Kick Stands for a loaded bike????

[davidfranklyne]

I'm trying to find a good kick stand(s) to keep up a loaded bike. Anyone know of a few good models? Would having one off each rack, front and rear, be better or would it be better under the bottom bracket?

[galoka]

Probably the best for this would be the twin leg stands that mount under the bottom bracket as the bike does not lean when parked. ESGE make one.

IME the bottom bracket stands that have one leg aren't good on a bike that is heavily laden with rear panniers as the weight tends to amke the bike pivot round the stand and tip over, I use an ESGE rear mounted stand on my utility bike and find that much better.

Though on my touring bike I save the weight and just lean it up against a wall, fence etc. with panniers on I generally find this easier than leaning a bare bike

[thirdcrank]

I'm pretty much with galoka - I have a two-legged Pletscher the forerunner of the Esge on my shopping bike. You have to be careful because with heavily laden panniers, there is a real tendency for it all to fall over. IMO it's too much weight to take touring, but I know from earlier threads others disagree.

If you have Carradice duck luggage, yopu have to be careful about leaning it against walls etc. A lot have Camper saddlebags have holes in the side pockets where they've rubbed against walls.

[zenzinnia]

I have one of the ESGE rear kickstands on my tourer. I bought it after reading various threads on here that warned against using the double legged, bottom bracket ones as the weight of a fully loaded tourer can buckle the chain stays. Another option is an extendable pole that hooks onto the top tube. There is a link to the site in an old thread somewhere.

I find my stand very useful on tour as I know I can stop whenever I want to. I used to always be waiting for the next lampost or signpost when I wanted to stop on an open moor and look at the view/ change my jacket/ go for a pee/ put on waterproofs etc. There is almost never something convienient when you really need it! Even in campsites it's hard to find somewhere to prop up the bike so you can unload easily - now I just use the propstand (with a bit of old plastic I keep for going under it to stop it sinking in). You just have to remember which side to unload first or it will fall over. Then, when I'm all unloaded and set up, I can string my washing line from the top of the tent to the bike too (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zenzinnia/2988965764/)

[Hemipode]

After damaging the top tube on one of my bikes (years ago) after a stand gave way, I stopped using stands.
If there is no suitable structure to prop my bike up I use the simple rule 'lay it down then it can't fall down'.
No more dents for me!

[jam05]

I've just bought one of these:

http://www.click-stand.com/Home_Page.html

and it works well on my fully laden Thorn Nomad.

[gaz]

.

[pq]

I've always been completely baffled by kickstands. A panniered up bike doesn't need one - just lay it very gently on the ground and chances the bike won't even touch the ground. I just have a system of putting delicate stuff (like bananas) one one side which I make sure is up when I lay the bike down.

The most effective stand I've seen comes with the Koga Miyata World Traveller. It has 2, one on the front pannier rack, one on the rear. It seemed pretty stable. The racks are tubus, so maybe you can buy them without buying the very weird Koga bike.

[thirdcrank]

I'm fascinated by the pole thing linked by jam05; it looks so simple you wonder why nobody thought of it before. (Perhaps somebody did?) Seems to be good lateral thinking.

I presume you have to be very careful in judging the centre of gravity, then positioning the prop quite precisely. At least one of the pics in the gallery looks to be on soft ground and I expect you have to be careful where the floor end of the prop goes.

[Achilles]

I picked up a really good trick on a backpackers club weekend - take a bit of guyline or similar, attach to crossbar and peg other end into the ground. Bit difficult on tarmac I agree but it weighs next to nothing and when you are touring it works a treat and is really stable.

[Edvardus]

I liked the look of the Pletscher alloy single leg but got one almost identical to it from Wilkinson would you believe! And only £3.99 compared to £9.99 at Halfords, which was the next dearest. It fits easily in the space behind the bottom bracket. My (hybrid) space already had a flange with a hole in it.

[Wildoo]

I liked the look of the Pletscher alloy single leg but got one almost identical to it from Wilkinson would you believe! And only £3.99 compared to £9.99 at Halfords, which was the next dearest. It fits easily in the space behind the bottom bracket. My (hybrid) space already had a flange with a hole in it.

You'll be ok until you put any serious weight on it. When it snaps and your preciuos bike falls over and scratches you will realize why that kickstand only cost £3.99!. That said the Halfords £9.99 one is no better! Pletcher stands are in a totally different class and worth the extra cash!