Touring - Adding a Cage without Braze Ons

I am fixing up my old 27 inch wheel, 531 steel tubing, touring bike, and it only has braze ons for one water bottle cage---on the down tube. Years ago I would just attach a second cage to the seat tube with clear packaging tape, which worked fine, but looked pretty lame. I know I have seen doo dads for attaching a second cage here and there over the years, but haven't seen any lately. Does anyone have any recommendations for such a doo dad to install a cage to the seat tube (not post) that isn't overly expensive and makes for a nice, clean looking installation? Thanks. :D

Drill two holes the right distance apart and either tap them to take a 5M bolt (it's an old steel frame that is likely to have enough thickness for the threads), or otherwise use self-tapping screws. Quick, clean, neat, cheap and simple. You could go further and use Rivnuts, but they need a certain skill to use without the correct riveting tool.

Oh, sorry.. you want to go the do-dad route. Can't help there. Never used 'em!

I think this page about covers the possibilities:

http://www.nordicgroup.us/cageboss/

And if you can't find nice doo-dads, simply using a couple of small automotive hose clamps (probably want to put a layer of tape underneath to protect the paint) has worked for me in the past.

I think this page about covers the possibilities:

http://www.nordicgroup.us/cageboss/

Thanks. I think you found the motherlode of doo dads. :D

And if you can't find nice doo-dads, simply using a couple of small automotive hose clamps (probably want to put a layer of tape underneath to protect the paint) has worked for me in the past.

Yep, I know I can always strap one on if none of the doo dads catch my eye. Actually that doo dad about one quarter of the way down the page did catch my fancy, but I think she might be pretty expensive to use just for a water bottle holder! :rolleyes:

I've used two of the options on the Nordicgroup page.

1) Twofish: attaches via velcro. Works OK, but can shift around.
2) Minoura: much more solid but can still move around.

If you don't use the secondary cage that much, either one will do just fine.

And if you can't find nice doo-dads, simply using a couple of small automotive hose clamps (probably want to put a layer of tape underneath to protect the paint) has worked for me in the past.

+1 I have done this on several bikes. But I would not use tape, It will just leave a sticky film on your paint and you would be to easy for a steel clamp to dig threw tape and into your paint/frame. I would use a couple of those little rubber pieces that come with bike lights and computers that are used to help the mount grab the bike. If you don't have any of those laying around try cutting a strip out of an old tube.

At either REI or the Richardson Bike Mart, I saw a cage that came with clamp to mount it. Come to think of it, maybe my $4 cage from Target did, too. But they seemed pretty dinky. I wound up using a U-bolt to attach one to the handlebars. Had to bend the U-bolt in tighter, had to add a stiffener bar to the cage, but works fine now.

Here is another doo dad made by Zefal that is available at Nashbar for $4.99 that looks like it could be the ticket if it is relatively non abrasive to the frame.

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?sku=3478&PID=1512683

hoseclamps

hoseclamps

+1

i just added another cage to my (single-caged) miyata using these. the ones i used were from the LBS, so maybe not the same as gardening hoseclamps, but you get the idea.

Just a FYI, my LBS will install cage bungs for $15.00.

This is all you need right here!

http://www.velo-orange.com/miststwaboca.html