COMPONENT DAMAGE - SIDE STANDS

If you see the presence of a clamp-on center or side stand on a higher end vintage road bicycle, be wary!  Side or center stands that clamp to the chain stays can actually, if tightened up too much, crush the stays.  That means frame damage.  The Dawes Galaxy frame set shows minor damage to the tops of the chain stays, thanks to the side stand it was equipped with when I first acquired the bicycle.  The undersides of the stays was much worse.

Clamp-on side and center stands do not work all that well, in my opinion.  They offer little stability to what already is an unstable object.  As often as not, a bicycle being supported by a such a side stand will fall over, damaging pedal ends, brake levers and rear derailleurs.  To that add the fact that these clamp-on nightmares often times work them selves loose.  When that happens, the would be mechanic immediately feels the need to tighten the stand up even more, causing additional damage to delicate stays.  Or, worse yet, the stand can loosen and swing to the side catching the pedal while the bicycle is being ridden.  Down goes the rider and the bike.  More damage, both to the rider and ridden.

The side or center stand is not necessarily a hazard to all kinds of bicycles.  Bicycles with heavier or thicker walled stays can use these horrible accessory items with little fear because the walls of the chain stay tubing is very thick, compared to the higher end racing or touring bicycle.  The CCM Grand Prix pictured will likely survive the fitting of its center stand simply because the chain stays are very sturdy.  But the stays on my chrome moly framed, mid seventies CCM Tour du Canada would crush like tinfoil, should I be foolish enough to try and mount a clamp-on stand.

Consider this – clamp-on side stands are both heavy and ugly!  Get rid of the stupid clamp-on side or center stand and believe that you have done all bicycles around the world a favour.

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