So .... what's holding up this bike?

[dim]

something that has always baffled me .... what is supporting the bike in the photo? (I've seen many bikes advertised like this):

[nikki]

Nothing.
(But there'll be one or two people who'll have just moved out of shot very quickly...)

[dim]

Nothing.
(But there'll be one or two people who'll have just moved out of shot very quickly...)

so a few seconds after the photo, the bike falls onto the tarmac?

[LittleWheelsandBig]

Usually the bike is pushed across the road and caught on the far side. According to Carlton Reid, at least.

[dim]

Usually the bike is pushed across the road and caught on the far side.

thanks .... that explains it .... 

[Kim]

Sky hooks.  Photographer borrowed them from an architect friend.

[Basil]

I can't see clearly enough on my phone, but I assume  it is either  being held up by something that has been photoshoped out, or it is leaning against the scenery which is actually a backdrop.

[bobb]

The latest version of Photoshop? Or maybe Fireworks 8 if they're old skool...

[fuaran]

Thin string (eg fishing line or kite line) could be strong enough, but not visible in the photo.

[robgul]

The position of the valves and cranks suggests that it's a static pose - doubtless Photoshopped - you wouldn't need much to prop up a bike like that so would be easy to brush out.

Rob

[Kim]

Or photograph it leaning against a plain background and put a suitable background image in later.

[PaulF]

Kim has it.

Twice!

But the first explanation was more likely

[nikki]

I've half a memory of seeing some video of it being done. Possibly for a Kinesis photoshoot with Mike Hall before the Indy-Pac, but I don't feel like doing those google searches.

A few references to the technique in these articles:
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/article/how-to-take-a-brilliant-picture-of-your-bike-46975/
https://cyclingtips.com/2015/11/how-to-take-good-photos-of-your-bike/

so a few seconds after the photo, the bike falls onto the tarmac?

If they're not equally fast at moving back again, yes!

[rogerzilla]

Why stop at photoshopping out the bricks holding the pedal up?  With a bit of effort, your bike could be on the Great Barrier Reef or Tatooine.

[woollypigs]

Magic

[Kim]

Why stop at photoshopping out the bricks holding the pedal up?  With a bit of effort, your bike could be on the Great Barrier Reef or Tatooine.

On Tatooine you'd use a mirror, not a brick.  No photoshop required.

[robgul]

If you look through the rear wheel there's a suspicious bit of road surface? - could have had a small prop against the disc brake caliper to hold it up.

Rob

[ian]

They glue them to the road. You find quite a few high end bikes stuck to country lanes.

(This one is Photoshoppped, they've dropped it on a gaussian blurred background, smudged a bit of shadow under the wheels, it's a five minute job and a lot easier and cheaper than lugging a bike out to a suitably photogenic venue.)

[Cudzoziemiec]

It is held up by God's love. Or Lance Armstrong's haematocrit. Depending.

[Asterix, the former Gaul.]

Why did the bike cross the road?

[mrcharly-YHT]

Why did the bike cross the road?

kittens

[Jurek]

Magnets.

[Cudzoziemiec]

Magnetic kittens? Close enough.

[Polar Bear]

I am fascinated by the unusual and what looks to me inconsistent road surface colouring in the area below the chainstay and above the chain.  Has something been photoshopped out there?

[LEE]

Photoshop is holding it up.

I "shop" out the stand in my bike photos as well.  It takes a few seconds.

Shoddy work on valve position though, they should be at 6 o'clock (and the crank should be parallel to the downtube).  Tsk Tsk.