Bicycle Mechanics - mounting water bottle

I just bought a 76 Raleigh Grand Prix and it has no way to mount a water bottle. Could I drill and tap the holes to mount the cage?

Thanks in advance,
Chris

No you can't drill and tap because there isn't enough wall thickness for a thread. Many bike shops have "riv-nut" tools which allow a nut to be pop-riveted to a drilled hole, and can do this job for you.

Otherwise you might scout around for a clamp-on bottle cage. Usually these are sold by mass merchants, rather than bike shops. There's also this nifty Velcro-on cage made by Twofish-- http://www.twofish.biz/bike.html

Also consider the single and double clamps that attach to your saddle or seatpost like triahtletes use.

Zefal makes a very nice product for mounting water bottle cages on frames without braze ons, called the Gizmo. I bought mine from Bike Nashbar (http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10052&storeId=10053&productId=233284&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=200287&top_category=200277)

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

use hose-clamps found at your local hardware store.

simple.

http://nordicgroup.us/cageboss/

No you can't drill and tap because there isn't enough wall thickness for a thread. Many bike shops have "riv-nut" tools which allow a nut to be pop-riveted to a drilled hole, and can do this job for you.

Otherwise you might scout around for a clamp-on bottle cage. Usually these are sold by mass merchants, rather than bike shops. There's also this nifty Velcro-on cage made by Twofish-- http://www.twofish.biz/bike.html
If the wall thickness is anything like my old Schwinn tandem, drilling and tapping works just fine.
I put 2 cages on this frame this way. The tube was thick enough for 3 complete threads, and they hold very securely.
http://cid-c5aa741102f41823.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/My%20Bikes/Scwinn%20by%20the%20waterfront%20003.jpg
I also am equipped to install Riv-nuts, and they are definately the fix for thinner tubes.

If the wall thickness is anything like my old Schwinn tandem, drilling and tapping works just fine.
I put 2 cages on this frame this way. The tube was thick enough for 3 complete threads, and they hold very securely.
http://cid-c5aa741102f41823.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/My%20Bikes/Scwinn%20by%20the%20waterfront%20003.jpg
I also am equipped to install Riv-nuts, and they are definately the fix for thinner tubes.

Regardless of the wall thickness. The drill is the way to go, but riv-nut is the final answer. Tapping will be hit and miss. Riv-nut on a frame that has the wall-thickness, will NEVER fail.

Regardless of the wall thickness. The drill is the way to go, but riv-nut is the final answer. Tapping will be hit and miss. Riv-nut on a frame that has the wall-thickness, will NEVER fail.
I think I remember Sheldon saying he installed them with self tapping sheet metal screws.

I just installed two cages on my mid 70's vintage bike with self taps screws. It was easy and quick and I can't believe I waited this long to do it.
I put just a dab of blue Loctite on the treads prior to driving them in. They are very tight to the frame and I'm not expecting any problems..cost about .01 cents and took 10 minutes.

Mike

A small hollow wall anchor might be a good method of attachment if you want to drill holes in the frame.

107752

If the wall thickness is anything like my old Schwinn tandem, drilling and tapping works just fine.
I put 2 cages on this frame this way. The tube was thick enough for 3 complete threads, and they hold very securely.
That tubing must have been heavy as water pipe! Three threads of an M5x.8 bolt require a tube wall 2.4 mm thick and I've never seen bike tubing that thick even on Huffys.

A small hollow wall anchor might be a good method of attachment if you want to drill holes in the frame.

107752

I would not recommend this method at all! The hole would need to be too large for a frame tube, the anchor would never tighten securely on metal, it's made for wallboard or thin wood.

Rivnuts work just like that wall moly. You install them and then tighten down a screw in the inside and crush them down. Many OE bikes come with them. You don't even need a special tool, I've installed them using just a hex key screw with nut and washer.