But of course! I'm not religious ...

I always use a kick stand but my bike is always inside if I'm not on it

Yes, two hybrids and both came with kickstands. Pretty much all hybrids/commuting/utility bikes come with one around here. My winter bike's stand was not very good and stand started getting shaky after >10 years of heavy use, so I removed it. The other bike still has it. I consider it a good thing to be able to park the bike upright on its own, especially when I have panniers or other touring gear on it.

--J

+1 to all the above.

I voted no since I take it down, inspect it, ride and put it back up. On the cruiser and city bikes mentioned by WCoast it is doubtful a kickstand would elicit a second glance.....but on a road, quick hybrid or mountain bike a kickstand would stand out as a blemish imo.

When all other hybrids are laying down, mine are still standing up... haa haa.
A sidestand on all my GP bikes are too utilitarian and convenient.
My sidestands get used every day.:)

Let me begin with a disclaimer. I'm not suggesting that the following is anyone's current motivation for using or not using a kickstand. Just some historical observation.

Back in the 70's when I got my 10-speed, the more expensive bikes tended to not come with kickstands, and were perceived to be for more "serious" bikers, who were presumed to be concerned with speed. A kickstand added unnecessary weight. Bikes at the lower end, cost wise, would be more "recreational", so the kickstand was included. Example - my Schwinn Continental came with a kickstand, but a Paramount did not.

I think this just stuck as part of the culture. In looking at the 2009 Giant catalog, the closer a bike is to being perceived as recreational, the more likely it is to be shown with a kickstand.

This doesn't necessary coorelate to the way people actually use their bikes, but probably does to a large extent.

My personal thoughts...If you do have a kickstand, you have the option of using it or not, depending on your situation.

I don't mind laying a bike down that doesn't have one, but I do like using them when available. I went through a phase of always removing them, but frankly, I can take them or leave them.

If I have one on a bike and it isn;t stable, I probably would take it off instead of futzing with it.

I'm so glad you set up this poll. I just shopped for a bicycle on Friday and bought a Trek 7000 WSD on Saturday. At one LBS, I was snootily told that no, a bike I was trying didn't come with a kickstand. He acted like I was an idiot for even wanting one. I bought my bike from another LBS the next day. My bike came with a kickstand. I'm happy.

I like my kick stand so much, I don't kick it anymore.
Now I call it a side stand.:)

Both my bikes have kickstands. The X-Mart FauxMTB has one standard. My craigslist/bikeshop hybrid has a Greenfield, which could have been an aftermarket addition.

If I was buying a new bike-shop quality bike, I wouldn't have them add a kickstand. I'd get something like a Click-Stand. It looks very handy.

Kevin

No kickstands here, don't see the need. Bike leans against whatever is there and if there is no whatever, I will just lay it down. Very seldom is there no whatever.

I've seen the click-stand before. neat idea but:

1) You gotta unfold the thing which i guess doesn't take too. much time BUT
2) you have to have your brakes engaged to use it so the click stand comes with these rubber-band like things that you have to put onto your brakes so the bike doesnt roll away

is it just me or does that seem like 5x the trouble instead of just getting off your bike and kicking a kickstand down.....?

i duno... maybe im just crazy....

Both of my bikes are equipped with kickstand. I use them mostly when I stop and dismount the bike. I hate laying the bike on the ground or leaning it agaisnt the wall for safety reasons.

Wow, your bike might remain standing, but I think I'd fall over laughing! :roflmao2: What's with this kickstand allergy, anyway?

Besides the weight, which isn't an issue for me, sometimes a kickstand leads to heelstrike.

What I like about the Click-Stand is that it seems like it would be more stable when used on wet or broken ground.

Kevin

I have kickstands on most of my regularly used bikes. Most are dual leg versions like the Esge Plescher or Hebie Bipod models as they are very stable. The Hebies are ugly as sin but IMO excellent for a utility use bike. When folded the Esge Plescher looks pretty much like a regular side stand.

I agree with this ... but it sure seems counter-intuitive ... it would seem that riders would be more likely to lay down or lean a cheaper bike ... I would think if you put some real coin into your ride you'd want the ability to keep it out of the dirt or protect the components from getting knocked against a wall or post.

The problem w/kickstands is that they -- or rather, the lack thereof -- have become associated with style points. People who might actually prefer them thus get long lectures about how and why they can get along without them.

It's almost like the situation with pedals. I can't count the number of times I get subtle hints about my "wrong" pedal choice when I ride with other people.

Kickstands are useful, else this whole issue wouldn't come up so often.

My "fast" 7.5 has fenders, rear rack, folding metal panniers, and lights...it's set up for commuting. I would love to have a kickstand but the bike would topple using a typical single sided one (the panniers are heavy), if I could find one of those centerstand ones you see on the Dutch bikes I'd definitely add one.

My hybrid has a kickstand because I use that bike for towing my kids in a trailer. I tried without one at first but you don't always have a readily available place to lean your bike when you need to dismount and check on the younguns. It's pretty annoying when your bike falls over while trying to get the kids strapped into/out of the trailer :notamused:

My commuter (road touring) bike and SS roadie do not have kickstands. I have thought about getting a double legged kickstand for the touring bike, but I can't see Fredifying the SS roadie that much.

I debated that issue myself today. In the past, I always took off the kickstands to my bikes to minimize the weight. Today I started putting kickstands on all my bikes. I find that sometimes, they do come in handy, and always having to lean it against something, you increase the risk of scratching the frame or damaging spokes or other parts. Since I am working on my bikes these days, this is when a kickstand comes in most handy, for me, for certain types of maintenance. But you should know not to engage the kickstand on a windy day, or on grass, or other uneven ground.

I'll probably hover between periods where I take them off, and periods when I keep them on. All I know is, I'm way past caring whether the "cool kids" will want to be friends with me.

My hybrid and road commuters do, my road pleasure doesn't, although it has a "flick stand". Weight isn't an issue on the commuters and the convenience factor is major. The other road bike's geometry doesn't have room for one anyway. That one gets ridden and hung back up.

Yes the Marin has a kickstand, as does my Sportabout. Very handy.

Road, mountain, fixed, no...

What is a good reason not to use a kickstand on a fast hybrid? I'm debating wether or not to put one on my Quick 3.