General Cycling Discussion - laying bicycle on the side?

Is there anything bad that can happen to a bicycle if you lay it on the side?

I got panniers and and sometimes fill them fully up. A lot of weight.
Why do they say to lay your bike drive side up? I got a mirror and I would mess the mirror up if I layed it drive side up.

With the bike drive side down, there is a chance of bending the RD hanger, unless a pannier or something else protects it from ground contact.

What's wrong with a sign post, tree, or wall?

Laying it down gently is fine. It can't fall over. But like KZBrian said, you don't want your RD in the dirt or on the pavement with the possibility of damaging it or bending the hanger.

What's wrong with a sign post, tree, or wall?Nothing but I just wanted to know so I dont do something that can damage my bike. Like if I had to leave my bike for some emergency and I had to lay the bike down.

What's wrong with a sign post, tree, or wall?

Sorry, being a prairie boy, I had to smile at this. A lone cyclist may be able to find something, but throw in a few, or a rest stop on an organized ride out on the Great Plains, and the bikes have to be laid down. As captain of a tandem sometimes, I just cringe laying the timing chain on the ground, but hey....

Kickstands rule.

Wouldn't ya know it but some joker invented a device so bikes didn't have to laid down.......it called a KICKSTAND !! :twitchy::twitchy:

Now that's just amazing! :p:p:p

My kickstand is useless when I have stuff in my panniers.

My kickstand is useless when I have stuff in my panniers.

Get a better kickstand:
http://harriscyclery.net/product/sks-pletscher-double-kickstand-1034.htm

+1 on the Pletscher kickstand. It works great on my hybrid with trunk bag and panniers.

+100 on kickstands in general.

Fuel can leak when a bottle is placed sideways.

the ( click stand ) is another alternative

Here is the link
http://www.click-stand.com/

Having a lot of hip joint pain, left side,
so I lay the bike down when I cannot swing my leg over the saddle while moving,
and shifting my weight to the left pedal..

getting old :50: is getting old by now..

the ( click stand ) is another alternative

I got a click stand for my LHT as Surly does not care for kick stands on that model. The click stand has served me well and I recommend it, if it fits your needs.