Kick Stands

[Lakerider]

I'm not used to having a bike without a kick stand. I'm considering having one put on. Please give me your opinion. Thanks!

[Biciclista]

I have a custom road bike. It does not have a place for a kickstand. I have grudgingly gradually accepted it; but I love kickstands.

[Grog]

It depends on the bike.

I see no reason for one on my road bike (used primarily for training rides), but it's essential on my commuter.

[SadieKate]

Yeah, like grog said.

For instance, mtn bikes should not have kickstands. It could be dangerous. And probably no place to attach one.

[OakLeaf]

My commuter came with a sidestand.

But the bike will tip right over if it's on the stand, especially if there's anything in the panniers. Bent my brake lever pretty good, that way, before I just started ignoring the stand.

Having to go through all sorts of rigamarole to have something to secure the front wheel, getting it out, attaching it... I may as well just lean the bike up against something, or lay it on its side if it's just a big grassy or sandy area, as I would with a normal bike.

So I vote no.

[papaver]

It depends on the bike.

I see no reason for one on my road bike (used primarily for training rides), but it's essential on my commuter.

++++1

[Pax]

Ditto what Grog said. I really need to put one on my commuter, it didn't come with one and I just keep forgetting to buy one.

[Lakerider]

The bike shop guy told me,
"Clamp the front brake handle down with a rubber band so it won't roll, then just lean it on something."

I said, "What if I need to stop and there'e nothing to lean it on? Guess I'll just keep going until I find a tree or something."

Is that what you ladies do? When I ride 50 to 100 miles, I will certainly need to make some stops!

[BikingNurse]

Annie, That click stand is really cool. Thats what I want. I don't like kick stands. I really don't feel they are safe.

[Lakerider]

Annie, That click stand is really cool. Thats what I want.

I agree. That click stand does look cool!

[bmccasland]

The click-stand thingy looks really interesting!

[MomOnBike]

I've looked at the click-stand thingy, and if I ever get in a place where the weight of my bike matters that much, yeah, I'd get one. As it is, my bikes have kickstands. I find it much easier to do all my bike stuff when it stands up by itself. Loading groceries? Check. Pumping tires? Check. Fiddling around with the brakes? Check. All that.

Yeah, I'll take a kick stand. I can handle it, I'm no weight weenie.

[tzvia]

I see no reason to drag around a boat anchor. And I second the use of a band to keep a brake lever depressed. I use one of those velcro tie downs; an 8" one works perfect.

On the MTB, it can catch on whatever you are riding through, and on the road bike, it's several pounds of no purpose what so ever.

Now if the bike is a heavy commuter, I might see it, but frankly, as you are likely to be carrying a lock/chain of some sort anyway to lock the bike to something, you are going to lean it on that something anyway...

[Cataboo]

There are times that I miss having a kick stand, but none of my bikes have one.

I don't have one on my mountain bike for obvious reasons. I don't have one on my road bike because while I'm not a weight weenie, I do have nice (for me at least) light bikes that I spent a good bit on and then put carbon handlebars and such - thus making them lighter and it seems a shame to add another few pounds to them for a kickstand that I probably wouldn't use. I don't stop much on road rides, and if I do, finding a tree is not a problem. No tree, then I just lay the bike in the grass.

My commuter bike is probably the bike that most needs a kick stand - but it's also the heaviest bike I have. Steel, with racks, whatever... and I really just have no desire to make it heavier because I do carry it up the stairs. It stands up fine in the bike stand at work. Getting out the front door & locking it is sometimes tricky.

[emily_in_nc]

II find it much easier to do all my bike stuff when it stands up by itself. Loading groceries? Check. Pumping tires? Check. Fiddling around with the brakes? Check. All that.

Yeah, I'll take a kick stand. I can handle it, I'm no weight weenie.

+1

I have a kickstand on my Bike Friday for the same reason -- it's an errand/running around bike. Sure, I sometimes go on strictly recreational/fitness rides, but half a lb. is not going to make that much of a difference, and I do love the convenience at stops, when pumping tires and the other things you mention.

No kickstand on the mtb, and I didn't have on my lightweight carbon bike either, but I sold that bike.