Good kickstands for a tandem with bags?
 

Hey all-

As we do more rides, we're slowing accumulating a list of things that would be nice to have on the bike, the biggest of which is a kick stand. I've been looking online, and even took the bike to a shop, but because of the irregular bends of the Cannondale frame, plus the bags we have, nobody seems to have any good options. Both bike places have offered to "try to make it work" which I'm not sure I'd like to go with.

For reference it's a 2012 Cannondale; if anyone has any options I'd love to hear them.

Thanks!

Ron

We have used a Click-stand for many years touring with bags/gear long distance. I don't trust standard kickstands for a loaded tandem. The double kickstands require lifting your bike and gear and still not as stable.

Sadly, if you have actually taken the tandem to a shop and they sent you home empty handed, the Click Stand may be your only option. But I disagree that a Click Stand is more stable than an Ursus Jumbo. And you can't lose the Jumbo in your garage, or anywhere else.

we have the jumbo and it really holds a load. you only have to lift a little big when you pull the bike back.

I put a Ursus Jumbo on my tandem. I don't have heavy bags on my tandem, but I do get a three- year old out of the trailer and he likes to wiggle/bump the tandem on his way out. Also my stoker is six so he increases the chance of my tandem tipping over instead of reducing it.
I would see if you could get a Ursus Jumbo to work on your Cannondale.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c0c1ed1183.png

The click-stand is the solution!
 

We've been using the Click-stand for years -- it works great -- light, folds up small, holds the bike high, so quite stable, and has no possibility of damaging the frame.

Go to Click-Stand Home Page and you can order one to fit your Cannondale.


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e56db1265.jpeg

I have only used The click stand on four rides with multiple stops but so far it works great. I would love to send a picture but I'm new to this site without 10 posts yet. I do have a rare rack with bags and a frame bag. I position it under the top tube behind the Captain seat. Last weekend I was by the ocean with 30 mph gusts and positioned the bottom of the click stand against a wall bike never moved in the high winds.

Yes, that's what we ended up getting and it kept the bike up in a torrential rainstorm, with some crazy winds. Thanks for the affirmation!

The click-stand is great and the person in Oregon (Tom) who designed/sells it is always very helpful. In recent years, we very much like the SteerStopper for holding the front wheel. We used to use a nylon web/buckle to hold the wheel straight, which works fine and is cheap. The SteerStopper is more convenient, but pricey. However, I am always ok with nice gear improvements for the bike. Here is a pic, the steerstopper is the small angled arm between the headset and top tube.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9fecdf944a.png

I looked at the SteerStopper on line and it looks like it would get in the way. I have a top tube bag for my phone so I will stay with the Click stand.

I love the SteerStopper! We got it for our tandem too and it makes a world of difference; working with the bags in back it was always super annoying for the front wheel to go sideways and sometimes the whole bike would fall over if we didn't catch it quickly (which, when fully loaded, is a feat). The combo of the SteerStopper plus the click-stand has made the bike rock-solid and probably a better setup than just a regular kickstand alone!

FWIW here's a pic of our bike during this year's RAGBRAI. The click-stand is clearly visible; the helmet is hiding the SteerStopper.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...79074a371.jpeg
Our 2012 Cannondale tandem during the 2022 RAGBRAI

We use the Ursus Jumbo on our heavily loaded steel frame tandem having large rear bags.
You do have to lift the rear up by grabbing the rear rack or seat with one hand to get the stand down... tough with 87#.
But its bombproof.

We've been happy with the two-legged Pletscher kickstand on our Santana, but if as you say the tubing and/or the chainstays aren't conducive to mounting such a stand then other options might be needed. But that might apply to the Jumbo and other frame-mount kickstands as well.