General Cycling Discussion - Water bottle cage for frame with no braze-ons?

A friend of mine wants to mount a water bottle cage on his bike, but there are no bottle braze-ons on the frame. I did a search on the web and found this page: http://www.nordicgroup.us/cageboss.htm

It shows some interesting models for bikes that have no braze-ons:

http://www.nordicgroup.us/cageboss/gizmo.gif
Zefal Gizmo Clamp

http://www.nordicgroup.us/cageboss/klickfixcage.gif
KLICKFix Bottle Fix

http://www.nordicgroup.us/cageboss/cagebo1.gif
Minoura BH-95 - Single Bottle Cage Holder

http://www.nordicgroup.us/cageboss/cagebo4.gif
Minoura Extra Cage Clamp-Band Set

Does anyone have any experience with any of these? Are there other things on the market? Thanks in advance,

Sp@eder

The zefal gizmo can be frustrating to install, holding all the pieces in place.
The Minoura cage clamps work well on small diameter tubes. Install them loose then slip the cage under them and tighten.
There are also mounts that will let you put one cage on the handlebar and two bottles off of the seat rails.

I've had good luck using zip-ties in lieu of Minoura clamp on bands. They work with any size tubes and come in snazzy colors.

Nashbar carries a few different ones to carry watter bottles. Profile also makes one that has two bottle cages that clamp to the seat tube.

Why I am having that very problem myself. Didn't occur to me that something lik ethis would exist.

I glued my plastic water bottle holder on the frame and secured it with zip ties. I foudn the zip ties where not enough to hold it in place and would slip with time. The glue I used is permanent (i hope) and will make it difficult to change the cage should it break, but thats later.

Digger

When using zip-ties, the trick is to put a small piece of innertube rubber between the contact point of the cage and the down tube/seat tube. Once I used a small piece of shelf liner, the kind that is also good for opening jar lids. You can get a large piece at a Dollar General store. This protects the frame as well as providing a better grip.

It is important to get the zip-tie very tight. After pulling as hard as possible, I grab the tail with my side cutters; and just before cutting, I roll the cutters to get that last "click".

I use two zip-ties at each end of the cage mount.

Using this method the cage should be as solid as need be.

Originally posted by Louis
It is important to get the zip-tie very tight. After pulling as hard as possible, I grab the tail with my side cutters; and just before cutting, I roll the cutters to get that last "click".

Make sure to get high-quality zip-ties when doing this. I've used zip-ties to bundle up cables in datacenters that were bought in bulk and were of rather low quality. I've had the ratchets slip or break off as well as having the ties simply snap in half when I applied just a bit of tension on them. Avoid the ones at Target and drugstores and head for auto-parts stores or electrical supply stores such as Graybar.

Originally posted by khuon
Make sure to get high-quality zip-ties when doing this. I've used zip-ties to bundle up cables in datacenters that were bought in bulk and were of rather low quality. I've had the ratchets slip or break off as well as having the ties simply snap in half when I applied just a bit of tension on them. Avoid the ones at Target and drugstores and head for auto-parts stores or electrical supply stores such as Graybar.

Very good point, khuon. I concur wholeheartedly.

Since I am going to splurge and have the Capo repainted in its original red-and-white Austrian flag-like color scheme (see attached photo, which I just received from a gentleman in Montana), and since it lacks water bottle braze-ons, I am looking for a satisfactory solution. The period-correct fixture would be a single- or dual-bottle holder clamped to the upper span of the handlebar, but I have not seen these for many years.

Clamps do exist: I have been able to buy some at my LBS. They looked at me as if I was crazy, but I got some anyway.

Another solution would be to buy a cheap bottle holder at a large surface store. Last year, Canadian Tire sold a complete bottle, bottle cage and clamps for $5 or $6.

Yet another solution would be to buy Rivnuts, Rivendell sells them, amongst others. Look at http://www.RivendellBicycles.com and search in their "webalog". Rivnuts are little bolt holders that one "rivets" in the tube. I have never bought nor installed any, so I don't know how easily they work.

Regards,

John E, I believe you should be able to get the single handlebar mount from Minoura. I think you can even still get alloy bottles with cork stoppers from (I think) World Cycling Productions.

I purchased the Zefal mounts from Nashbar and I am very pleased with them.

Thanks for the info guys.

John E, Elite does still make the alloy bottles, it's their "Retro product" (http://www.coloradocyclist.com/common/products/productdisplay2_v2.cfm?PRRFNBR=29713&CGRFNBR=647&CRPCGNBR=647&CI=1,226,647&TextMode=0)

...And it's only $24.99!!

One other possibility not mentioned by anyone would be to install some riv-nuts in the frame tubing. These work best in alloy frames and can be obtained in aluminum, steel and stainless steel. Of sourse you need a special riv-nut tool to install them and you must be super careful you drill your holes in the exact spot you want the cage to be, but in the long run they are superior to temporary fixes.

Originally posted by Scooby Snax
John E, Elite does still make the alloy bottles, it's their "Retro product" (http://www.coloradocyclist.com/common/products/productdisplay2_v2.cfm?PRRFNBR=29713&CGRFNBR=647&CRPCGNBR=647&CI=1,226,647&TextMode=0)

...And it's only $24.99!!

...

Chasbo, you can install a rivnut without the special tool by using the correct size nut and bolt. Thread the nut on to the bolt and thread the bolt fully in to the riv nut. Insert the riv nut into the frame and crank the nut down on to the riv nut while pushing down on to bolt and preventing it from turning. Used to work for a Cdale dealer and we had to do this on some of the smaller frames, that the plier style tool would not fit into.

I used a band-clamp of the type used on automobile radiator hoses to hold a cage in place on my beater. I used strips of rubber under the clamps to protect the paint. Has worked well and is easily removed if I'm ever inclined.

Yep Reverend, you are absolutely correct. Yet if you install the stainless steel nuts the plier tool's about the only sane way to go. I worked for a small mtb frame maker and had to do 300-500 of them on a busy week. The alloy and regular steel riv-nuts press insanely easy though and the bolt and nut method work really well for them.