Kick stand or no kick stand?
02-18-20, 06:30 PM
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Kick stand or no kick stand?
Curious on opinions regarding the use of kick stands on urban/city bikes. Certainly understand their non use on road and mountain bikes but they can be real convenient on city bikes and not be obtrusive. However, I've heard criticism on them being not cool when using them on city bikes.
02-18-20, 06:51 PM
#3
Jedi Master
My city bike has a kickstand, but I'm not cool either so there's that.
02-18-20, 06:52 PM
#4
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Kickstands can be cool.
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02-18-20, 06:58 PM
#6
Really Old Senior Member
I need a little "help" when loading 50+ lbs. of groceries in my rear baskets.
Practical trumps cool.
You can keep your bike better "disengaged" at public bike racks.
Practical trumps cool.
You can keep your bike better "disengaged" at public bike racks.
02-18-20, 07:17 PM
#7
Newbie
Thread Starter
My questions comes from me just completing a bike build. I was trying to fabricate a way to put on a kick stand when my son said "Really dad, you are going to put a stand on that bike?' My first attempt failed so I am in the process of figuring out another way. With the replies thus far, I will pursue! Thanks
02-18-20, 07:30 PM
#8
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Learn to braze. You can just clear coat the brazed area and call it the "burnt look". Then you shall be deemed cool again. The bolt on kickstands were always a PITA for me.
02-18-20, 07:58 PM
#10
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Not cool? Double down then, with a double kick stand. That'll show them cool kids what you think.
02-18-20, 08:20 PM
#11
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Center stand didn't support loading rear rack...
so...
rear stand... never stayed in one place without scratching paint...
so...
no stand... lean against stable object (bungee cord assisted if needed)
At home, small square of 2x4 under pedal (might just take that with me....)
so...
rear stand... never stayed in one place without scratching paint...
so...
no stand... lean against stable object (bungee cord assisted if needed)
At home, small square of 2x4 under pedal (might just take that with me....)
02-18-20, 08:21 PM
#12
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I am not cool either, I use a rear stand, same as the local cops do: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0017RS9SK
Some of my bikes also have the unfortunately discontinued Flickstand front wheel flip-lock.
Some of my bikes also have the unfortunately discontinued Flickstand front wheel flip-lock.
02-19-20, 05:20 AM
#13
Senior Member
I won't leave my bike unlocked in the city. And having something to lock my bike to means I can lean the bike against that object. So I'd say a kickstand for a bike that gets used exclusively in the city makes no sense.
02-19-20, 05:51 AM
#14
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I'm not sure if this is correct, but I was taught to not put a center stand on a bike that does not have a bracket for it. The ubiquitous aluminum clamp-on type can ruin chain stays in extreme load conditions, I was told. The coop where I volunteered always removed them. I have always taken them off every bike I've ever ridden.
I'm with subgrade above--I need to lean against something anyway to lock it. Of more use to me is a velcro strap for the front brake.
I'm with subgrade above--I need to lean against something anyway to lock it. Of more use to me is a velcro strap for the front brake.
02-19-20, 07:31 AM
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Oddly enough the place where a kickstand comes in really handy is in my garage. All of the leaning spots are taken.... by other bikes. 
The other good use is winter riding, if I want to stop momentarily and adjust something without laying my bike down in the snow. As for locking up, standing a bike on a kickstand and chaining it to a pole or bike rack isn't all that hard, and can be learned by most cyclists.
The main two issues in my view are that many frames are too delicate to accommodate a kickstand, and the kickstands themselves are kind of rickety unless they're really massive.
The other good use is winter riding, if I want to stop momentarily and adjust something without laying my bike down in the snow. As for locking up, standing a bike on a kickstand and chaining it to a pole or bike rack isn't all that hard, and can be learned by most cyclists.The main two issues in my view are that many frames are too delicate to accommodate a kickstand, and the kickstands themselves are kind of rickety unless they're really massive.
02-19-20, 07:50 AM
#16
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Center mount single stands on several, center mount double stand on one, rear axle stands on a couple. One mountain bike has none.
02-19-20, 08:36 AM
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Curious on opinions regarding the use of kick stands on urban/city bikes. Certainly understand their non use on road and mountain bikes but they can be real convenient on city bikes and not be obtrusive. However, I've heard criticism on them being not cool when using them on city bikes.
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02-19-20, 08:51 AM
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currently using 3 bikes. 2 with & 1 without. not having one is annoying, I'm never annoyed by a kickstand. btw - I don't care what ppl think about how my bikes "look"
be your own person
be your own person
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02-19-20, 08:54 AM
#19
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kickstands
Haven't used one since I was a kid. Often found them not all that secure if the front wheel is turned to the stand side and sometimes to the other side as well. That leaves you with leaving it straight, where it also doesn't really want to stay. When I can't find a great place to wedge my bike into and have to lean it, I make sure if it is going to fall over that it can only fall on the side opposite the derailleur, as that gets easily bent out of alignment. An elastic loop around one or both brake levers makes kind of a parking brake, which makes any leaning situation much more secure. Hope ths helps.
02-19-20, 08:57 AM
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recently wedged my non kickstand bike between two rocks to take a pic on a windy day. bad idea. bike fell over. thought the wheel got bent, but whew, it did not. I like kickstands for photo ops but doing OK without one on the road bike, but sometimes it's annoying not having one
02-19-20, 09:30 AM
#21
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Untitled by Stuart Black, on FlickrOr wall
Untitled by Stuart Black, on FlickrThe snow helps some. However, a rock outcrop works fairly well
DSCN0934 by Stuart Black, on FlickrOr a stick
IMG_3144 by Stuart Black, on FlickrOr a post over a chasm
DSCN0515 by Stuart Black, on Flickr
DSCN0522 by Stuart Black, on Flickror even just a pedal against a curb
Untitled by Stuart Black, on FlickrAnd, if you are really, really clever, you can make it appear to stand up on it's own
_IMG4947 by Stuart Black, on Flickr
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02-19-20, 09:36 AM
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I've seen far too many bent wheels due to front wheel bike racks to every put my front wheel between something. If I'm going to use that kind of rack, my back wheel goes in rather than the front. The rear doesn't pivot like the front, so the wheel can't bend as easily. good advice!
good advice!
02-19-20, 09:46 AM
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I use kickstand. Surprise to me that my 7 yr old great grandson thinks it would be silly not to. lol I have one out of a few that doesn't have one yet . I try to ride in out of the way places with it so people don't see me without a kickstand. lol
I don't see "cool" as missing a stand. The 'cool' people ride without the front wheel lol lol.
I don't see "cool" as missing a stand. The 'cool' people ride without the front wheel lol lol.
