Bike Kickstands – A Simple Way to Park Your Bike

"No bicycle parking." If you often ride your bike around the city, you’ll certainly be familiar with these kinds of signs and stickers. If there’s no public bike rack nearby, you’ll quickly find yourself going round in circles, just like a driver searching for a parking space – a situation you wanted to avoid by riding your bike in the first place. Here’s where a bicycle stand can come in. Attaching this accessory to your bike makes easy work of parking your bicycle anytime, anywhere, without having to prop it up against the nearest object. The way it works is simple: simply kick out the stand when you’ve dismounted and your bike will stand up all by itself.

Most bicycle stands are classic single-leg kick stands. This means they have a fold-out leg that is placed on the ground. These bicycle side stand works as a kind of support, whereby the bike relies on its own weight to make it stable. The simple design has several advantages: these stands are very easy to attach, they hardly change how much your bike weighs overall and they are also very easy to use. The big disadvantage of kickstands is that they often have their limits, especially with heavier bicycles, such as certain e-bikes or bikes with child seats.

Kick stands come in different versions for city bikes, touring bikes, mountain bikes and more. The classic version is the centre-mount, which is usually attached around your bottom bracket with an adapter plate or counter plate. In addition to this, there is also the rear-mount stand. In most cases, this is attached to the chainstay or rear end of your bike. Many bicycles even feature a mount point for attaching a stand.

As we already touched on, these kinds of designs often have their limits, especially when it comes to heavier bicycles such as electric bikes or touring bikes with child seats. As a result, what is known as the double-leg stand has gained popularity over the years. This design features two legs that are placed on the floor, giving the bike a firm, sturdy base on the ground. Weight is evenly distributed across both sides of the bike and it remains in an upright position rather than leaning to the side like it does with a kickstand. In comparison to the classic kickstand, the double-leg version often provides a more stable means of support, even on uneven ground. The disadvantage of the double-leg stand, however, is that it’s not as easy to use and it is also heavier than a conventional bike kickstand.

• The centre-mount kick stand: the typical bike stand that is mounted at the bottom bracket.
• The rear-mount kick stand: a variant of the kickstand that is attached at the rear.
• The double-leg bike stand: a stand with two legs that supports the bike on both sides. Similar to a motorcycle stand.

When choosing the bike stand that’s right for you, various factors come into play. All things considered, the decision mainly comes down to the following aspects:

• How much your bike weighs overall: the heavier your bike, the more suited it usually is to a double-leg stand.
• What you like: some people find double-leg stands trickier to use and therefore prefer a kickstand.
• Where you ride: on uneven ground, a double-leg stand can be more stable than a traditional bike side stand.

The type of bike you have: a stable double-leg stand is often the better choice for large bikes, such as cargo e-bikes.

If you are unsure which stand is the right one for you, it can often help to take a look at the product descriptions here at BIKE24 to discover the properties of the bike stand models we have on offer.

Attaching a bike stand is usually a relatively simple task that can be done by any cyclist. In most cases, you’ll attach your stand to your bike using screws. Some models can also be attached using a quick release or clamp fitting. You can usually find instructions on how to attach the stand either in the manual provided with your purchase or on the manufacturer's website, and some companies even offer video tutorials.

• First of all, make sure that the stand you choose actually fits on the type of bike you have. BIKE24 product descriptions specify the bike models each stand can be used for.
• When attaching the stand, please always follow the relevant manufacturer instructions.
• When parking your bike up, it is advisable to look for even ground, as bikes can often become unstable on slopes, especially when using a bicycle kickstand.
• The type of ground also plays a key role in whether or not your bike remains stable, as bike stands can sink into soft ground, such as meadows, rather quickly. Mountain bike kickstands, in particular, are quick to reach their limits here.
• We always recommend using a bicycle kickstand in combination with a secure bike lock. This is the only way to ensure that your bike is stable as well as protected against thieves. Head to BIKE24 to discover the large selection of different bike locks on offer.