I’m Kamo, the fixed-gear boy, who’s been doing so many long skids lately that I’ve worn out my rear tire, and I’m currently thinking about switching to a Vittoria Randonneur next.
The "trick practice" session at last night's CHILL!! Warm-up Edition was a huge success, with not just local Nagoya cyclists attending, but also people from as far away as Mie, Gifu, Kakegawa, and Toyohashi—it was so much fun we completely forgot about the cold!
Next month's CHILL!! will be on the third Friday, February 17th! The details are still a secret, but since it's the first one, we’ll be doing an alleycat race. If you've worn down your rear tire in the long-skid competition, don't forget to get yourself ready!
The biggest hit of the practice session was the track stand competition. A track stand is the skill of balancing on your bike without your feet touching the ground. (If you come to CHILL!!, you might get to see it in action.)
You start with both hands on the handlebars, but then you level up by taking one hand off, then both hands, then lifting one foot.
We can track stand while we're on our bikes, but there are times when you really wish the bike could stand on its own, aren't there?
Like when you’re out in town and can’t find a wall or bike stand to lean your bike against, or when you're touring and need to get something out of your pannier or saddle bag—these things actually happen quite often in daily life. Well, that’s a slightly forced transition into talking about bike stands. The reason I’m bringing this up is that we’ve just received a nice little item from SURLY that hits just the right spot.
As the name suggests, this is a plate used for attaching a kickstand (center stand).
It’s a very specific solution—for better or worse—that only fits two touring-focused models where you’ll often be carrying heavy loads: the Long Haul Trucker and the Disc Trucker.
The key feature of this item is the groove. By sandwiching the plate, which is designed to fit perfectly into the chainstay, it prevents slipping and protects the frame from damage.
Next, regarding installation on the underside, the plate tends to interfere with the rear derailleur's inner cable. If left this way, it wouldn't just mess up your shifting, but the cable could get worn down and, in the worst-case scenario, snap.
That’s where this comes in handy!
Yes, that’s right: just a simple, short-cut piece of shift housing. By putting this where the interference occurs, the inner cable is well protected.
Now you’re ready to install the stand.
The stand I used this time is the ESGE double-leg stand. ESGE stands are known for being simple and sturdy, and they can be cut to adjust to the perfect length.
Make sure to apply thread locker to the bolts. This is another important point for safe and worry-free riding.
Tighten the bolts while ensuring the stand is straight.
Stands that mount behind the bottom bracket look nice and clean when folded up.
Now you can confidently park your bike anywhere!
Also, the URSUS double-leg kickstand, which is recommended for cargo bikes and bikes carrying heavier loads, is back in stock. We’ve introduced it on the blog before, so be sure to check it out!
So, if you’re riding a Long Haul Trucker or Disc Trucker and are thinking about adding a stand, or even if you already have one, please consider this option!