I simply can't image a bike without a kickstand. I hear a lot of comments, mostly unnecessary IMO, from club members about the kickstands on my bike. However, my parents are products of the depression and we were raised to take care of our stuff. As kids we were taught not to lay our bikes on the ground and I guess it stuck. My touring bike came with a kickstand and I had my BF put one on my recumbent when he was building it back in July. I simply can't image putting a $1000 bike on the ground and I can hear my dad now giving me a friendly but stern reminder to take care of my toys. Darn to be different from the masses and use your kickstand with pride.