickstand engaged and warped it, nearly buggered my bike up too. Cheapskate boss never even bothered to offer to replace it. Coworker that broke it never fessed up either.

When I have $ I'll get another one, after I've kicked that job to the curb.

Friends don't let friends use kickstands.

I have one - my bike doesn't like to lay in the dirt........

If you lay your bike down on the ground it can't fall over. If you lock it to a post, it might fall down, but that is unlikely once you learn how. I've never felt the need to stand my bike up on it's own. I've parked my bike at least a couple of hundred thousand times conservative estimate. Never needed an accessory so far.

I have one on my hybrid, but not on my road bike. It was annoying finding a good place to lean or set the bike down, so I bit the bullet on the hybrid and am glad I did.

I have panniers so laying my bike down is not an option, especially if my camera gear is in the panniers.

I have one on the hybrid, none on the road bike

Had one on my old Trek 7500, but didn't put one on the 7.6fx and haven't found the need for it really, I have always just found something to lean it against.

If you take the bike down off the hooks, ride it, then put it back on the hooks, then no kickstand is needed.

If you ride your bike, get off the bike and do things, then get back on and ride it home, then a kickstand is helpful. Not essential maybe, but helpful.

I've parked my bike at least a couple of hundred thousand times conservative estimate. Never needed an accessory so far.
Holy crap! You must be really, really old.

Have one on my Trek 7300 and one on my modified Marin Bear Valley.

Over twenty years as a messenger/cargo biker, average over 100 jobs per week, yeah, I'm old.

I can understand using a kickstand for some applications; however, I'm not over warm on them. I rather find a vertical flat surface or a pole to lean the bike against. What drives me crazy though is a kickstand on a racing bike. :notamused:

Yep. If nothing else, it's invaluable for making the bike handsfree when opening doors to get it in and out (the door on the laundry room where it lives and the outside doors to the building are the sprung type that won't stay open when you're not holding them. It's hard enough trying to hold the door while getting the bike through...awesome to be able to park the bike, key lock or turn handle, open door, and THEN retrieve bike while holding door open...).

I've been placing my bikes against walls and posts for years -- even as a kid and can't think of a time when my bike fell over. There's definitely a knack to it but the techniques are not difficult to learn -- and are quite dependable.

For placing the bike against a wall, I put the rear wheel against the wall first, lean the bike a bit towards the wall, and place the end of the handle bar against the wall (handlebars are at their normal straight position, ninety degrees to the frame of the bike) -- you've created a triangle (look down from above) and so long as the bike is leaning in towards the wall -- it doesn't have to be a whole lot -- the bike will stay there and can even take a little bit of a bumping without falling over.

For placing against a pole, I always put the crank arm parallel to the ground with the pedal to the rear of the bike, on the side of the pole that I want to lean against. I lean the bike over a little and gently push the bike forward until the pedal and the crank arm are on the post. Depending upon which way the ground is angled, I might put the pedal towards the front of the bike and push the bike back a bit until the pedal rests on the pole. Let gravity help out. Then gently lean the bike over a little more until the top tube rests on the pole too. If I can, I'll rest the bike against the narrow portion of my saddle instead of the top tube. Handlebars are again in the straight forward position (but sometimes might need to be turned a bit depending upon the terrain).

In a nutshell, if you can get four contact points -- both tires (of course) and two points of contact on the bike -- rear wheel and handlebar on a wall, and crank arm/pedal and top tube or saddle on a post, it will stay where you put it.

If there's no wall or post, gently lay the bike down on the ground, with the drive train upwards.

When I was a kid I had a couple of bikes with kickstands but never used them -- and I absolutely agree with the above poster about kickstands on racing bikes -- I just can't imagine the ribbing someone would get for having a kickstand on a Cervelo. :eek:

I really don't have a problem seeing a kickstand on a cruiser or city type bike though, in fact, I think they almost need one to have the look (I like those big fat tired cruisers -- they're so dorky looking that they're cool -- and they're a hoot to ride).

Kickstand on a mountain bike or fast hybrid? I don't think so.

Just my thoughts.

But of course! I'm not religious ...

I always use a kick stand but my bike is always inside if I'm not on it

Yes, two hybrids and both came with kickstands. Pretty much all hybrids/commuting/utility bikes come with one around here. My winter bike's stand was not very good and stand started getting shaky after >10 years of heavy use, so I removed it. The other bike still has it. I consider it a good thing to be able to park the bike upright on its own, especially when I have panniers or other touring gear on it.

--J

-- and I absolutely agree with the above poster about kickstands on racing bikes -- I just can't imagine the ribbing someone would get for having a kickstand on a Cervelo. :eek:

I really don't have a problem seeing a kickstand on a cruiser or city type bike though, in fact, I think they almost need one to have the look (I like those big fat tired cruisers -- they're so dorky looking that they're cool -- and they're a hoot to ride).

Kickstand on a mountain bike or fast hybrid? I don't think so.
Just my thoughts.


I can understand using a kickstand for some applications; however, I'm not over warm on them. I rather find a vertical flat surface or a pole to lean the bike against. What drives me crazy though is a kickstand on a racing bike. :notamused:


If you take the bike down off the hooks, ride it, then put it back on the hooks, then no kickstand is needed.

If you ride your bike, get off the bike and do things, then get back on and ride it home, then a kickstand is helpful. Not essential maybe, but helpful.
+1 to all the above.

I voted no since I take it down, inspect it, ride and put it back up. On the cruiser and city bikes mentioned by WCoast it is doubtful a kickstand would elicit a second glance.....but on a road, quick hybrid or mountain bike a kickstand would stand out as a blemish imo.

When all other hybrids are laying down, mine are still standing up... haa haa.
A sidestand on all my GP bikes are too utilitarian and convenient.
My sidestands get used every day.:)

Let me begin with a disclaimer. I'm not suggesting that the following is anyone's current motivation for using or not using a kickstand. Just some historical observation.

Back in the 70's when I got my 10-speed, the more expensive bikes tended to not come with kickstands, and were perceived to be for more "serious" bikers, who were presumed to be concerned with speed. A kickstand added unnecessary weight. Bikes at the lower end, cost wise, would be more "recreational", so the kickstand was included. Example - my Schwinn Continental came with a kickstand, but a Paramount did not.

I think this just stuck as part of the culture. In looking at the 2009 Giant catalog, the closer a bike is to being perceived as recreational, the more likely it is to be shown with a kickstand.

This doesn't necessary coorelate to the way people actually use their bikes, but probably does to a large extent.

My personal thoughts...If you do have a kickstand, you have the option of using it or not, depending on your situation.

I don't mind laying a bike down that doesn't have one, but I do like using them when available. I went through a phase of always removing them, but frankly, I can take them or leave them.

If I have one on a bike and it isn;t stable, I probably would take it off instead of futzing with it.

I'm so glad you set up this poll. I just shopped for a bicycle on Friday and bought a Trek 7000 WSD on Saturday. At one LBS, I was snootily told that no, a bike I was trying didn't come with a kickstand. He acted like I was an idiot for even wanting one. I bought my bike from another LBS the next day. My bike came with a kickstand. I'm happy.

I like my kick stand so much, I don't kick it anymore.
Now I call it a side stand.:)

Both my bikes have kickstands. The X-Mart FauxMTB has one standard. My craigslist/bikeshop hybrid has a Greenfield, which could have been an aftermarket addition.

If I was buying a new bike-shop quality bike, I wouldn't have them add a kickstand. I'd get something like a Click-Stand (http://www.click-stand.com/). It looks very handy.

Kevin

No kickstands here, don't see the need. Bike leans against whatever is there and if there is no whatever, I will just lay it down. Very seldom is there no whatever.

I've seen the click-stand before. neat idea but:

1) You gotta unfold the thing which i guess doesn't take too. much time BUT
2) you have to have your brakes engaged to use it so the click stand comes with these rubber-band like things that you have to put onto your brakes so the bike doesnt roll away

is it just me or does that seem like 5x the trouble instead of just getting off your bike and kicking a kickstand down.....?

i duno... maybe im just crazy....

Both of my bikes are equipped with kickstand. I use them mostly when I stop and dismount the bike. I hate laying the bike on the ground or leaning it agaisnt the wall for safety reasons.

If I was buying a new bike-shop quality bike, I wouldn't have them add a kickstand. I'd get something like a Click-Stand (http://www.click-stand.com/). It looks very handy.
Wow, your bike might remain standing, but I think I'd fall over laughing! :roflmao2: What's with this kickstand allergy, anyway?

Wow, your bike might remain standing, but I think I'd fall over laughing! :roflmao2: What's with this kickstand allergy, anyway?

Besides the weight, which isn't an issue for me, sometimes a kickstand leads to heelstrike.

What I like about the Click-Stand is that it seems like it would be more stable when used on wet or broken ground.

Kevin

I have kickstands on most of my regularly used bikes. Most are dual leg versions like the Esge Plescher or Hebie Bipod models as they are very stable. The Hebies are ugly as sin but IMO excellent for a utility use bike. When folded the Esge Plescher looks pretty much like a regular side stand.

Let me begin with a disclaimer. I'm not suggesting that the following is anyone's current motivation for using or not using a kickstand. Just some historical observation.

Back in the 70's when I got my 10-speed, the more expensive bikes tended to not come with kickstands, and were perceived to be for more "serious" bikers, who were presumed to be concerned with speed. A kickstand added unnecessary weight. Bikes at the lower end, cost wise, would be more "recreational", so the kickstand was included. Example - my Schwinn Continental came with a kickstand, but a Paramount did not.

I think this just stuck as part of the culture. In looking at the 2009 Giant catalog, the closer a bike is to being perceived as recreational, the more likely it is to be shown with a kickstand.

This doesn't necessary coorelate to the way people actually use their bikes, but probably does to a large extent.

My personal thoughts...If you do have a kickstand, you have the option of using it or not, depending on your situation.

I agree with this ... but it sure seems counter-intuitive ... it would seem that riders would be more likely to lay down or lean a cheaper bike ... I would think if you put some real coin into your ride you'd want the ability to keep it out of the dirt or protect the components from getting knocked against a wall or post.

The problem w/kickstands is that they -- or rather, the lack thereof -- have become associated with style points. People who might actually prefer them thus get long lectures about how and why they can get along without them.

It's almost like the situation with pedals. I can't count the number of times I get subtle hints about my "wrong" pedal choice when I ride with other people.

Kickstands are useful, else this whole issue wouldn't come up so often.

My "fast" 7.5 has fenders, rear rack, folding metal panniers, and lights...it's set up for commuting. I would love to have a kickstand but the bike would topple using a typical single sided one (the panniers are heavy), if I could find one of those centerstand ones you see on the Dutch bikes I'd definitely add one.

My hybrid has a kickstand because I use that bike for towing my kids in a trailer. I tried without one at first but you don't always have a readily available place to lean your bike when you need to dismount and check on the younguns. It's pretty annoying when your bike falls over while trying to get the kids strapped into/out of the trailer :notamused:

My commuter (road touring) bike and SS roadie do not have kickstands. I have thought about getting a double legged kickstand for the touring bike, but I can't see Fredifying the SS roadie that much.

The hybrid came with a kick stand but I went on a weight weenie binge once and took it off. Don't really miss it. Half the time on a trail the bike fell over any way as ground was too soft to support stand leg. And of course I use the road bike on pavement, and I believe it's against the law to put a kick stand on a road bike.

I debated that issue myself today. In the past, I always took off the kickstands to my bikes to minimize the weight. Today I started putting kickstands on all my bikes. I find that sometimes, they do come in handy, and always having to lean it against something, you increase the risk of scratching the frame or damaging spokes or other parts. Since I am working on my bikes these days, this is when a kickstand comes in most handy, for me, for certain types of maintenance. But you should know not to engage the kickstand on a windy day, or on grass, or other uneven ground.

I'll probably hover between periods where I take them off, and periods when I keep them on. All I know is, I'm way past caring whether the "cool kids" will want to be friends with me.

My hybrid and road commuters do, my road pleasure doesn't, although it has a "flick stand". Weight isn't an issue on the commuters and the convenience factor is major. The other road bike's geometry doesn't have room for one anyway. That one gets ridden and hung back up.

Yes the Marin has a kickstand, as does my Sportabout. Very handy.

Road, mountain, fixed, no...

What is a good reason not to use a kickstand on a fast hybrid? I'm debating wether or not to put one on my Quick 3.