Kickstands. Yes or no?

[sundial]

Hubby has a kickstand and loves it.

I, on the other hand, catapoult enough without the assistance of an appendage.

[MomOnBike]

My bikes are for Going Places and Doing Things. A kickstand come in handy, so I have them on both bikes. If, however, I were to race I'd be looking to save every scrap of weight possible. No kickstand.

It all depends on the bike, and the intended uses. The biggest issue is if the kickstand (bell, flag, bucket panniers, etc.) make YOU smile. It IS your bike, after all.

That said, I like the folding stands, I'd be good with one.

[ginny]

when I was in Europe touring, everyone had kickstands! I was the dork left holding my bike on every ferry crossing I'm totally going to get one before my next tour... but it has to be tough enough to not fall over loaded etc ... just like everyone here has said. Maybe something more like a motorcycle kick stand... maybe that's just a tad too much. I hated holding the bike when everyone else was sitting and soaking up sun

[OakLeaf]

I should've been more clear - there's nothing wrong with my kickstand, it doesn't fold up. The bike just pivots around it. The solution isn't a different kickstand, it's in putting some steering lock on the bike... and since I don't care to shorten up my cables, it would be one of those front tire holder deals, whatever they're called. Do they make those for fat tires? At any rate it seems like more trouble than it's worth. I lock my hybrid to something or at least put it in a rack when I'm parking it away from home. It does sit on the kickstand in the garage (level floor, unloaded panniers). So basically I'm carrying my home storage solution around with me wherever I ride. The kickstand is useless anywhere else.

[Aint Doody]

Oakleaf, do you just need something to hold a brake in place? With the Click-stands you get these things that are like pony-tail holders to put on your handlebars and hold the brake closed. Would putting something like that on you handlebar help? It will keep the bicycle from moving. Just a thought.

You can just use pony-tail holders.