Kickstand- The Right Way...
#1
Extraordinary Magnitude
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Kickstand- The Right Way...
When I got my bike, it had a Greenfield kickstand on it. Like many- one of the very first things I did was remove the kickstand. Got kinda miffed that the previous owner, or the shop had clamped this chainstay crushing paint scratcher onto my bike... Touched up the paint, tossed it in a box and forgot about it.
Last week as my wife and I were preparing to go for a ride, we pulled our bikes out of the garage, I walked mine over to the fence, leaned it over and unscrewed the valve covers to check tire pressure- and promptly dropped one of the caps into the grass. Looked a little for it and got the pump... In other words- a little mini-ordeal. My wife just pulled her bike out and dropped her kickstand... If she would have dropped anything, it would have been plainly on the concrete. When we got to the turn around where we stop and talk and kick back, she again, just drops the kickstand- and I have to find a place to lean my bike.
I started thinking- why did I pull the kickstand? For all the times that it would be handy to just prop the bike up where I am, instead of finding a place to lean it... the mini-ordeals... For goodness sake, it's a steel touring bike- not particularly built to be fast and exceptionally light. I ride it everywhere and worry about leaning it up against stuff.
Do you still have your kickstand? What's the best, and safest manner to reinstall this kickstand? It's going on an 85 Trek 620- relatively stout chainstays- but outrageously long. Is there a better kickstand option- like the ones that attach to the rear dropouts?
Thank you!
Last week as my wife and I were preparing to go for a ride, we pulled our bikes out of the garage, I walked mine over to the fence, leaned it over and unscrewed the valve covers to check tire pressure- and promptly dropped one of the caps into the grass. Looked a little for it and got the pump... In other words- a little mini-ordeal. My wife just pulled her bike out and dropped her kickstand... If she would have dropped anything, it would have been plainly on the concrete. When we got to the turn around where we stop and talk and kick back, she again, just drops the kickstand- and I have to find a place to lean my bike.
I started thinking- why did I pull the kickstand? For all the times that it would be handy to just prop the bike up where I am, instead of finding a place to lean it... the mini-ordeals... For goodness sake, it's a steel touring bike- not particularly built to be fast and exceptionally light. I ride it everywhere and worry about leaning it up against stuff.
Do you still have your kickstand? What's the best, and safest manner to reinstall this kickstand? It's going on an 85 Trek 620- relatively stout chainstays- but outrageously long. Is there a better kickstand option- like the ones that attach to the rear dropouts?
Thank you!
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#3
smelling the roses
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I just clamp it on the way it was when you took it off. Have yet to crush a chainstay. If you have some sense of how tight is tight enough, there usually isn't a problem. I do have to re-tighten occasionally, as 'tight enough', but not so tight as to crush the chainstay, loosens up on occasion.
#4
Senior Member
The best kickstand I have encountered is the new Pletscher "Zoom." It's lighter, has a better mechanism, a nicer finish and a larger, adjustable foot.
Pletscher also makes some rubber protectors for the chainstays which really help when mounting without a kickstand plate.
Marc
Pletscher also makes some rubber protectors for the chainstays which really help when mounting without a kickstand plate.
Marc
#5
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Funny, my wife has the same complaint. She just doesn't understand why her new road bike doesn't come with a kickstand. I explained that there just isn't room on her modern bike to mount one.
#7
KingoftheMountain wannabe
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I used to (for a few short years) be one of those that shunned the kickstand as being dorky or any other slang. As I've grown and my tastes in bikes have changed, I've come to realize that for a lot of my style of riding, that a kickstand comes in pretty handy. It's pretty easy to find something to lean a bike against normally, but not always.
In some places, such as at big bike events or especially my garage, there just isn't enough leaning space to lean my bike against. Kickstands can also sometimes even be useful at bike racks that are too wide. Another solid use for the kickstand is when I tow a trailer. It's very nice to be able to use the kickstand to prop the bike up just about anywhere.
In some places, such as at big bike events or especially my garage, there just isn't enough leaning space to lean my bike against. Kickstands can also sometimes even be useful at bike racks that are too wide. Another solid use for the kickstand is when I tow a trailer. It's very nice to be able to use the kickstand to prop the bike up just about anywhere.
#8
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It's probably overkill for short in-town rides but I just got a Click-Stand and love love love it. Used it on a half-loaded weekend tour and it worked great. Takes about 45 seconds for setup & teardown.
#9
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The best kickstand I have encountered is the new Pletscher "Zoom." It's lighter, has a better mechanism, a nicer finish and a larger, adjustable foot.
Pletscher also makes some rubber protectors for the chainstays which really help when mounting without a kickstand plate.
Marc
Pletscher also makes some rubber protectors for the chainstays which really help when mounting without a kickstand plate.
Marc
#10
Senior Member
The very few times i've been asked to install a kickstand, I've
Used black sprinkler piping cut lengthwise in half. Helps stop scratches on chainstays.
Used black sprinkler piping cut lengthwise in half. Helps stop scratches on chainstays.
#11
I have kickstands on all of my touring and city bikes. For me, they're incredibly valuable and I use them all the time.
If there's enough room and the stays are beefy enough at the regular kickstand area, I clamp them there with a bit of old inner tube or cloth bar tape wrapped around the stays to help protect them from scratching/spinning.
I've used rear-mount stabilizer style kickstands on bikes where they're necessary (old MTBs with u-brakes, converted for city use).
I usually just use regular greenfield style kickstands with the greenfield rubber boots that slip snugly onto the end. I bought a bunch of the boots in bulk when I was doing a Niagara cycle order a while ago since they were only like $0.75 per boot. They help give the kickstand a little more foot coverage and help prevent it from sinking into dirt etc.
I don't put kickstands on lighter, faster, racing bikes, but I don't end up riding those as much either.
If there's enough room and the stays are beefy enough at the regular kickstand area, I clamp them there with a bit of old inner tube or cloth bar tape wrapped around the stays to help protect them from scratching/spinning.
I've used rear-mount stabilizer style kickstands on bikes where they're necessary (old MTBs with u-brakes, converted for city use).
I usually just use regular greenfield style kickstands with the greenfield rubber boots that slip snugly onto the end. I bought a bunch of the boots in bulk when I was doing a Niagara cycle order a while ago since they were only like $0.75 per boot. They help give the kickstand a little more foot coverage and help prevent it from sinking into dirt etc.
I don't put kickstands on lighter, faster, racing bikes, but I don't end up riding those as much either.
Last edited by mainstreetexile; 06-18-13 at 02:42 PM. Reason: typed pletscher, meant greenfield
#12
feros ferio
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I was pleased to see that Pletscher is still in business and still making an updated version of its mousetrap rear rack. Now I just have to find a search for a source. Great info!
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Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
#13
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valve covers? you mean the little thing atop the presta tube i always throw away?
i've never had an issue leaning my bike against a tree. i must be doing it wrong.
i've never had an issue leaning my bike against a tree. i must be doing it wrong.
#15
SNARKY MEMBER
If anyone wants a kickstand, I have a box full of them. They immediately come off any bike I purchase that already has one. Even my kids don't like kickstands. They just set their bikes on the pavement right behind my car in the driveway.
I can't help with the valve covers. They go straight to the trash.
I can't help with the valve covers. They go straight to the trash.
#16
Senior Member
The only bike I own with a kickstand:
#18
Senior Member
Your '85 620 came with Reynolds 531 CS (Club Sports) tubing, the chainstays may not be terribly thick walled. You might be better served with one that's not designed to crush chainstays.
#20
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Kickstands were fitted for a reason
Here's my transporter with steer-lock and kickstand.
If you got a normal bike, just reinstall it where it belonged.
Some mountainbike's have a kickstand near the rear-axel fitted, those often break due to unbalanced weight or your bike tips over on unsmooth surfaces.
Regularly check the main bolt, as it loosens over time and this certainly damages your frame. So will dirt and moist which clogs around it.
Here's my transporter with steer-lock and kickstand.
If you got a normal bike, just reinstall it where it belonged.
Some mountainbike's have a kickstand near the rear-axel fitted, those often break due to unbalanced weight or your bike tips over on unsmooth surfaces.
Regularly check the main bolt, as it loosens over time and this certainly damages your frame. So will dirt and moist which clogs around it.
#23
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it can barely stand on one leg.
#24
Extraordinary Magnitude
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Perhaps you could enlighten me with your wisdom as to why it's "stupid?"
Thank you for your constructive feedback.
Thank you for your constructive feedback.
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*Recipient of the 2006 Time Magazine "Person Of The Year" Award*
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
#25
Extraordinary Magnitude
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I guess what I'm looking for is a good way of installing the kickstand to not damage the paint or the chainstays. I know of people using innertube and have read about using twine.
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*Recipient of the 2006 Time Magazine "Person Of The Year" Award*
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.