Cyclocross - Adding Water Bottle Mounts to Carbon Frame

Hi Forum! Newbie here. I got t-boned by a car while riding my Bianchi Carbon Concept cross bike. I survived, the bike not so much. Anyhow, now it's time to replace it. One of my options is a gently used Van Dessel Full Tilt Boogie frame / fork that I would build up. I ride more dirt roads / races than cross — though I do both — so I could really use some water bottles. I talked to the Van Dessel guys and they said any good bike shop can add braze ons (rivet ons?). Is that true? If not, where should I start looking?

Second, my other option is a new Ibis Hakkalugi. Really like the bike but am a little put off by the absence of a BB30. Should that even be a concern?

Thanks for your help.

Unless you're racing, don't worry about not having the BB30. Frankly, even if you are racing, you don't have to worry about it. There are plenty of people racing on outboard bearing BBs. FSA is also making adaptors to the upcoming BB386

I would rather do the Ibis than the Van Dessel if it was a matter of waterbottle cages. Both are great bikes, however adding "braze-ons" to a carbon race frame will drop possible resale value considerably.

Consider this frame for the type of cycling you discribe: http://pedalforce.com/online/product_info.php?products_id=21005&osCsid=1b1e3c71f4cff263872b530892ae3fa6

I just received this message from our local frame-building guru: "Thank you for contacting us. I have done a number of water bottle mounts on carbon frames. It is actually a special threaded rivet. The appearance will be similar to a brazed on bottle mount, but thinner. The cost will be approximately $40 for installation on a carbon frame. Matt Assenmacher." Asked for pictures. I'll post if I receive them.

They're called Rivet-nuts or sometimes "Nutserts". McMaster-Carr has them. (http://www.mcmaster.com/#stainless-steel-rivet-nuts/=ecgryg) They can be added to a frame pretty much anywhere. I have a vintage Cannondale that has them as the waterbottle cage "braze-ons". If you really want the Van Dessel (and it sounds like you do), nutserts are the way to go. Ibis probably uses the same hardware for theirs. Stick with your framebuilder rather than your LBS. It sounds like he knows what he's doing with them. In inexperienced hands, they can crack the frame or end up coming loose later on.

That's why I was cautioning you about them. If you're go to sell the VD later, the nutserts might raise some eyebrows. If the buyer is savvy, he won't know who installed them, and thus be more wary. If you're going to thrash it and end up being the only owner, it doesn't matter. Have fun and go for it!

Bummer about the Carbon Concept. I added strap on cage mount to my Bianchi.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/760674-Adding-another-bottle-cage-to-your-CX-bike?highlight=