Altimis

Not necessary true for everyone.

But for me, anything that useless for "speed".

I just disposed it.

SquidPuppet

Gresp15C

All but one of my bikes are parts builds. Generally speaking, if I snag a nice part and it compliments the bike, I install it. If it's broken, ugly, or detracts from the bike, it's gone. My bikes are tailored to my local conditions. And for some bikes I care more about aesthetics than for others.

There are no easy answers, except: Don't install a kickstand in a way that will damage a delicate frame. Find a different type of kickstand or figure out alternatives for parking your bike.

Wileyrat

Can't remove what it (they) never had.

Machka 

My husband doesn't build my bicycles with those things on ... so there's nothing to remove.

That said. we do add a red rear reflector on our randonneuring/audax bicycles.

TimothyH

I want more photos of kickstands.


-Tim-

Gresp15C

At your service! Also note the pedal reflector and chain guard.

jitteringjr

Got any on bikes that have been washed since Y2K?

indyfabz

Yeah. I wasn't sure if he meant that or a dork disc. Haven't had a bike with one of those since I was a kid.

Retro Grouch 

A common misconception.

When I was a shop mechanic, I used to install a LOT of bike computers. I thought about how the wheel magnet might affect wheel balance too. My common practice was to let the front wheel gradually pendulum to a stop and assumed the lightest part would be the top.

SURPRISE! The valve stem is almost always near the lightest place on the rim. Drilling the hole for the valve removes material from that point and, more importantly, opposite the valve where the trim is joined a piece of metal is usually inserted to align the joint. Those two factors more than balance out the weight of the valve stem.

Gresp15C

You got me on that one. Right now, the riding conditions are a mixture of snow, muck, grit, and salt. We'll clean things up when we have a thaw.

steppinthrax

I'm not sure. I'm relatively new. My first post was a Trek bike that I bought a few mos ago, however i couldn't post photos, therefore I started replying to post until my count was 10, then I could post photos. I think I posted a lot. I'm surprised at this because on other forums I'm on it takes a lot to be a senior member.

steppinthrax

I bought a Greenfield kickstand. there's a hole in the frame where I put the bolt and nut where the stand went. I didn't make any modifications to the frame.

fietsbob

I replaced the Brompton reflector with a powered tail light, that includes a reflector.

carlosponti

my mtn bike i removed reflectors and kickstand because they are things that can fall off on a trail id rather not have them end up as garbage. I didnt have reflectors on my road bike aside from the wheels i didnt remove those and i added a tail light and head light for this night ride i do during the summer. before too long id probably add lights to wheels just to make the bike look cool at night.

BobbyG

If you want to be a badass remove them. If you want to be a real badass, remove them from other people's bikes.

kaos joe

Sure. Here you go.

Milton Keynes

A chain guard would be a bit much, especially for a multigear bike. I normally ride wearing shorts during warm weather anyway, but the times I do ride wearing windpants I strap on a couple of elastic bands around my lower legs just to keep the loose material from getting caught. I think, though, that I might get some reflective leg bands with velcro to replace the elastic which will eventually wear out.

As far as pedal reflectors go, I left mine on. It's a state law here that any bicycle sold with pedals must have reflectors on the pedals, and any new pedals sold must also have reflectors on them. But I like them. Ever driven behind a bicycle at night? The alternating up/down motion of the pedal reflectors does get your attention.

steppinthrax

I was using the incorrect term. I meant "dork disc" (or what you guys call it).

steppinthrax

Just out of curiosity what do you guys use as lights (rear/front)?

timgriffin2

I seem to be one of the few that has a kickstand mounted and use it a lot. It beats laying the bike on the ground when there's no place to lean it against something IMO.

wipekitty

Reflectors and kickstands...not my thing. I use front and rear lights on my bikes (and for night riding, carry a backup.) I also decorate myself in reflective gear for night road rides.

IME, kickstands tend to be heavy and collect a lot of dirt; on my utility rider, it is just as easy to lean the bike against something. Wheel reflectors can be a PITA when trying to true a wheel. If I want some bling on my wheels, I much prefer something like this, which is bright and easy to remove.

Serious question, though: is there any good way of removing standard wheel reflectors without a sledgehammer? I have one that simply will not budge, and it really needs to go.

Skipjacks

Usually they have a screw that holds them on. Often it's a single use screw. Meaning you can screw it on, but not off. Trying to unscrew it will break the screw, thus releasing the reflector.

If that doesn't work, get a pair of these and crush it. It's flimsy plastic. Squeeze it with this and it'll shatter. And you can control the squeeze so it's not a violent whacking near the spokes. You can squeeze gently and when it cracks, it should come right off.



If that fails....Elon Musk is taking pre-order on consumer flame throwers.
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...cause-why-not/

Sure, that'll kill the bike. But sometimes you run into a stuck part that frustrates you so much, defeating it becomes all that matters. I lost a lawnmower that way once. But that spark plug never gave me attitude again.

PdalPowr

I bow to your expertise and experience especially as it was expressed politely.
However my limited experience proves otherwise. I had read that the reflector
does indeed balance out the valve assembly which can weigh up to twenty grams.

I proved this to myself by taking the reflector off and spinning the wheel.
Every time the wheel spun the valve would stop at the bottom.
With the reflector installed the wheel never stopped at the same place.
I cannot presume that the first bike I tried is different
than all other bikes. I also asked at my L.B.S. and
they said they were told by the manufacturer to
install reflectors opposing the valve
This to be done to balance out the wheel.
Is the manufacturer wrong?

My L.B.S. mechanics are pretty darn good
and not paid to waste time.They wouldn't
do something just because the manufacturer told them to do it,

I am not saying anyone is wrong as
it is evident I am new to bicycle mechanics.
There are also variables in testing techniques that would be hard to eradicate.
Again I appreciate you expressed an educated opinion in a respectful manner.

jitteringjr

I'm pretty happy with this from Lezyne:

Lezyne Hecto Drive 350XL Cycling Light Combo - Performance Exclusive - Performance Bike

USB charge and flexible mount connection that fits round bars as well as the more oval shaped bars on aero handlebars both.

Same idea here but a little brighter but no rear light:

https://www.performancebike.com/bikes...551_1214247_-1