Is this a dumb idea?
 

After 20 plus yrs on aluminum frames, I miss the kickstand. Toying with an idea for a pedal activated kickstand and sketched it out for fun. obviously, not something hardcore racers would want but carbon is trickling down more and more.

Concept:

• Modify a pedal so it can lock in place at a certain downward angle.

• When locked, the pedal acts like a mini-leg, propping the bike up.

• Unlock it when riding normally.



Mechanism idea:

• Inside the pedal spindle, you could have a spring-loaded pin or ratcheting system.

• Twist the pedal by hand when stopped → it clicks into a “kickstand position” (like 6 o’clock, straight down, maybe slightly angled outward for more stability).

• Twist it again or apply force and it releases for normal riding.

• You could even design it with a little foot at the bottom of the pedal for better ground grip.


Benefits:

• No extra frame attachments.

• Works with carbon bikes (no stress on frame).

• Hidden when not in use.


Challenges:

• The mechanism has to be strong enough to hold the bike up but not add a ton of weight.

• Needs to survive regular pedaling forces and the elements (rain, grit, etc).



Visual Concept:

• Side View of the Bike:

• The right pedal is pointed straight down (6 o’clock position).

• The pedal itself is slightly angled outward from the bike (maybe 10–15 degrees) to make a stable tripod effect with the two wheels.

• The bottom of the pedal has a small flat “foot” — maybe rubberized — to better grip the ground.

• Close-up of Pedal Mechanism:

• Inside the pedal axle (spindle) is a spring-loaded locking pin.

• When you twist the pedal while stationary, the pin snaps into a locked detent at 6 o’clock.

• To unlock it, you twist slightly back and it springs free for normal riding.

• Optionally: tiny lever or thumb button built into the pedal body to manually engage/disengage the lock.

• Material:

• Lightweight alloy or carbon fiber composite for the pedal body.

• Stainless steel internal mechanism to handle stress and weather.



Bonus Features:

• It could even be a clipless or platform pedal version!

• The “kickstand foot” could be foldable to stay hidden while riding.

"Is this a dumb idea?"

If you have to ask...

I don't see this being that stable. What's keeping the cranks from moving?

Can't remember who made it,but there was a stand that slotted over the left crankarm so that you pointed it straight down and slid it into the stand. Something like that which folds up and could mount off to the side of a bottle cage(like minipumps) would prolly work much better.

It would be fairly simple. Along the side of the crank, install something that telescopes to the ground. Something like how a crutch or ski pole extends.

On the non drive side, somewhere near the seat-tube, a simple device to lock that crank into place. This could probably be attached to the water bottle cage bolts, so nothing would need clamped to the frame.

The type of nicer bikes that you normally wouldn’t want a kickstand wouldn’t want a weird crank either. So the market is for bikes that already have kickstands.

So yeah, it would probably work. There’s no market for it though.

The cranks would lock with a ratchet mechanism inside the pedal spindle. This could lock into place when you twist it to the “kickstand” position and would engage a spring-loaded pin that prevents the crank from rotating.


I think the proper locking angle and a rubberized foot on the pedal would make it as secure as a normal kickstand.

So you’d need a proprietary bottom bracket and crank?

It would be cool on some city bikes as a fancy way of having a kickstand. I don’t think anyone would buy it as an aftermarket part.

A pedal isn't close to the ground. To get the pedal to touch the ground, the bike has to be at a significant angle.
Are you saying this foot will take the space between the pedal and ground?...that seems like a large 'foot'.

People use their pedal as a kickstand all the time...they just prop it atop a curb.

Yes, even in a downward, angled position, the pedal would likely be too high to be stable, potentially even with a rubberized bottom designed to grip.

My dream of a kickstand has been crushed

I was thinking exactly this. I don’t see how it would work without a raised platform or kerb to rest the pedal on. Even then it wouldn’t be very stable. As mentioned above you can prop a bike up with the pedal on a kerb anyway. But very easy to knock it over.

Read what I wrote. Alongside the pedal, you can have a telescoping support. The length of your crank arm and able to extend or retract.

Yeah. I can do that with my fully-loaded touring bike.

/thread

Possibly, but it adds the complexity and weight, I was hoping to avoid. Conceivably, the telescoping part could lock into place once it reaches the desired length with a pin lock or ratchet-type lock. But, the locking and unlocking and the stresses of pedalling and acting as a support with exposure to water etc would necessitate a very durable and likely complex design.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1134601171.jpg
SOURCE: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1130037...dstander-mtb-e

You could mock it up with a few hose clamps and broken trekking pole.

You’re overthinking this. It would not telescope into the crank. It would be on the outside.

Weight wouldn’t matter. It would only be viable on a townie bike. You’re wasting your time to make a performance kickstand. Many have tried and all have failed.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1684ebd67c.png

I’m sure the OP was aware when he started this thread.

How can you be so sure he was aware? Is there something you need to disclose to the rest of us? ;)

Does not appear to lock the crank so would it not be useless ?

Sounds like a poor idea. I mean loads of extra complication to replace a $15-30 part and won't actually work without more parts and more stuff to fail. I will just stick to my rear wheels rubber or a normal kickstand. All companies need to do is put a 18 or 40mm bolt spacing at the rear and you can mount a whole lot of kickstands that are out of the way.

Short answer - Yes

Remember back in the day that little piece of plastic you could slide into your brake lever to lock a wheel. That with the ACC Pedal Kickstand might work well...

If I were to do it, I would make it so the pedal spindle doesn't have to move. I would make the pedal with a hinge on the outside, with legs which either folding into the sides of the pedal, or laid flush. When the legs are unfolded, a system could be added to lock the pedal and prevent it from spinning. But the how well it would work depends on bottom bracket height, crank length, etc.

Based on the number of serious responses, I believe doing so would be futile.

If you're referring to the ACC pedal kickstand, note that the crank arm in the photo is positioned a few degrees behind bottom dead center. That's all that's needed for the ACC pedal kickstand to work.

It's the same principle as standing a bike upright by positioning one pedal so that it's (1) rotated down and slightly back from bottom dead center and (2) resting on a curb. Many of us learned to do that for decades. The ACC pedal kickstand just eliminates the need to use a curb.

This sounds like it may create more issues, complications in manufacturing and expense.

While I’ve never tried one wouldn’t a chain stay aftermarket kickstand be a more viable option? What about adding a traditional kickstand where possible? Seems like this may be creating mom of a pro than it solves.

But hey, have at it.