Comments on: Upstand: The (Almost) Vanishing Kickstand for Weight Weenies http://www.commutebybike.com/2013/01/02/upstand-the-almost-vanishing-kickstand-for-weight-weenies/ Tips, Hints, Reviews and Safety for Bike Commuters Wed, 19 Jun 2013 22:38:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Ted Johnson http://www.commutebybike.com/2013/01/02/upstand-the-almost-vanishing-kickstand-for-weight-weenies/comment-page-1/#comment-1531103 Ted Johnson Thu, 03 Jan 2013 17:34:07 +0000 http://www.commutebybike.com/?p=22544#comment-1531103 Carbon-fiber or not, I don't think I'd trust the Upstand to hold my bike upright while bearing the weight of <a href="http://www.bikebagshop.com/shopping-panniers-c-802.html?sort=name_asc" rel="nofollow">grocery panniers</a>. Or in the case of your 48-pound Pashley, I'm not sure I'd trust the Upstand to hold up that bike naked. Carbon-fiber or not, I don’t think I’d trust the Upstand to hold my bike upright while bearing the weight of grocery panniers.

Or in the case of your 48-pound Pashley, I’m not sure I’d trust the Upstand to hold up that bike naked.

]]> By: Dave T http://www.commutebybike.com/2013/01/02/upstand-the-almost-vanishing-kickstand-for-weight-weenies/comment-page-1/#comment-1531017 Dave T Thu, 03 Jan 2013 17:01:07 +0000 http://www.commutebybike.com/?p=22544#comment-1531017 Nice concept. I've been using the Click Stand http://www.click-stand.com/ for my touring bike. Also a lightweight alternative. Perhaps a bit simpler than this. Nice concept. I’ve been using the Click Stand http://www.click-stand.com/ for my touring bike. Also a lightweight alternative. Perhaps a bit simpler than this.

]]> By: Matt H http://www.commutebybike.com/2013/01/02/upstand-the-almost-vanishing-kickstand-for-weight-weenies/comment-page-1/#comment-1530602 Matt H Thu, 03 Jan 2013 14:02:23 +0000 http://www.commutebybike.com/?p=22544#comment-1530602 When I see a product like this I think of the expression of incredulity I saw on a fellow bike store customer's face when the sales clerk told him that he'd have to pay extra for a kickstand. As a cynical boomer I learned the lesson of "follow the money" from an unfortunate political event in the 70's. IMHO, kickstands, along with fenders, went away because they were added expenses to the manufacturers. Then the job was to convince the customer that it was "what you want." Less weight, ability to customize, looking cool... all meant that the manufacturing costs would go down (notice, not the sale price) and thus more funds in the pocket of the supply chain. Since most Americans saw bikes as toys - for kids and adults alike - not transportation, taking away features that actually made a bike practical was easy to do. That said, hurrah for these creative thinking entrepreneurs to give back what was taken away while we were asleep. When I see a product like this I think of the expression of incredulity I saw on a fellow bike store customer’s face when the sales clerk told him that he’d have to pay extra for a kickstand. As a cynical boomer I learned the lesson of “follow the money” from an unfortunate political event in the 70′s. IMHO, kickstands, along with fenders, went away because they were added expenses to the manufacturers. Then the job was to convince the customer that it was “what you want.” Less weight, ability to customize, looking cool… all meant that the manufacturing costs would go down (notice, not the sale price) and thus more funds in the pocket of the supply chain. Since most Americans saw bikes as toys – for kids and adults alike – not transportation, taking away features that actually made a bike practical was easy to do.

That said, hurrah for these creative thinking entrepreneurs to give back what was taken away while we were asleep.

]]> By: Josh http://www.commutebybike.com/2013/01/02/upstand-the-almost-vanishing-kickstand-for-weight-weenies/comment-page-1/#comment-1529093 Josh Thu, 03 Jan 2013 03:47:59 +0000 http://www.commutebybike.com/?p=22544#comment-1529093 Looks like a lighter version of the <a href="http://www.click-stand.com/" rel="nofollow">Click-Stand</a>, which has the advantage of not needing a bracket, so can be used on however many bikes you have. Looks like a lighter version of the Click-Stand, which has the advantage of not needing a bracket, so can be used on however many bikes you have.

]]> By: Kevin Love http://www.commutebybike.com/2013/01/02/upstand-the-almost-vanishing-kickstand-for-weight-weenies/comment-page-1/#comment-1528694 Kevin Love Thu, 03 Jan 2013 00:39:53 +0000 http://www.commutebybike.com/?p=22544#comment-1528694 I rather like the centre kickstand on my Pashley Roadster Sovereign. It holds the bike upright whilst I am loading it with groceries. See: http://www.pashley.co.uk/products/roadster-sovereign.html I rather like the centre kickstand on my Pashley Roadster Sovereign. It holds the bike upright whilst I am loading it with groceries. See:

http://www.pashley.co.uk/products/roadster-sovereign.html

]]> By: Garrett Blake founder http://www.commutebybike.com/2013/01/02/upstand-the-almost-vanishing-kickstand-for-weight-weenies/comment-page-1/#comment-1528372 Garrett Blake founder Wed, 02 Jan 2013 21:54:49 +0000 http://www.commutebybike.com/?p=22544#comment-1528372 Being both road and mountain bikers here our goal is to provide a way to stand up our bikes while not in use. When I arrive at my office, or set my bike indoors at home. (I will admit I do find my bikes nice addition to the family room, however my wife does not see the beauty.) Weight is always a consideration when building anything and in this case also important. We have a storage clip on the way that can be used below the water bottle cages. Thank you for your time. We are committed to making useful products to make our riding experience more complete. Being both road and mountain bikers here our goal is to provide a way to stand up our bikes while not in use. When I arrive at my office, or set my bike indoors at home. (I will admit I do find my bikes nice addition to the family room, however my wife does not see the beauty.) Weight is always a consideration when building anything and in this case also important. We have a storage clip on the way that can be used below the water bottle cages. Thank you for your time. We are committed to making useful products to make our riding experience more complete.

]]> By: Tom Bowden http://www.commutebybike.com/2013/01/02/upstand-the-almost-vanishing-kickstand-for-weight-weenies/comment-page-1/#comment-1528326 Tom Bowden Wed, 02 Jan 2013 21:38:18 +0000 http://www.commutebybike.com/?p=22544#comment-1528326 As a sometimes roadie, I don't see any problem here that some carbon fiber or titanium doohickeys mounted to your water bottle bosses (with titanium screws, of course) would not cure. Or maybe a custom carbon seatpost with a retainer clip so that you could remove the seatpost and slide the stand into it. As a sometimes roadie, I don’t see any problem here that some carbon fiber or titanium doohickeys mounted to your water bottle bosses (with titanium screws, of course) would not cure. Or maybe a custom carbon seatpost with a retainer clip so that you could remove the seatpost and slide the stand into it.

]]> By: norm http://www.commutebybike.com/2013/01/02/upstand-the-almost-vanishing-kickstand-for-weight-weenies/comment-page-1/#comment-1528250 norm Wed, 02 Jan 2013 21:02:49 +0000 http://www.commutebybike.com/?p=22544#comment-1528250 It's clever! I like the fact that people in the cycling community are experimenting with new ways to do things. This is a stand I might not loathe. It’s clever! I like the fact that people in the cycling community are experimenting with new ways to do things. This is a stand I might not loathe.

]]> By: Ted Johnson http://www.commutebybike.com/2013/01/02/upstand-the-almost-vanishing-kickstand-for-weight-weenies/comment-page-1/#comment-1528081 Ted Johnson Wed, 02 Jan 2013 19:58:08 +0000 http://www.commutebybike.com/?p=22544#comment-1528081 The minimalism of the Upstand means that it has no hinge, or ability to "kick" up -- which keeps the weight down, and makes it technically <em>not</em> a kickstand. Roadies will need to find somewhere to keep it -- if not in a saddlebag. A jersey pocket, probably. I only know enough about the roadie stereotype to make fun of it. Perhaps there really are roadies who think that weight carried on their person doesn't count, but that's not part of the stereotype I poke with a carbon-fiber stick. The minimalism of the Upstand means that it has no hinge, or ability to “kick” up — which keeps the weight down, and makes it technically not a kickstand.

Roadies will need to find somewhere to keep it — if not in a saddlebag. A jersey pocket, probably.

I only know enough about the roadie stereotype to make fun of it. Perhaps there really are roadies who think that weight carried on their person doesn’t count, but that’s not part of the stereotype I poke with a carbon-fiber stick.

]]> By: R.White http://www.commutebybike.com/2013/01/02/upstand-the-almost-vanishing-kickstand-for-weight-weenies/comment-page-1/#comment-1528012 R.White Wed, 02 Jan 2013 19:33:32 +0000 http://www.commutebybike.com/?p=22544#comment-1528012 I found it humorous that the roadie target market can't carry it. Won't fit in a seat bag, and the weight description reads as if you shouldn't take it with you anyhow, because it would add more weight to your bike. (Added weight to your bike is only 15 grams. The stand alone is 25 grams. Total product weight is 40 grams.) If you carry the stand in your pocket, I guess that weight doesn't count? I found it humorous that the roadie target market can’t carry it. Won’t fit in a seat bag, and the weight description reads as if you shouldn’t take it with you anyhow, because it would add more weight to your bike. (Added weight to your bike is only 15 grams. The stand alone is 25 grams. Total product weight is 40 grams.) If you carry the stand in your pocket, I guess that weight doesn’t count?

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