Kickstands
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Kickstands
If you have a kickstand on your bike you're NOT cool, so they say. I put one on and I'm feeling OK. When we ride the centuries I'll take off the rack, fenders and kickstand (about 2 pounds). Then I'll be cooler. 


Last edited by macbobster; 11-12-19 at 02:49 PM.
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I don't pack a lot on my overnights, but kickstands are nice to have when you have a laden bike, racks make iot easier to carry stuff, and fenders look really nice on the bike.
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"My advice would be to leave that stuff on while you're touring, especially the rack."
Yes agreed, I should have said "century tours". TUC and Ride the Rim are my favorites.
Yes agreed, I should have said "century tours". TUC and Ride the Rim are my favorites.
Last edited by macbobster; 11-12-19 at 02:56 PM.
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I've never ridden with that handlebar setup--looks like fun.
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You ought to see the classically engineered kickstand on my Schwinn. It must be 18 pounds of chrome plated glory.
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Setting aside the supposed issue of coolness (nobody really cares who does or doesn't use a kickstand), installing a kickstand on an aluminum bike such as your Cannondale is almost guaranteed to result in frame damage. Even Surly says that installing a kickstand on their frames, which are all built with high-quality steel, voids the warranty.
If you want to avoid damaging the frame, you should consider installing a rear-wheel kickstand, which is much less likely to damage the frame.
If you want to avoid damaging the frame, you should consider installing a rear-wheel kickstand, which is much less likely to damage the frame.
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Setting aside the supposed issue of coolness (nobody really cares who does or doesn't use a kickstand), installing a kickstand on an aluminum bike such as your Cannondale is almost guaranteed to result in frame damage. Even Surly says that installing a kickstand on their frames, which are all built with high-quality steel, voids the warranty.
If you want to avoid damaging the frame, you should consider installing a rear-wheel kickstand, which is much less likely to damage the frame.
If you want to avoid damaging the frame, you should consider installing a rear-wheel kickstand, which is much less likely to damage the frame.
One thing is for sure, my aluminum framed Norco CityGlide came with an aluminum kickstand. But the warranty was over before I ever owned the bike.
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A friend is giving me an old Schwinn. Not sure if it is a Varsity or Conti, or maybe better? Was gonna take a hack saw to the kickstand and probably never forgive myself.
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Setting aside the supposed issue of coolness (nobody really cares who does or doesn't use a kickstand), installing a kickstand on an aluminum bike such as your Cannondale is almost guaranteed to result in frame damage. Even Surly says that installing a kickstand on their frames, which are all built with high-quality steel, voids the warranty.
If you want to avoid damaging the frame, you should consider installing a rear-wheel kickstand, which is much less likely to damage the frame.
If you want to avoid damaging the frame, you should consider installing a rear-wheel kickstand, which is much less likely to damage the frame.
Cheers, MAC
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Setting aside the supposed issue of coolness (nobody really cares who does or doesn't use a kickstand), installing a kickstand on an aluminum bike such as your Cannondale is almost guaranteed to result in frame damage. Even Surly says that installing a kickstand on their frames, which are all built with high-quality steel, voids the warranty.
If you want to avoid damaging the frame, you should consider installing a rear-wheel kickstand, which is much less likely to damage the frame.
If you want to avoid damaging the frame, you should consider installing a rear-wheel kickstand, which is much less likely to damage the frame.
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Weird. I don't get out much, but I've never heard of that before. I'm guessing those makers give long term frame warranties?
One thing is for sure, my aluminum framed Norco CityGlide came with an aluminum kickstand. But the warranty was over before I ever owned the bike.
One thing is for sure, my aluminum framed Norco CityGlide came with an aluminum kickstand. But the warranty was over before I ever owned the bike.
That said, the Surly info I referred to can be found on their site on a page entitled "Installing Kinkstands On Long Haul Truckers."
Maybe your Norco CityGlide has a welded-on kickstand mounting plate, if the bike was originally sold with a kickstand installed. I hope so.
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Here is what Surly originally wrote and its subsequent response:
https://surlybikes.com/info_hole/spe..._haul_truckers
I liked kickstands when I was a kid.

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The original Surly blog piece about kickstands and the risks resulted in people accusing the company of being anti-kickstand when it was really trying to be helpful. No good deed goes unpunished.
Here is what Surly originally wrote and its subsequent response:
https://surlybikes.com/info_hole/spe..._haul_truckers
I liked kickstands when I was a kid.
Here is what Surly originally wrote and its subsequent response:
https://surlybikes.com/info_hole/spe..._haul_truckers
I liked kickstands when I was a kid.

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Surly now sells a custom kickstand mount to fit the Long Haul Trucker, designed to minimize the possibility of frame damage.
That said, the Surly info I referred to can be found on their site on a page entitled "Installing Kinkstands On Long Haul Truckers."
Maybe your Norco CityGlide has a welded-on kickstand mounting plate, if the bike was originally sold with a kickstand installed. I hope so.
That said, the Surly info I referred to can be found on their site on a page entitled "Installing Kinkstands On Long Haul Truckers."
Maybe your Norco CityGlide has a welded-on kickstand mounting plate, if the bike was originally sold with a kickstand installed. I hope so.
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That handlebar setup is not for everybody, but it has given new life to my cycling. I still have some forward lean (I don't do bolt upright) and I move forward to the hooks for climbing, gettin' aero and just diffrent positions. At my age drop bars are just a big pain in the everywhere, LOL. 

My longest one day ride was 168 miles, and I did it on my FX 3, which I think gives a similar forward lean. Also use the platform pedals like you do, even on my dropbar road bikes.
I think keeping the stuff on while doing a century will make a pretty cool fashion statement. That bike looks great that way.
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That handlebar setup is not for everybody, but it has given new life to my cycling. I still have some forward lean (I don't do bolt upright) and I move forward to the hooks for climbing, gettin' aero and just diffrent positions. At my age drop bars are just a big pain in the everywhere, LOL. 

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My hands won't let me do straight bars anymore. I'm still good with drops; but I was wondering what I could do if I couldn't do drops, either. I like some forward lean. Your setup looks very comfortable to me. It also looks like you could put interrupter/cross brakes on the forward position...although that would spoil the looks...and I think your cannondale looks awsome!

Last edited by macbobster; 11-12-19 at 05:25 PM.
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...I heard about a test. So you stand with your arm hanging loosely at your sides. Then you lean forward a bit, to where you like to be. Then slowly swing / raise your arms and hands forward to where you are comfy. Notice the position of your hands, this is your neutral hand position. This is potentially your least stressful / most comfortable riding position. Now try and find some bars that get you there (and some alt positions as well)
I plan to go kicking and screaming. And as long as I'm kicking, I'm putting a bike between my legs.
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#24
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I don't mind racks and fenders, they are very useful ..but I hate kickstands, they are useless I would never put one on any of my bikes. You don't need a kickstand, you can lay your bike on the ground or lean it against something.
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