I have these on two of my bikes that I use when I plan on stopping somewhere, the other road bikes do not have any kickstands although I have thought about getting a Mini Click stand but realized that the time I really need it is when I open the door getting it out of the house. If you get the Pletscher, be sure to order the rubber tips for it!

Frame lock and kick stand (and in my case a fork lock - and a cable for securing the brooks to the frame and lock) and I park just about anywhere without worry. I'm pretty sure I can out run 99% of the population with my 50lb Superbe on their back...

Personally I love kick stands, and honestly no one has said anything ever that even makes sense on why you wouldn't want one. If an extra pound or less of weight is really holding your riding back you've got bigger problems than a kick stand on your bike.

note to self: live near trees, and allow the paint to dry before touching it.

Even when living in an area that is considered highly populated with deciduous forestation, it is probable within habituated urban areas of that location, that stable, arborus verdure may not be within a given distance of one's immediate location.

The "paint" I referred to is actually from contact with the 20 year old aluminum siding on our house. In which case, the painting or anodization method that was used on aluminum siding has sufficiently cured.

In this particular situation, there is a level, concrete pad outside our garage- to the east is the neighbor's house, to the west is a section of chain link fence. However, there is a downspout that would necessitate picking the bike up to lean it on the fence. In order to close the garage door, the closest spot to lean the bike is against the house, or lift the bike over the downspout to lean on the fence. Or just drop the kickstand on the concrete right outside the garage...

The point is that millions of bicycles have had chainstay mounted kickstands for decades. My personal bike had one for 25 years or so- aside from a little scratching of the paint (that I may have done in removing it) the bike is fine. It wasn't unridably heavy, the ridiculously long chainstays didn't collapse into a black hole and children didn't point and laugh. Perhaps even more tellingly- since I've removed the kickstand, no one has even once said "hey, cool bike- it doesn't have a kickstand."

Just ran across this picture tonight.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IM3eHon0sN...-04-11+011.jpg

I lay my bike down on its side. It can't fall from that position. Why do I have to stand it up?

Very nice.

I was looking through the thread for this one, Tom. I've always remembered the "a bike that's laying down can't fall over".

There is high potential for damage to the chainstay tubes and almost certain damage to the paint using a kickstand in a bike with no kickstand plate. Here is the chainstay of an '85 Stumpjumper I bought thru eBay:

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/c...da420d61-1.jpg

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps3c1ba3eb.jpg

It had a kickstand and I bid on it hoping for minimal damage and fortunately for me it was only paint damage.

I have seen more severely damaged seat stays here and on eBay and here are particular examples:

Here is one from an eBay auction a while back of an 84 Stumpjumper:

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps2a107239.jpg


Here are 2 from pics posted by Juls (forum member here) of a DB Ridgerunner:

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps153e06f4.jpg

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/c...psc0cb0e62.jpg

Here is a link to a blog with a recent article relevant to this discussion: http://www.tamiasoutside.com/2013/04...man_pletscher/

My former commuter bike had a double-legged kickstand, and it was very useful. But I absolutely hate the single-legged kickstands. I've had my bike fall over many more times using one of those than when I use no stand at all. My girlfriend's bike came with a proper kickstand plate and a Greenfield style stand. She's only had the bike for a month and I'd estimate it's fallen over at least 30 times. I finally got tired of watching her struggle with it and gave her the double-legged stand from my grocery bike. I've also found that bikes with drop bars are much easier to securely lean against walls than bike with other types of handlebars.

I added one and wouldn't be without it. :thumb:

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s...Tourer/St4.jpg

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s...Tourer/St3.jpg

Greenfield makes a Stabilizer kick-stand that clamps to the seat and chain stays. These require very little torque to be secure, and they come with thick plastic sleeves that protect the paint on the stays. They are very stable (more so than the traditional mounted kick-stands). I use them on bikes that I ride in town.

On the bikes that only see road use or forest road use, I usually don't bother with a stand - but this isn't doctrine - it's just choice.

Earthy!

On a few of the bikes I have with Kickstands, I've used handlebar tape (4 pieces, two top and two bottom) where the clamps meet the frame. Similar to the above pick, but the tape is hidden so you almost don't even see it.

Only my wife's bikes have kickstands. I pondered this a few years ago when I got back into cycling regularly. I have no kickstands on my Mtn, Road or C&V bikes. Actually I set out saying "ok, I'll try it but I'm skeptical". Shortly I found it was not needed. I did two key things. I have a 'parking brake' on each bike. On the straight bar bikes it's a bit of wee bungee that will hold the front brake lever held back to lock the wheel so the bike cannot roll. On the road bikes it's a wedge of wine cork cut to snug in between the brake lever and the housing hold the front brake (or rear if better) on. Then I learned how easy it is to park the bike with the left pedal proped on something, just past the 6:00 position: on a curb, on a bit of firewood, on a beer can, on one of my water bottles, etc. I've used all sorts of things, even a spare auto tire lying on the side of the trail. Easy. The key is to prevent the bike from rolling with the parking brake. Flick-stand use to do that too but I don't want one on my DT. If the bike will not roll then there are gobs of options on what lean it against. If you can park it on the left crankarm then you're golden anywhere. I gotta box of kickstands too.

Consider Left - Rear Triangle Kickstands , perhaps ?

Why would anyone lay a bike down on the ground?! I cringe when I see kids doing this, scraping the pedals, handlebars, etc.

Lean it against something that won't mar your saddle, frame, handlebar tape or levers. Tree comes to mind if done gently. Otherwise, hold onto it...

Seems that bikes, having 2 wheels, tend to be unstable things, unlike trikes, and gravity and wind affects unstable things in unpredictable ways. They've an annoying way of waiting till you're not looking, then escaping the tree or curb or park bench, and crashing to the ground while grinding hard bark or concrete or steel bench frames along those wonderful graphics on your tubes which aren't so wonderful anymore at that point. All that hits the ground when I lay mine down is a pedal end and some cheap handlebar tape. I never lay it down on concrete. I'd rather replace 3 feet of bar tape than to have to order new Velocals and repair a scraped frame. The pedals? Their on their own.

The "rather safe than sorry" thing comes to mind.

Kickstands make indoor parking easier as shown by our little fleet of steel bikes that should have properly installed kickstands...and stem shifters..... and mirrors....and bags.
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