Kickstand or no?

[macski]

I agree with the prevailing wisdom about getting one if you need it and not being a slave to bike snobery.

I don't have a kick stand on any of my bikes (hybrid, drop bar road and flat bar road). In the recent cycling course I did there were 30 women and most of us had hybrids. Nearly all of the women had kickstands but several times their bikes fell over even though they had used the kickstands. Mine never fell over because I always leaned it against something and it wasn't victim to slightly uneven ground or strong winds (the main reasons their bikes fell over).

Also, on at least two occasions I saw people riding off with their kickstands down - fortunately I was able to warn them before something bad happened.

I haven't found the lack of a kickstand to be a problem but if I was loading the bike with groceries etc then I'd seriously consider it.