On my tours I have used a couple of different stands on my bike. I have also toured with a fully loaded bike without a stand. I have read many comments on-line that a stand is not necessary and all you need to do is lean your bike against a wall or a tree. Great, if these are available where you want to stop. Otherwise it’s a case of laying the bike down, which is not always the best option. The time I found I needed a stand the most was once when I was trying to purchase train tickets from a machine situated in the centre of a station with nowhere to lean my bike and which was so busy, laying it down was not going to work. The rigmarole I went through trying to juggle bank-card, pressing buttons and holding my loaded bike up convinced me I wanted a stand.

The first style of stand I tried was a twin legged one which mounted behind the bottom bracket. To be honest this was not the best of designs. It was sturdy, folded out of the way when not in use and worked OK when not loaded with luggage but as soon as panniers were fitted one of the wheels would be off the ground and this caused the bike to move or if it was the front wheel off the ground the forks to rotate. Any camber on the road meant the bike was unstable and likely to fall over. I found it almost impossible to adjust the stand to a height which meant both front and rear tyres were touching the ground.

So, for me the best answer was a stand which attaches to the rear stay and allows for a slight lean when in use. The one I bought has two mounting points which give it additional strength without adding too much excess weight. It is adjustable in length which can be set so the bike leans at a suitable angle to ensure stability.

I will still lean my bike against a wall, fence or tree should one be at hand because, if I’m honest, I don’t really completely trust the stand’s stability but it is the best solution I have found.

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