Do you use a kickstand when hauling a child trailer?

[Elisdad]

I have a MTB and use it for trail riding and hauling my son on paved paths in his child trailer. I use a kickstand now, but wish to take it off since it'd be a danger to me on harder off road rides. How do you all handle hauling a trailer? Do you use kickstands on your bikes or do you have another soultion? Thanks in advance for your reponses.

[Brian]

I don't see how it would cause any worry off road. You could always use a velcro pump strap to tie it up, then still have it handy when you need it. I've considered one for our tandem, just can't find one that matches the bike.

[Elisdad]

The velcro idea is good. I'll see if I can scrounge up a velcro tie strap.

[Brian]

A kickstand is a really handy bit of gear. Too bad no one makes a decent one that looks good too. Velcro is the answer to so many questions...

[Feldman]

A rear-axle mounted kickstand will hold a loaded bike up better, if it doesn't have a space conflict with the trailer hitch it might work for you, too.

[DCCommuter]

Are you talking a trailer (2 wheels) or a trail-a-bike (1 wheel)? A trailer should pivot independently of the bike and stay upright when the bike is laid down on its side. Anything else is dangerous.

I just plop my loaded bike on the ground...

[Elisdad]

My two wheeled trailer (Burley) does have a pivot on the mounting mechanism. I never thought about simply laying down the bike in order to check on the baby. I might just take the kickstand off. Thanks DCCommuter.

[Helmet Head]

I never use kickstands, and never miss them.
There is always a wall, tree, post, bike rack, curb or something to lean the bike against.
Hauling my daughter in the Burley trailer for five years now, with a road tandem as well as my mountain bike, I think one time I could not find a spot to lean the bike and had to lay the bike down.

Serge

[PaulH]

I wouldn't call a kickstand essential. The trailer hitch has a pivot that allows you to do this. On the other hand, I find a kickstand a great convenience. and I certainly would not want a bike that lacked one.

Paul

[Helmet Head]

Anyone who cares for his bike, and/or spent a decent chunk of change purchasing his bike, does not have a kickstand. That should tell you something...

[I-Like-To-Bike]

Anyone who cares for his bike, and/or spent a decent chunk of change purchasing his bike, does not have a kickstand. That should tell you something...
It certainly does about the poster of such unique sweeping generalizations about bicyclists.

[Elisdad]

My issue isn't the "cool" factor of not having a kickstand. I'm torn between the convience of having a kickstand for in town use when hauling a trailer versus the potential danger of having one on my bike when I'm trying to negotiate off road obstacles.

If I may ask, how many of you kickstand advocates are mountain bike users?

[I-Like-To-Bike]

My issue isn't the "cool" factor of not having a kickstand. I'm torn between the convience of having a kickstand for in town use when hauling a trailer versus the potential danger of having one on my bike when I'm trying to negotiate off road obstacles.

If I may ask, how many of you kickstand advocates are mountain bike users?
I don't know that there are any kickstand "advocates." There are cyclists who find them useful for their needs, and don't let self appointed "coolness" experts make their decisions for them. You can listen to the kickstand users or not, and I doubt if anyone cares how you decide.

If you think there is a safety problem with kickstands and it overrides their convenience for you, fix it (Velcro has been suggested) or do without. It is YOUR choice, not Mr. StyleMan's, thank goodness.

I don't understand what the safety problem is but I am not a MTBiker; do you intend to pull the bike trailer on those MTB trails that make kickstands risky for you?

[Elisdad]

The trailer isn't used on the trails, just on paved bike paths, however the bike is used on trails when not pulling the trailer. Thanks to all who've commented on the subject, I think I will try the velcro option a few times and see if it's adequate, if not, I just take off the kickstand, a simple solution ot a simple problem.

[scoana]

I have a kickstand on my MTB and it never interfered with any trailriding I did. I never did anything special to it (velcro, etc.) trail riding. Rarely did it require readjusting due to rock, stump jumping, etc.

It does not obstruct the child trailer I tow in any way either.

[Elisdad]

In regards to the trailer, I agree. The kickstand has never bothered me in the least. I initially posted the question because I was concerned with trail riding. I'm glad that you've had no issues with your kickstand.

[Roody]

A kickstand can be a problem. Mine (Specialized MTB orig. equip.) wouldn't stay tightened when it got mud or dirt in it. The problem is, a couple times it loosened up while I was riding. Luckily, I heard the noise it made and tightened it, only to have it loosen again a few days later. I took it off and saw the dried mud that was preventing the mounting bolt from holding properly. Rather than check it every time I ride in mud, I decided to just leave it off. As everyone probably knows, a loose kickstand might swing into your cranks or spokes and cause a fall. You don't really need a kickstand, though it can be handy from time to time. The only time I miss it is when I stop in a wet field and I don't have anything to lean the bike against.