Make no mistake about it, the bottom bracket area, of a bicycle, is placed under tremendous stress over, and over and over, just by pedaling or spinning the cranks. Now, add a heavy, clamp on accessory to an already stressed area, and what do you get? Additional weight and more stress. Sadly...

The design of the clamp on stand is truly flawed. Yes, a competent mechanic can install one correctly and it will work for a while, but only for a while. Careless use of the stand (kick stand is sort of an operative description) will eventually cause the stand's clamp to loosen. The natural thing to do, is tighten it up more and get on with one's day. The correct thing to do is remove the stand, figure out why it came loose and correct that concern, if possible. However, it just might not be possible, because the stays will have already become slightly distorted.

And then, sooner or later, the above scenario will repeat itself, the stand get's the quick fix, once again, only this time the stays have suffered a wee bit more distortion. And so it goes, until one stay, the other or both crack, rendering the bicycle useless or in need of major repair. I have a Nishiki International in The Old Shed right now waiting for pictures of the damage before I strip the bike and toss the frame.

I have see the distorted stay sets hundreds of time, on high end bikes, as well as entry level models. I have seen the stays crack right where the crushed part of the stays ends (that is the issue with the forementioned Nishiki Inter). And, almost every bicycle I get my hands on, and that is about 1,500 - 2,000 a year, that has a clamp on side or stand stand, arrives at B4H qith the stand loose.

Anyway, use them, if that's what it takes to blow your kilt up. I, personally, do not use them, nor will I install one for one of my customers. I will not sell them, but when it comes to bikes being sent to Africa, I do insist that they be removed and sent separately. I have them removed to make packing 475 - 500 bikes, into a container, a bit easier, and I send the stands to Africa because that is our chapter's policy.

Rare do I rant, and sorry if that is what this appears to be.