Wogster

I am sure this has been asked before, but with the search function leaving a lot to be desired....

What is the best way to install bottle cages, when the frame does not have bosses installed, without drilling into the frame and getting them installed?

Here is the reasoning, my new (to me) Raleigh doesn't have any, and the wifes bike has only one, would like to add a second. Both have steel frames.

sced

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...GZYKK9YWK8MA04

There are also cages made to hold a bottle or two under the seat. Otherwise you have to use a clamp that with mar the paint.

GeorgePaul

This looks interesting. https://www.lickbike.com/productpage....=%273242-00%27

Bianchigirll 

Zefal used to make a great set of nylon clamps for this, the Gizmo, https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...ategory=200277

and Minoura makes a steel one to use on the DT, ST or handlebars. https://www.amazon.com/Minoura-Water-...7&sr=1-1-fkmr0

Zefal
Minoura

GeorgePaul

This looks interesting. https://www.lickbike.com/productpage....=%273242-00%27

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

Minoura also makes an adapter so you can mount any Bottle Cage on your bars...its about 5 bux at Nashbar.

**edit**

Bianchigirl beat me to it. Those Minoura ones are good...I just picked up a pair and now sport 2 water bottles on the bars of my Super Course.

Pars 

The Elite ones that GeorgePaul linked to are the ones I am going to use. I did a few searches here awhile back and those seem to be the best thought of. The Zefal ones were of interest as well.

Andrew F

+1 for on the bars, works well and I think I paid about $5 at the LBS plus the bottle. ( plastic works better then the SS unless you like listening to the rattles)

jsharr

I used the Zefal Gizmo on my Falcon and really like it.

Wogster

The Minoura one looks interesting, wonder if it's available in Canada, I guess I need to copy down the manufacturers SKU and email the distributor to see about where to get it.

Wogster

Hmmmm...... Seeing that one installed, guess I need to find a set, again here in Canada it can be tricky getting some of these items.....

Chombi

[QUOTE=Bianchigirll;10801721]Zefal used to make a great set of nylon clamps for this, the Gizmo, https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...ategory=200277

and Minoura makes a steel one to use on the DT, ST or handlebars. https://www.amazon.com/Minoura-Water-...7&sr=1-1-fkmr0

Zefal
/QUOTE]

Zefal = French wizards of black plastic accessories for bikes! Good thing is, most of the stuff they made did work very well. My plastic Zefal floor pump lasted over 20 years of hard use on for all my vehicles. The replacement Schwinn branded one I got from target didn't even make it to a year before it fell apart, and the thing was made of mostly steel!
Score 1 for the French!

Chombi

Chombi

That's strange,......You mean the Canadian/French connections does not help to get French stuff like Zefal over there???......
The last stockist of French Vitus bicycle parts fo North America were from Canada, I was thinking that it holds true for other French bicycle brands and products.

Chombi

GeorgePaul

@Wogsterca: I have one of these that I am not planning to use. It's brand new in the packaging. If you like, I'll send it to you. Just pay postage to Canada. PM me if interested.

GV27

Just use steel clamps with a little handlebar tape under them....

Wogster

It really depends, some times you get companies like Amazon and Nashbar being so large they are in fact their own distributors, which means they can get stuff that normally would not sell in stores. The number of adult bicycles sold in the last 25 years without bottle cage bosses is pretty small meaning the market for this stuff is also pretty small. Zefal is well enough known, but the distributor may not bring a specific product in, if there is no market for it here.

cycleheimer

An older style bottle cage used to be sold that clamped onto the frame, as in the thumbnail photo below. Your bike might be from the 1970s or early 1980s.

Some other ideas:

https://www.nordicgroup.us/cageboss/

CACycling

I picked up one like the Minoura pictured above from Walmart a while back for around $5 with an alloy cage.

dedhed

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/Bell+Spo...=1218089801662

About $7 at your local evil Wal-mart including cage

illwafer

jackpot. nice link.

the obvious winner:

iab

Use handlebar cages.

PlatyPius

J&B Importers has clamps like the Zefal ones. They're only $5 and come with 4 different sizes in the package, so they'll fit anything.

I've used the Minoura one, and I think it sucks (IMO).

USAZorro

Step 1 - Buy a can of Plasti-dip (or whatever a competing product might be called).
Step 2 - Coat one side (the inside) of the metal band clamps.
Step 3 - Let it dry.
Step 4 - Install cage using the plasticized metal bands.

This has many advantages - it doesn't mar the paint, it looks professional, the bands won't slip, and moisture won't collect between the band and the frame. I've done this on my 1972 Fuji Finest, and it has worked wonderfully - getting the cage situation resolved was one of the main concerns I had about making this into my distance-riding bike. I needn't have been concerned.

rwortman

I am using a set of those on my vintage bike and they work well.

Wogster

I wonder about this, get a length of metal strapping, solder a nut on one end, with the proper thread (anyone know the thread size), wrap it around the frame tube and mark it, then drill a hole near the other end large enough for the screw to go through, coat with the plastic, put on the bottle cage and put the screw in. You just need to make 2 per cage. If you want to remove one, just take out the screw, and it comes right off. Only problem might be holding the strap in the right place and the cage and the screw. Wouldn't sit out so far either.