For a year I had a Pletscher two-legged kickstand mounted on my Surly Long Haul Trucker. It’s one overriding benefit was that it doubled as a repair stand when inspecting the drivetrain and lubing the chain. But the Pletscher had more drawbacks than benefits, so I swapped it for a one-legged Greenfield kickstand which I like a lot better. When I removed the two-legger, though, I lost my portable repair stand. Oh well, at least I have a Topeak Flashstand. The Flashstand is a one-pound six-ounce repair stand which folds into a compact package that can be stored on a shelf when not needed—a significant plus if you live in cramped quarters. Here’s what it looks like when folded:

 
And here’s the other side:

 
When expanded, the Flashstand looks like this:

 
Two pairs of rubber pads support the bike under the bottom bracket shell, the padded hook wraps over the down tube, and the weight of the bicycle loads the stand’s legs. The Flashstand extends aft of the bottom bracket, and its legs lift the rear wheel off the ground in the same way as a dual-legged kickstand. In the photo below you can see the rubber pads supporting the bike under the bottom bracket shell:

 
And here is a view from above, showing the hook over the down tube:

 
The hook is plenty large enough to wrap around the wide aluminum tubing of my mountain bike, and though the steel tubing of my LHT doesn’t fill the void, the textured rubber coating on the hook firmly grips the bike and prevents shifting or sliding. You can see the port-side leg of the Flashstand beyond the crank arm. Here’s the stand in use from another point of view:

 
There’s plenty of clearance for the rear wheel, and the legs splay widely enough to hold the bike up, just. The supporting bracket is hinged and plastic, and can’t be expected to support heavy loads. I wouldn’t want to use it if my bike was weighed down with panniers, but then again, I wouldn’t put a loaded bike on any repair stand. The length of the stand can be adjusted by loosening a knob and sliding the legs out. This lifts the rear wheel higher off the ground, but also destabilizes the bicycle so it’s more likely to topple. In this way the Flashstand shares the main disadvantage of the Pletscher two-legged kickstand. I prefer to lift the rear wheel only as far as necessary to allow me to rotate the crank:

 
I don’t leave the bike unattended when it’s supported on the Flashstand, particularly in a gusty wind, or if dogs or children are running around nearby. And I keep a firm grip on the bike when I spin the crank at high revs, just in case.

The bottom line? I can’t give the Topeak Flashstand a glowing evaluation. It’s not a substitute for a shop repair stand. It’s not even as sturdy and stable as the small Nashbar Stand By Me stand. But at less than USD25, it’s a handy addition to the cyclist’s tool kit as long as it’s used within its abilities. When all I want to do is oil the drivetrain, this stand does the job in a flash.

 
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Horses are people, too, and they enjoy the same kinds of things we do—taking their ease, having a bite to eat, basking in the sun. Here a horse grazes while the sun and gentle southerly breeze warm the cold morning while I sweat up the grade past his pasture.

 
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This is the best time of year to be outside, whether on a bike, in a canoe or ‘yak, or on foot. It doesn’t matter whether the day is sunny or overcast, rainy or misty. The colors here in the Adirondack foothills are turning fast, and I like to get outside to enjoy them as much as possible, even as my desk piles high with work to be done. In a month’s time the trees will be stripped of leaves, and a month passes quickly—too quickly.

If you’re stuck inside and simply cannot get out into the countryside, take a few moments to enjoy a vicarious hike to enjoy the views hereabouts. The River and its bordering woods can always be relied upon to lift the spirits and calm the soul. Let’s reflect with this photo:

 
I can’t get enough photos of reflections, and this one reminds me of hammered metal. The sky is broken overcast, the pool is agitated by a restless wind, and the blueberry bushes are turning color. Further up the rocky spine, other blueberry shrubs are more advanced in their colors:

 
Most of the berries have been harvested by hungry birds and animals, though a few remain. These berries are another matter. At first I thought they were cranberries, but after consulting the guidebooks, it seems more likely they’re winterberry:

 
Looking up across the main channel you can see how the blush of autumn is working its way through the woodland. Smaller exposed maples have turned completely from green to red, while back in the forest orange and yellow are filling in. And speaking of orange, these maple saplings are bright in autumnal plumage:

 
A patch of blue sky is reflected in another pool:

 
The patch widens and in another pool compliments the reflection of red maple leaves:

 
It’s time to head back to the trailhead as dark clouds loom in the northern horizon. The trail winds through the woods and around a backwater which is bespeckled with fallen leaves and orange hemlock needles.

 
Downstream of the backwater pool, the ferns are turning yellow and russet:

 
A shower passes overhead and I pull out my umbrella to keep my gear dry. Water beads on leaves carpeting the trail.

 
The sun peeks out but not for long. No sooner do I return home than a deluge brings down more leaves. And so it goes. More photos of this colorful season can be found in the Outside Up North Photo Gallery Enjoy!

 
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