Tired of having your bike’s kickstand sink into sand or shift in gravel? Here’s an easy solution, one that weighs very little and costs absolutely nothing—a jar lid. You’ll need a stout metal lid, and a wide one works better than a narrow one. The principle is simple. A broad, solid base prevents the kickstand leg from boring into soft sediments, and it offers a stable base on shifty material like loose gravel. Just put the lid on the ground with the top side down, and place the kickstand foot in the lid. Here’s mine in use:

 

 
The lid is recycled from a jar of salsa, and the lid’s interior coating has been scratched with use, but so what? Before leaving the parked bike, be sure that the jar lid-kickstand support is solidly placed and that the kickstand won’t shift. Sometimes it’s necessary to try more than one spot before you get it right. Once the lid and bike settle, though, this kickstand support will keep your bike on the up-and-up. When the lid wears through or is badly deformed from use, put it in the recycling bin and choose a new used jar lid. Will this work with dual-legged kickstand? Maybe. I’ve not tried it, but imagine you would need two jar lids, one for each foot. But with a single-legged kickstand it works well. And it’s no burden to find room for this kickstand support in your kit. I slip mine in the map slot in my handlebar bag:

 

 
If you don’t use a ‘bar bag, carry it with your puncture repair kit and tools (you do carry these things, don’t you?). Or slip it into your jersey or jacket pocket. With the kickstand support along, you know that you can turn your back with confidence on a bike that’s solidly parked.

 
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