Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - my wife and the kickstand

So I'm sitting at my desk at work when I get a text from my wife. "I've got a surprise for you!!!" she writes. Not wanting to seem extremely busy (which I was) and uninterested, I write back that I'm teeming with anticipation. Apparently she was so excited that she drove up to where I work to bequeath me with this gift.

She walks up to my cube, beaming, and hands me a bag. Inside is a kickstand.

I just bought a new bike and, yes, sometimes it'd be nice to have a kickstand, but, truth be told, I don't want to put a kickstand on my bike. It's not a weight thing. It's an I-don't-want-to-scratch-the-frame thing.

I really don't want to crush her spirit and tell her there's no way I'm putting that thing on my bike, but I really don't want to.

I might just use it because it will come in handy and she'll have the satisfaction of knowing she bought me a well thought out gift.

Do most of you put kickstands on your bikes? And if you have, does it scratch the frame pretty good?

What kind of bike is it? With any luck, you've got a track-style fixed-gear with no room in which to install the kickstand between the bottom bracket and rear wheel :D

Edit: It doesn't do TOO much damage on initial installation, but over the years sometimes they'll move around just a little and really grind some paint. I've only ever put kickstands on scuzzy utility bikes, and experimented with them on touring bikes (and found them lacking).

What kind of kickstand, though? One of those cheap Greenfields that fits between the chainstays?

Bolt-on kickstands are pretty useless, since your bike can fall over pretty easily and they can break if you put any weight on them, so I don't use them. The only kickstands that are worth having are the massive built-in steel ones like I've got on my old 46 pound Schwinn Speedster.

I've got an Origin8 Uno. It's not the most expensive bike out there, but it rides like a champ. I love it.

The kickstand is a Greenfield.

^^^That, by TejanoTrackie,

or this:
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31TAia-TOxL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

I've got an Origin8 Uno. It's not the most expensive bike out there, but it rides like a champ. I love it.

The kickstand is a Greenfield.

eh, it'll scratch up an area you won't really be able to see, I wouldn't worry about that

If you really don't want to put it on, just say it won't fit on your frame. it may be bs, but say the chainstays are too thin to be clamped if it's obvious there's plenty of clearance for it.

I wouldn't mind a kickstand like that. Aside from being an eyesore, the Greenfield also doesn't look very sturdy.
Now I just need to convince my wife that I really do appreciate the thought, but she needs to go back to the drawing board.

wroomwroomoops - that Sunlite Double Kickstand (http://www.niagaracycle.com/product_info.php?products_id=11375) looks like it will do the job.

wroomwroomoops - that Sunlite Double Kickstand (http://www.niagaracycle.com/product_info.php?products_id=11375) looks like it will do the job.
Glad I could help. Especially when your family peace is at stake :)
Do try to be gracious about her present, though; a year from now you'll be so glad you were.

There's the perfect reason to get a bar/beach cruiser or something. You need to put a bike on that kickstand. Same thing happened to me with a handlebar mirror. I just said "yeah, uh great". I think it's still on the floor in my garage.

I have kickstands on most of my bikes and frankly, I think the convenience of having it far outweighs the downsides. The one bike I have that doesn't have a kickstand accidentally falls over far more often than the ones with kickstands. If you want to protect the frame, wrap it in old handlebar tape or something where the kickstand bolts on.

I only have 1 bike with a kickstand and that's on a 80's schwinn..... the scratching caused by a bike stand depends on its design..... my schwinn has one of those nice spring loaded cut to fit your bike kickstands and it remains scratch less around the kick stand area... its design with a rigid independent spring housing assembly helps absorb the force when using the kickstand in addition you don't even have to use much force to engage and disengage the kickstand since its spring loaded.... just keep any kickstand properly secured as that definitely helps prevent potential scratch causing play between the kickstand and frame.

I really don't care what you do with your bike but I don't think there will ever be kickstands on any of my bikes.

I guess it could be useful sometimes. If it wouldn't look totally out of place I wouldn't mind one on my fixed because that's my around-town city bike. It would just look so out of place though. Bikes still fall over frequently with them so I'm not seeing how they're all that great to have in the first place.

Kickstands just don't seem to belong on any bike with drop bars or suspension. You could not pay me (well you could but it would be a bunch) to put a kickstand on my mtb. I've seen a few wally-world mtbs with the kickstand wrapped into the rear wheel.

I love having kickstands on my bikes. To keep them from scratching the frame I cut a small length of clear vinyl tubing, slit it lengthwise, and wrap it around the frame under the kickstand's clamp. Works beautifully.

Return the favor by giving her one of these...

http://www.bradfitzpatrick.com/store/images/products/bo010-divorce-papers.jpg

Nevaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar

Tough situation. That's why my wife gives me gift cards to the LBS. I would just be upfront with her and explain you really appreciate the thought, but don't really want to put a kickstand on your fixed gear. Try to use some kind of a make-up /hair tool analogy.

Return the favor by giving her one of these...

http://www.bradfitzpatrick.com/store/images/products/bo010-divorce-papers.jpg

I LOL'd :lol:

I don't want kick stands on my bikes, but that kickstand would get put on (using the vinyl tubing idea).

Be smart and put the kickstand on.

You're just doomed. Anything that you can do is wrong.

If you install the kickstand you'll kick yourself every time that you look at your previously spiffy new bike. There's also mega hen pecking points involved here.

If you don't use the kickstand, your wife will be utterly crushed because she tried so hard to please you and failed. Also - no sex.

If Shakespere were alive today he could write a tragedy about your situation.

Good luck! I have a feeling you're going to need it.

I would put it on. My wife is more awesome than any other person who would be looking at my bike and scoffing because of scratches or a kickstand (including me).

I can't believe some of these responses. I know riding a fixed gear is about style to a lot of people on here, but come on.

Your wife bought you a gift that she thought you would enjoy; just use it. You don't want her to feel like you rejected a gift that she put thought into. No amount of "hipster points" is worth making your wife feel bad.

My fiance' got me a Windsor Hour. No kickstand yet, and she lets me keep my bikes in the spare lounge room.

I hope your wife isn't on BikeForums.

I would put it on. My wife is more awesome than any other person who would be looking at my bike and scoffing because of scratches or a kickstand (including me).

The man's got a point.

I don't go for kickstands myself, but in this case you definitely don't want to insult the wife. Wrap the chainstay in something like a section of old tube to protect the frame and put it on for her, at least for a while.

ok, I'm a chick, so listen to me. keep your wife happy, but don't ruin your bike. tell her you are saving it for a project. if that doesn't work, get a cheapy old $10 thrift store beater, put it on that, and tell her you're restoring it (act very excited, tell her it's PERFECT, you would have never thought of it yourself, she's so thoughtful, blah blah blah) problem solved. wife feels special, your bike is saved.

or... don't jump through hoops over something silly, and just be honest.

My wife would see through that in about 0.004 seconds.

Try being completely honest about it. Tell her you don't like it and don't plan on using it. Tell us how it goes. You can't always please other people at the expense of your own satisfaction/happiness. Tell her thanks for the thought, return it, and buy a bottle of wine with the refund. Then she'll know that you are a truth speaker no matter what.

holy hell

just tell her it isn't compatible with your bike. Unless the person is into cycling and rides in groups or is on forums, they'll completely buy it. Out of all my friends, I have maybe 3 that could call me out on that bluff. If she asks why, just say it wasn't engineered with a kickstand in mind and could mess it up, and that you don't think you can safely mount it. Like I said, any non-cyclist will buy this because skinny tires = racing bike and finnicky and expensive.

if you don't give a ****, use it. your bike isn't real light, it isn't fragile, and when I see another fixed gear rider there's a lot of other things i'll scoff at in my head before a kickstand. these include wheels costing more than the rest of the bike, huge saddle to bar drop with flats/risers, 650c fronts on a bike not intended for it, colored chains, and brakes not on handlebars. kickstands are low on my snark list unless it's on something super nice like a landshark, bob jackson, or a cervelo.

I hope your wife isn't on BikeForums.

HA! She bought him a kickstand, you think she reads BF?

My fiance' got me a Windsor Hour. No kickstand yet, and she lets me keep my bikes in the spare lounge room.

you have a spare room?? sigh. i gotta get out of this city.

ok, I'm a chick, so listen to me. keep your wife happy, but don't ruin your bike. tell her you are saving it for a project. if that doesn't work, get a cheapy old $10 thrift store beater (hey, everyone needs one), put it on that,
This is one of the dumbest advices I've ever read on BFSSFG.

you don't need a kickstand.
if it's a fixed gear, it'll track stand pretty much anywhere you need it to.

This is one of the dumbest advices I've ever read on BFSSFG.

don't take it seriously. if he is honestly worried about her being upset about a KICKSTAND, come on. if she's that sensitive he is probably used to walking on eggshells. I should have added winky faces or something, I'm not actually being serious here.

Marriage success tip #1: Don't upset your wife unnecessairly.
Marriage success tip #2: Don't be dishonest with your wife. This should be rule #1 actually.
Marriage success tip #3: Don't take jump through hoops that are going to make you resent your wife. This will turn you into a *****, making your wife actually like you less, and make you dislike yourself.

Tricky, eh? But not really. She was doing something nice for you, let her know that you appreciate it. She was trying to be involved and interested in something you like, because she likes you. Tell her about how kickstands aren't too useful on some bikes, and yours is one of 'em. Tell her you love her, and follow the return/bottle of wine idea presented above. Now this has the potential to turn out quite well...

+ kickstand = - street cred

fact.

you're either a really good liar, your wife is blind and has no intuition, or she already knows by looking at your face that you aren't excited about her present.

just explain that you really appreicate her getting you something that would help you biking, but it doesn't fit on your bike and your type of bike doesn't use a kickstand because it gets in the way.

if she's not someone who can understand that, you don't want to be with her.

and if you'd hide it or manipulate her to not hurt her feelings, she shouldn't want to be with you either.

i can't understand people getting married to people they don't want or can't be honest with. i mean really...

http://talkaboutmarriage.com/

you have a spare room?? sigh. i gotta get out of this city.

No, a spare lounge room. You know - bookcase, pool table, fireplace? I used to have two spare bedrooms, but one is the cat's now. And the missus doesn't mind where I leave my bikes in the house.

If she got me a kickstand, I would take that as some sort of hint.

http://talkaboutmarriage.com/

Wow. Ho-ly. My marriage is gooooood. Those are some messed up folks over there. "My husband won't have sex with me and neither will my male friends, and this makes me mad."

I think I'll text my wife and tell her I love her.

or... don't jump through hoops over something silly, and just be honest.
*DING*
If not, next you'll be wearing matching Christmas sweaters. :)

I think I'll text my wife and tell her I love her.That's always a good idea.

This is why I love my gf. She knows not to buy me anything bike related unless I tell her exactly what I want. My xmas gift from her was a set of Kreitler alloy rollers. HELL YEA.

I think you should "attempt" to put it on, find out that it won't work with your narrow chainstays, and see if she's cool with you returning it for a computer or new rear tire or lights or something. I bet she is, she bought the present and was excited bc she knows that you love cycling and she's happy to contribute to a passion of yours. It's not the kickstand, it's the thought and her being involved with your hobby.

Pretty badass wife you got there. If you're honest she's gonna be be ecstatic no matter what.

When I went home last night, I gave my wife a big hug and kiss and told her I loved her. Then I grabbed the kickstand, put it somewhere close to where it should go, and shook my head incredulously.

"Bummer...it's not going to fit," I said, staring up at her, smirking. (I never actually took it out of the package.)

We went back and forth for a bit, she tried to explain to me how it would fit.

Both of us were laughing the whole time.

She thought she grabbed the wrong one and ended up telling me to just go pick out the one I wanted. At which point, I confessed to not really wanting a kickstand at all. She gave me those eyes and said facetiously, "see if I ever go out of my way to get you anything again."

I can understand why she went out and bought the thing. The other day she saw me scooting my bike up to a curb to prop it up. I really appreciate the thought, and I am going to use the money from the kickstand to buy her some scrapbook stuff.

My wife's pretty cool. If my honesty really did hurt her feelings, she did a pretty good job of concealing it.

All the feedback was much appreciated and most of it was rather amusing.

How silly of me, I forgot to mention that she just had a baby 22 days ago and that her emotions have been capricious to say the least. I've got to say though, she is a beast. I don't know how she does it.

On little to no sleep, she manages to take care of the baby, clean our entire house, and run errands on a daily basis. she bounced back from the delivery like it was nothing. Even right after she had the baby, she had to make a trip to the lavatory. when she brought it up, the nurse said, "oh no, hold on, I'll be over there in a minute." My wife said, "na, I got this," and walked to the bathroom on her own 5 minutes afer the strenuous task of delivering a baby.

Aside from not sharing my passion for cycling (not that that's a bad thing in any way--we are of the opposites attract school) my wife is perfect for me. And rightly so, I did marry her.

wow that turned from kickstand explanation to wife praise pretty fast.
oh well.

I'm glad it worked out for the best. Thats awesome. As an engaged dude, its nice to hear so many people quite happily married. sigh.

leave the gun; take the cannoli

skip the stand; keep the good wife

personally all my bikes must have a stand. I am now fond of rear stands that attach to the stays.

dude, any scratch they cause will be invisible.

wow that turned from kickstand explanation to wife praise pretty fast.
oh well.

Well she would like that. Congrats on the little one. I have one (daughter, 3) and one on the way.

Just tell her it got jacked when you had your ride locked up outside. Hopefully that doesn't result in her buying you another one though...

How silly of me, I forgot to mention that she just had a baby 22 days ago and that her emotions have been capricious to say the least. I've got to say though, she is a beast. I don't know how she does it.

On little to no sleep, she manages to take care of the baby, clean our entire house, and run errands on a daily basis. she bounced back from the delivery like it was nothing. Even right after she had the baby, she had to make a trip to the lavatory. when she brought it up, the nurse said, "oh no, hold on, I'll be over there in a minute." My wife said, "na, I got this," and walked to the bathroom on her own 5 minutes afer the strenuous task of delivering a baby.
I think your wife is fantastic. We got a baby 8 weeks ago, and with the experience I have, I can appreciate your missus' strength of will.

I know I will sound crazy to you, but I think in a few years you'll feel a bit sorry for returning her kickstand and not installing it on your bike. You'll think "my wife's been so awesome to me, I could have really just accepted her gift, for her sake." The reason I think this will happen, is because I had similar regrets.

I would put it on. My wife is more awesome than any other person who would be looking at my bike and scoffing because of scratches or a kickstand (including me).
I really like this attitude.