When it comes to the use of mountain bike kick stands, many people are divided in their opinion of how they should be used. Firstly you need to understand that there is a big difference between using a kick stand on a mountain bike trail and using one in the street. Both sides of the debate on whether to use them or not are valid and it is important to look at both aspects to fully understand the situation.

Understanding the Argument

People who are against using a mountain bike kick stand are mainly against it for the safety aspect of things. When you think that the rough terrain could potentially knock the bolt which holds the kick stand in place and slip into the down position, you realize just how potentially dangerous that can be. If the rider was going downhill at fairly fast speeds, if the bolt were to come loose then a potentially serious accident could occur.

Those who want to use a kick stand claim that they do not want to leave the equipment lying around. If they leave it somewhere such as against a tree, they are worried that it could fall over and break. Also when riding over pavement alone, the kick stand should stay secure throughout. It is only over mountain bike trails where the problem truly begins.

Everybody has their own opinion on mountain bike kick stands. Some riders will have them whilst others would rather steer clear. It is a personal choice to make and many riders allow others to make their own minds up. However you will always come across people who have slightly stronger opinions. Many times people have been harassed by others because of their strong views on kick stands and unfortunately it is likely that you will always come up against some form of resistance with the issue.

If you do want to use a kick stand then you can purchase one which has two bolts to secure it rather than just the one. You can also do things to the lock nuts and lock washers to prevent them from becoming loose. So this does make it a little safer.

Overall the argument regarding kick stands will never fully be resolved. However, by becoming more knowledgeable about kick stands and the potential dangers of them you can help to make your own mind up about whether to use them or not. If you are just going to be riding over pavement then there is really no reason why you can't use kick stands. However over rougher terrain it is not always the best idea as it is potentially more dangerous.