Kick Stands

[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!

[ny biker]

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!

Yes, I just lean it against something -- exterior wall of the 7-Eleven, fence, tree, etc. If there really is nothing (a rarity), I put it on its side with the gears facing up.

[maillotpois]

Lean it on a tree, a fence, against the curb (spin the pedal around to the 3:00 position (roughly) so you can brace the pedal on the curb to hold the bike up). I can't imagine having a kickstand on my road bike or MTB.

[OakLeaf]

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!

On a supported ride, I'll just lay my bike in the grass, chain up.

Unsupported means that when I stop, it'll be at a store or restaurant that has exterior walls. (Or a cornfield... where depending on how far I have to walk to get to the corn, I may rest my bike against the cornstalks or lay it in the grass again. )