Until recently, there were two accessories in my bicycle life that I have tried to avoid at all cost; rearview mirrors and kickstands. I’ve still managed to steer clear of the first, but to my surprise, I found the second immensely practical during my fully-loaded bicycle tour around the world.

Self-supported bicycle touring is all about being independent; you carry everything you need with you. Unfortunately, that self reliance also means that your bicycle, packed with all of its gear, is heavy. And not only do you have to worry about balancing the load while pedaling, you must deal with it after you’ve stopped. For the first part of our journey my husband and I didn’t have kickstands. This meant that if we couldn’t find a place to lean the bike, we had to lay them on the ground. We quickly learned that trees and walls were always in short supply and getting the bikes upright was wrecking our backs and scratching our frames. Within a few months we had installed kickstands and the two-wheeled life became whole a lot easier.

A kickstand is a bicycle accessory that attaches to the frame to help it remain upright while at rest. When deployed it creates the third leg of a triangulated, freestanding system, similar to a tripod. Kickstands are most often connected to the lower portion of the frame, opposite of the drivetrain, somewhere between the bottom bracket and the intersection of the seat and chain stays. Most touring bicycles aren’t delivered with this component. This is a good thing for you, the cycle tourist, because you can choose the one that best suits your needs.

Choosing a kickstand isn't like going to Baskin-Robbins; they are very utilitarian and a few, simple models serve the market well.

Single Leg
A single leg kickstand is one solid piece of material that is not adjustable. Some varieties can be cut to fit. Installation is just a matter of making a metal sandwich; the leg (bottom) is held in place via a bolt with an opposing plate (top). The most recognized single leg kickstand is the Greenfield; it’s lightweight and made of aluminum, making it very resistant to corrosion.

Single Leg Adjustable
This version is very similar to the single leg one-piece, except that the leg itself can be adjusted to different lengths. This is accomplished by twisting the bottom part of the leg for the desired height. Typically, this type of adjustable kickstand is installed near the rear of the frame, mounted to both the seat and chain stays for support.

When using single leg kickstands the most important thing to remember is length. Too long or too short will result in a loaded bicycle that isn’t balanced. The optimal span will keep most of the weight on the wheels while it’s freestanding.

If a single leg can fit the bill, then a kickstand with two legs will be even better. Despite the added weight, double leg kickstands can provide a very high level of stability because they support the bike from each side. This type comes in a couple of different varieties.

Two Leg - Fixed
This option is u-shaped and attaches near the bottom bracket. It simply swings down and forward to be used.

Two Leg - Pletscher
The other choice looks very similar to a single leg version until it is in use. When deployed this type of kickstand splits and expands into two legs.

Not everyone who embarks on a bicycle tour uses panniers. Trailers are a very popular option and definitely provide some advantages when carrying heavy loads. Unfortunately, they are also just as challenging to balance when not moving.

Like all bicycle tourists, we had our own moments of desperate innovation. One of our finest solutions was a modified kickstand for a BOB trailer. We simply cut down a single leg kickstand and mounted it on the non-drivetrain side, about two-thirds toward the front of the trailer (closest to the rear of the bicycle). For thousands of miles of riding, it sure made life that much easier.

p.s. Many folks will tell you how easy it is to balance a bike and a loaded trailer without a kickstand, but for us, it requires some skill that’s beyond us and our loaded trek.

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