Bicycle Mechanics - Difficult to add water bottle cage to a frame w/o a place for one?

The Surly Steamroller only has a place for one water bottle mount. Would it be possible for a LBS to drill holes for another one?

You could use a clamp on bottle cage.

Here are a bunch of ideas for you:
http://recklesscognition.wordpress.com/2009/01/13/methods-for-attaching-water-bottle-cages-without-screws-and-bosses/

You wouldn't want to drill. The water bottle mounts should be brazed onto the frame, and that would be a little more involved than just drilling and tapping. It would deface your frame where the torch has to be applied, so the finish is a consideration, and it might involve a trip to a frame builder.

Instead, they do make clamp on bottle mounts -- basically just a steel strap that wraps around the tube and gives you a place to mount a bottle cage -- probably a much better option.

That all depends on what the frame is made of. I have added bottle cage mounts to steel frames by drilling a hole and inserting a RIV-NUT, it is large rivet that is threaded on the inside. The problem would be finding someone that has the tool to do this. The simplest way is to use a bottle cage with tube clamps. My 69 Peugeot PX-10 has these. You can also find Bottle cages that mount on the handle bars and on the seat tube.

Do a google search for "zefal gizmo" . Great way to add a cage without drilling into your frame.

Here is a gizmo in use on my Falcon.

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r162/jsharr/Falcon/bikes005.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r162/jsharr/Falcon/bikes004.jpg

Thanks guys!

Or you could be cheap like me and use a couple of clamp-on-reflector mounts.

Or you could be cheap like me and use a couple of clamp-on-reflector mounts.

Cable ties are cheaper.

they do make clamp on bottle mounts -- basically just a steel strap that wraps around the tube and gives you a place to mount a bottle cage -- probably a much better option.
I have one of these on my fixed-gear bike, built out of an old steel frame that lacks drillings for water bottle cage. Check out this picture (http://www.unc.edu/~cupery/pics/bikes/Miyata_fixed-gear/small/0-MG_5574.html), and the two following it.

The Elite system works well and is inexpensive. I just mounted one on my fixie. Cost was about $9 from Lickbike

Walmart actually has clamp-on mounts last time I checked, as does REI.
Some of them will rotate and go on your handlebars, doesn't have to be on your frame.

I used riv-nuts in the past, always worked out really well. BTW, use steel riv-nuts on steel frames, and aluminum riv-nuts for aluminum frames. I WOULD NOT DRILL A CARBON FRAME.

Get a seatpost mouted one where the bottles fit behind

A hydration pack doesn't have to be brazed on.

A hydration pack doesn't have to be brazed on.

It actually hurts really badly to braze one to your back, and it is nearly impossible to do this without burning a hole in the bladder.

If you like velcro, there's this:
http://www.twofish.biz/bike.html

All good advise, but whatever you do, don't use the Elite VIP bottle cage mounts. They fall apart, typically dropping your bottle in front of your mates, and throwing the cage into the rear wheel. You might as well use cable ties (which BTW is also a seriously bad idea). I'd use a jubilee clip or just customise something from a strip of metal with a hole in each end and a bolt. Use a piece of innertube under it, to keep from scratching the frame.

There is another alternative:

http://inlinethumb53.webshots.com/35956/2994617000068014369S500x500Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2994617000068014369bHsxQy)

Go to an LBS with a Quality Catalog and check out what Problem Solvers might have for you. I have found they have some of the most unusual gizmos to help fix problems like yours. Problem with Drilling the steel used on bikes is that it is hardend CroMo and difficult to drill. A machine shop would be better. Good luck.

There is another alternative:

http://inlinethumb53.webshots.com/35956/2994617000068014369S500x500Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2994617000068014369bHsxQy)

Sorry this is so old post wise, but what is the brand and model of the handle bars on this bike?

Sorry this is so old post wise, but what is the brand and model of the handle bars on this bike?

Can't tell you what brand these are but the style is "North Road".

Riv nuts are cold installed bosses, aluminum frames use zillions of them.

On my Langster Comp which isn't drilled for anything, I used the Profile Designs Seatpost dual water bottle cages mentioned in link posted by sonatageek. It works well and is removable when it's not needed.