Originally Posted by
bikemig
Kickstands are useless. (1) Unless your bike has a plate, it will eventually damage the chain stays (unless you run a kickstand from the rear drop out). Very few nice bikes have kickstands because they are unnecessary. (2) If you're riding the bike, a kickstand the dead weight. If the bike is at home, get a stand or hang it on a hook. (3) If you're going to lock it up, the kickstand doesn't help you.
My bike doesn't have a plate, but I'd like to mount a kickstand (I have a double that I have cut a corner off of so that it clears the front derailler cable). Does anyone know a very good way to protect the chain stays so I can add one? It's on my Salsa Vaya and they say no to kickstands mounted via the stays. I cannot add one at the rear because of my disc brake.
bikemig I hear what you are saying and I'm not wanting to argue. I believe that a double kickstand will be helpful, especially since my larger tires do not fit in a standard bike rack (the tires are too tall) so I'd stand the bike next to the rack to lock it up. Also, I see that some of the shop owners are not happy with me (gently) leaning the bike against their plate glass front windows. Many places have no other leaning area.