Our company,  www.ezbikeproducts.com , develops cycling products to make cycling easier.  Our popular EZ Bike Stand has been well endorsed and accepted by the cycling community.  However, one simple product we offer that gets less attention but well received is our Velcro Brand One Wrap strap.  I cannot think of a better solution for keeping the front wheel of a bicycle stable when traveling with your bike hanging on the rear bike rack of a car. http://ezbikeproducts.com/ez-straps/

I used to use bungee cords, rope, and non-Velcro straps to keep my front wheel from banging into the bumper of my car or into my wife’s bike’s spokes when I was carrying both bikes.  No longer.  With only a small piece of our Velcro Brand One Wrap strap weaved behind the bottle cage and around the front wheel, we have created a simple and quick way to eliminate the “turned wheel” syndrome.

I mentioned I can’t help but stare at every bicycle I see hanging on the back of a car…or in a bike stand for that matter.  At first it was for the beauty.  But now I check it out to see if someone is suffering from “turned wheel” syndrome or the “lean”.  While I may miss my first glance, it sure is rewarding to see cyclists that are cured.

A couple tips, however, should be considered when connecting bike stands together. Will the distance between them allow bikes to park in the same direction? Handlebars knocking into one another can be frustrating. Also, are you getting the best support for your bikes and at the right “touch” points? Is there enough weight and stability with the combination? Do the bike stands easily adjust to customize the fitting of your bikes in the stands?

Besides building your customized bicycle rack at home using bike stands, companies and cities that encourage bicycle commuting, bike shops, and cycling teams can benefit from this type of set up. I’ve found connecting bike stands compared to traditional bike racks are less bulky and cumbersome, easier for children and older cyclists to use, and easier for bike shops to display bicycles.

Personally, I’m a big fan of using bike stands to form a bike rack. However, if I ever change my mind I can simply disconnect the bike stands and use them individually. Now that’s a nice feature!

Interestingly, bike stand has no definition, however, a bicycle stand and bicycle carrier is defined as such:
• Bicycle stand – a stationary fixture to which a bicycle can be securely attached (typically using a bicycle lock) to prevent theft.
• Bicycle carrier – a device attached to a vehicle (e.g. to a car or bus) to which bicycles can be mounted for transport.
As the inventor of the EZ Bike Stand, this is surprising. I had not thought of a bicycle stand as a device to which bicycles may be securely attached. A bicycle rack perhaps, but not a bicycle stand. Even Orville and Wilbur Wright considered bike stands to be portable, easy to use devices to keep bicycles upright, not secured. However, I understand European countries often refer to bike stands as places to secure your bike and that these stands are located throughout their cities to accommodate the high volume of bicycle commuters and shoppers.

Perhaps it’s this confusion that has led cyclists to keep from exploring bicycle stands for their true value. Or maybe the portable bike stand is still in its infancy stage. Personally, I think it’s the most overlooked bicycle accessory today. Here’s a recent video I found on-line from a customer unknown to me.  2009 Specialized Allez Elite w/ EZ Bike Stand  I believe the viral affect of cyclists telling cyclists about quality products using social media and technology will change the bicycle stand landscape in the future. And who knows, perhaps our friend the bike stand will finally get noticed by Webster.

Unlike a bicycle stand which is usually portable, a bicycle repair stand is rarely traveled with because of its size and weight. Granted, I’ve seen bicycle shops and cycling teams bring them to races, but that’s out of necessity rather than convenience. Also, some bicycle repair stands permanently affix to a workbench like a vise, making them impossible to take with you.

Personally, I use a bicycle repair stand when I have to do major repairs or adjustments to my bicycle, but use my EZ Bike Stand for everything else. So, whenever I’m storing my bike, cleaning my bike, pumping my tires, lubing my chain, doing maintenance, making minor repairs, or traveling, I use my EZ Bike Stand which is much easier to set up and use than a heavy bicycle repair stand.

Another difference you’ll find with a bicycle repair stand is the price. They aren’t cheap, but a good investment if you plan to get down and dirty working on your bicycle. Most of them are well constructed, durable, and very stable, which you should expect. Also, read the instructions carefully on the best way to secure your bike, especially when clamping it to the frame or seat post. You want to avoid scratching or denting your bike in anyway. 7MD8NHJN4WXG

Makes Lubing Chains Easy

I have written many blogs about bicycle stands and the benefits of owning one. If you use one, you know the conveniences it provides and the frustrations it eliminates. As co-inventor of the EZ Bike Stand you might feel I have a bias toward owning a bike stand, but the reality is that the feedback I get every week tells me how much cyclists love them.

However, not all bicycle stands are alike and not all of them loved. The tips I provide in my blog at www.ezbikeproducts.com/blog/ explain the differences you should consider. I would also encourage you to ask other cyclists their opinions when you see bicycle stands at group rides or races.

I believe the proverb, “you get what you paid for” holds true with bicycle stands. While your bicycle is the single largest cycling investment you’ll make, you should consider how you plan to store, protect, and maintain it. The cost of a bike stand is minimal when you look at the bigger picture. And if you plan on a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) bike stand, consider the time, cost, functionality, and usefulness before taking on your project.

The key component of a good bicycle stand is that it needs to support your bicycle, not all bicycles, and it should keep your bike from leaning. Otherwise, it’s nothing but a modified kickstand and you’ll likely be unhappy with it. Also, bicycle stands will typically use the spokes, frame, wheel rims, or tires for support. So, decide what you feel comfortable with holding up your bike.

The ability to hold a bicycle upright is more complicated and difficult than it looks, so don’t be fooled by simple bicycle stand designs. You love cycling, you love your bike, so love how you store, clean, and maintain it. Bicycle stands can make your whole cycling experience even better.

Bicycle Stand in black color

Why can’t a bike stand on its own? Because it’s “two” tired. If you laughed like I did, you probably found how something so simple can be so creative. I like to believe bicycle stands are the same way.

When you look at the designs of a bicycle stand you’ll notice some simple engineering. Bike racks are a bit more complicated, but similar in scope. Both of these, however, tend to lack color which I feel inhibits their true creativity.

Anthony Lau from Cyclehoop Ltd in London is in the business of providing bicycle parking solutions for cities and uses bright colors to transform bike racks into appealing works of art. Simple in form, creative in color, and practical in use, his bike racks get a lot of attention wherever they reside. Personally, as the owner of a company, www.ezbikeproducts.com, that produces bicycle stands, I appreciate the boldness when someone, like Anthony, steps outside the norm to make a difference.

I’ve considered making our bicycle stands in a variety of colors, but I’ve weighed the costs and customer demand and I haven’t been sold on the idea yet. While Anthony produces bike racks for cities, I produce bicycle stands for individual cyclists. The perception that color shows dirt, wear, and tear are concerns of cyclists. I’ve surveyed some customers with mixed results too. Bicycles aren’t always clean, so cyclists generally gravitate toward black. Also, black goes with about everything, and cyclists usually prefer a bike stand that matches or coordinates with the color of their bike.

Sometimes I feel like Henry Ford when he first made the Model T and said you can have “any colour, so long as it’s black”. Deciding on the right color and right quantity for a small business has its risks, but I suppose, it has its upside too. So, when are bicycle stands blue? When they have no support.