unkokuri

I got a Surly Long Haul Trucker and when I told the guy at the shop I wanted fenders and a kickstand he said no - to the kickstand, I guess fenders are okay. I've been reading a little about them on this forum and it looks like others have also been told that kickstands are bad for touring bikes - read something about someone with a Thorn Sherpa. Why are these one-legged kickstands so bad?

On my last bike I had a kickstand and the only problem I had with it was it would bend and every couple days I'd have to bend it back. I've seen a few different types of kickstands and I saw a picture of a bike with two kickstands - one on the front rack and one where they normally go in the back. Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Do you know who makes these and where to get them? Are they any good? Also, a lot of people have mentioned an ESGE kickstand. Is this just touring fashion or do the two legs take the sin out of the kickstand? I saw the Click Stand too but it looks inconvenient... I want something that's attached to my bike. Any thoughts? Thanks.

Al Downie

If you don't get the length *just* right, and the bike leans a bit too much, or if a breeze shifts the bike slightly, a fully-loaded biuke can put a HUGE amount of leverage on the point where the kickstand is attached - maybe even bend the frame. Despite that, I bought one before a recent trip (one of the ones which is installed at the rear hub), but couldn't use it because of heel strike. I suspect the BB-mounted ones will be better from a mechanical point of view, but still not ideal on a fully-laden bike.

Me, I just lay the bike on the ground. My panniers are still covered in dirt from the Himalayas, and I can't bring myself to brush it off...

Bekologist

esge pletcher double legged kickstand is often lauded. I like it a lot, but you need to secure the front wheel to prevent weight shifts if the wheel pivots. (sorry, that isn't a good picture)

Tom's Clikstands are also often lauded, but a different concept!

a LBS that sold you a LHT said 'no' to the kickstand??? go back and have them special order you an esge-pletcher double legged kickstand. install it yourself, then ride back in & park it in their shop while browsing.....

the front rack kickstand is a euro concept, not seen in any of the american cycling wholesalers as far as i have seen.

you might be able to rig a suspension bike rear kickstand onto a front rack with a little rigging though.

Hofweber

Holy **** your saddle is pointed up! Did you not cut down your kickstand at all? I bought an ESGE but I am going to try mounting it with rubber bits and see how it fairs. If I like it I'll keep it, if not, back it goes.

lighthorse

I personally have never felt the need for a kickstand. Always someplace to lean the bike, even a bush or tree, or signpost. Or lay it down in the grass as I would if changing a tire, the bike actually lays on the panniers.

vik 

I've used a ESGE kickstand on my LHT and like it quite a lot. It's very useful and saves me laying my bike down on its side when I need to stop. I have toured with it and then without it [forgot to reinstall it] - I immediately regretted not having it on my bike.

Especially if you are someplace muddy or sandy you'll be happy to have your bike stand upright on its own.

I cut mine down and it works better than when uncut, but be careful not to cut the legs too short. I'd figure out how much you want to cut off and then cut only 60% of that much - ride it a bit and then cut off a bit more if needed.

If you get one drop me a PM I have some tips on how to mount them on your LHT so you don't damaged the bike and it doesn't come loose.

Saving Hawaii

Obviously you have never been here.

staehpj1

+1

I've never felt the need for a kickstand. Most places there is a signpost or guard rail, otherwise just lay it on it's side (on the panniers)

staehpj1

Obviously you missed the part of his post that said "Or lay it down in the grass ".

vik 

I've been lots of places with nothing to lean against and the only option was to lay the bike down in the mud or sand. Neither are great options - plus it's hard to get things out of your panniers like that.

If your panniers are off the bike then your pedal is in the mud/sand. On one tour I cringed every time my partner laid her bike on the ground with her SPD pedal burying into the sand, dirt when we camped while my bike was standing up nicely in the middle of nothing to lean against. Not surprisingly she had issues with that pedal's bearings getting worn out prematurely.

Carbon Unit

I use a click stand on my road bike. I carry it in my middle back jersey pocket. It works great and will hold a fully loaded turning bike.

https://www.click-stand.com/Click-Stand_Products.html

valygrl

I can't see a kick stand... because my eyes won't leave the SKIS! Wow.

I was in the don't-need-it camp until this summer when I rode for a couple of weeks with a person who had one, and saw how much hassle it avoided. Still not quite willing to take on that extra weight, so next tour I'll try the Clickstand and see if that does it for me.

Cyclesafe

I used a cut down double kick stand until I noticed that it was crushing my (Americano) frame just aft of the bottom bracket. This was in spite of being careful to tighten it only so much that it wouldn't twist into the rear wheel spokes while riding.

Having a kickstand is lovely for the few times that you can't find something to lean the bike against. But for the rest of the time, it is a heavy SOB. I'd pass.

jurjan

I'm Dutch, so I never even realized that NOT having a kickstand is an option.
My tourer has a kickstand (and lights, dynamo etc.) as standard, just like my citybike.

openmindedgent

Just ask one of the antelope to stay still for a while and lean her right on up against the helpful animal...

sringlee

I always use kickstands. They can be problematic with touring bikes because of the loads in the panniers, but if cut correctly they work. One caution: you need to be careful of the chain stays and make sure the kickstand plates do not crush the stays when tightened. I am building a bike and will have a kickstand plate brazed on to avoid this problem and spread the load across a larger portion of chainstay.

Note as well that many fenders do not allow you the room to install a kickstand behind the bottom bracket. Greenfield makes a rear triangle kickstand that works well: it is mounted on the left by the rear quick release.

fantom1 

Get a Click-Stand. It made touring soooo much easier, and it's lighter weight then a kick stand. Plus, the person who makes them is very nice. An all around great product.

staehpj1

Do you ride at night much while on tour?

For me a dynamo would be overkill on a touring bike. I can see it on a commuter, but I seldom ride at night on tour. In the few situations where I have, a little $6 blinkie and my tiny LED headlamp that I use as a flashlight in camp sufficed. If you ride when and where daylight hours are more limited I guess the need becomes greater.

acantor

A guy at the store sounds like a control freak. It's your bicycle. If you want a kickstand, there is no reason not to use one!

Bekologist

I'm glad I don't have to lay down my bike when there's skis attached or during marginal weather conditions - keeping the bike upright is preferable.

Booger1

If you want a stand,I'd go right back over to the LBS and TELL HIM you want a stand,it's not their choice.

I like kickstands,but I'm not all that worried about a few extra pounds.

Longfemur

Kickstands are toys for kids and the unknowledgeable. There's nothing more unstable and likely to fall over than a bike on a one legged kickstand. You want to park your bike upright, lean it properly against something or use your built-in kickstand: the pedal and front wheel blocked up against a curb method. There's is never any good way to mount a kickstand on a quality bike.

Bekologist

wow. the 'unknowledgable???'

...here's some more photogs of an esge pletcher on my LHT, kickstands in action on dirt and other conditions not amenable to laying the bike down. The unloaded bike with the single kickstand is a Trek 520 I no longer own. that was an old railroad grade that had no trees close enough to the level patch to stand a bike up.

I now have kickstand on my Surly Crosscheck as well.

Doohickie

African or European?

vik 

+100 - those one legged kickstands never work... Leaning a bike against a post or the curb trick is always the way to go...