Bottle racks for small frame bikes
07-15-15, 06:55 AM
#1
meh
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Hopkins, MN
Posts: 4,704
Bikes: 23 Cutthroat, 21 CoMotion Java; 21 Bianchi Infinito; 15 Surly Pugsley; 11 Globe Daily; 09 Kona Dew Drop; 96 Mondonico
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1110 Post(s)
Liked 1,013 Times
in
519 Posts
Bottle racks for small frame bikes
I'd love to find a better solution to getting a second bottle on my wife's bike. The frame is so small that the seat post bottle rack doesn't allow enough room to fit a small bottle. She makes it work, but not great. Anybody else have issues like this? Ideas to make the seat tube rack work better?
07-15-15, 06:56 AM
#2
meh
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Hopkins, MN
Posts: 4,704
Bikes: 23 Cutthroat, 21 CoMotion Java; 21 Bianchi Infinito; 15 Surly Pugsley; 11 Globe Daily; 09 Kona Dew Drop; 96 Mondonico
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1110 Post(s)
Liked 1,013 Times
in
519 Posts
BTW if you didn't figure it out, the white bike on the right is the one that I'm talking about:
07-15-15, 07:48 AM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Fayetteville, NC
Posts: 346
Bikes: 2013 Rivendell Sam, 1996 Bianchi Milano, 1994 Trek 820
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
4 Posts
There are lots of side-entry cages available that should make this easier for her. Even with side-entry, I'd empty the DT bottle first, then switch them at the next stop.
07-15-15, 07:59 AM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Bozeman
Posts: 4,094
Bikes: 199? Landshark Roadshark, 198? Mondonico Diamond, 1987 Panasonic DX-5000, 1987 Bianchi Limited, Univega... Chrome..., 1989 Schwinn Woodlands, Motobecane USA Record, Raleigh Tokul 2
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1131 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
This was just asked the other day. I found this site to be the most useful.
Adding Water Bottle Cages to Bicycles without Braze
Give you many.... many different options if you want to relocate the cage and water bottle completely.
Adding Water Bottle Cages to Bicycles without Braze
Give you many.... many different options if you want to relocate the cage and water bottle completely.
07-15-15, 08:08 AM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Columbia, SC
Posts: 2,977
Bikes: 2014 Cannondale Synapse Carbon 4 Rival; 2014 Cannondale Trail 7 29; 1972 Schwinn Suburban, 1996 Proflex 756, 1987(?) Peugeot, Dahon Speed P8; 1979 Raleigh Competition GS; 1995 Stumpjumper M2 FS, 1978 Raleigh Sports, Schwinn Prologue
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 213 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
4 Posts
What about a bottle cage that attaches behind the saddle, like this?
Amazon.com : Tacx Behind the Saddle Water Bottle Clamp : Camping And Hiking Equipment : Sports & Outdoors
There are lots of people making them for varying prices...just the first one I came to.
Amazon.com : Tacx Behind the Saddle Water Bottle Clamp : Camping And Hiking Equipment : Sports & Outdoors
There are lots of people making them for varying prices...just the first one I came to.
07-15-15, 08:35 AM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 791
Bikes: Many bikes in three states and two countries, mainly riding Moots Vamoots, Lynskey R265 disc and a Spot Denver Zephyr nowadays
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I'd love to find a better solution to getting a second bottle on my wife's bike. The frame is so small that the seat post bottle rack doesn't allow enough room to fit a small bottle. She makes it work, but not great. Anybody else have issues like this? Ideas to make the seat tube rack work better?
There are a number of seatpost mounted hydration systems as well, none of which need a bottle.
If a bottle it must be, I would rather carry that on a belt device than on the bike for ease of access:
Mercury 2 | Nathan Sports
07-15-15, 08:41 AM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Cabot, Arkansas
Posts: 1,538
Bikes: Lynskey Twisted Helix Di2 Ti, 1987 Orbea steel single speed/fixie, Orbea Avant M30, Trek Fuel EX9.8 29, Trek Madone 5 series, Specialized Epic Carbon Comp 29er, Trek 7.1F
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Seat post or rail mount behind the seat. You can get single or double then when your primary goes empty just switch it out.
07-15-15, 08:59 AM
#8
meh
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Hopkins, MN
Posts: 4,704
Bikes: 23 Cutthroat, 21 CoMotion Java; 21 Bianchi Infinito; 15 Surly Pugsley; 11 Globe Daily; 09 Kona Dew Drop; 96 Mondonico
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1110 Post(s)
Liked 1,013 Times
in
519 Posts
This was just asked the other day. I found this site to be the most useful.
Adding Water Bottle Cages to Bicycles without Braze
Give you many.... many different options if you want to relocate the cage and water bottle completely.
Adding Water Bottle Cages to Bicycles without Braze
Give you many.... many different options if you want to relocate the cage and water bottle completely.
This site has some options for another bike that's got me scratching my head... Her city bike that she want a bar mounted bottle rack for a stainless steel bottle and it has to work with the woven front basket.
02-14-17, 11:36 AM
#9
meh
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Hopkins, MN
Posts: 4,704
Bikes: 23 Cutthroat, 21 CoMotion Java; 21 Bianchi Infinito; 15 Surly Pugsley; 11 Globe Daily; 09 Kona Dew Drop; 96 Mondonico
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1110 Post(s)
Liked 1,013 Times
in
519 Posts
Coming back to my old thread.... I totally stumbled on to this, decided to order one:
Untitled.jpg
https://mountskidmore.com.au/shop/ad...-cage-adapter/
I like the saddle mounts and will likely be going there for myself, but Lisa didn't like that option.
Untitled.jpg
https://mountskidmore.com.au/shop/ad...-cage-adapter/
I like the saddle mounts and will likely be going there for myself, but Lisa didn't like that option.
02-14-17, 11:47 AM
#10
Senior Member
Nice site, thank you! I think the saddle mount may be the best option, allowing for the large bottles. This is the long haul bike (centuries) and carrying enough water is important.
This site has some options for another bike that's got me scratching my head... Her city bike that she want a bar mounted bottle rack for a stainless steel bottle and it has to work with the woven front basket.
This site has some options for another bike that's got me scratching my head... Her city bike that she want a bar mounted bottle rack for a stainless steel bottle and it has to work with the woven front basket.
02-15-17, 10:22 PM
#11
Senior Member
Have a look at Topeak bottle mount options. I’ve used the X adapter and the QR cage mount both work but for different purposes. I plan to try the Dual Side EX on my folder.
I’m currently using a side entry cage on my folder. Not particularly impressed. The bottle fell out several times when hitting bumps and potholes. I bent the cage arm tighter which holds the bottle tight but the bottle can still twist to the side while riding. Plus it makes it harder to get the bottle out while riding. Lastly the cage is pretty heavy. Now this is the only side bottle cage I’ve tried so there may be better ones out there.
I’m currently using a side entry cage on my folder. Not particularly impressed. The bottle fell out several times when hitting bumps and potholes. I bent the cage arm tighter which holds the bottle tight but the bottle can still twist to the side while riding. Plus it makes it harder to get the bottle out while riding. Lastly the cage is pretty heavy. Now this is the only side bottle cage I’ve tried so there may be better ones out there.
__________________
On a trip you've got worry as a companion, for you're always concerned about what happens next and sticking to an itinerary. . . . on a journey you never have to worry. Something always happens next.
- Gordon Hempton: One Square inch of Silence
On a trip you've got worry as a companion, for you're always concerned about what happens next and sticking to an itinerary. . . . on a journey you never have to worry. Something always happens next.
- Gordon Hempton: One Square inch of Silence
02-16-17, 07:29 AM
#12
meh
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Hopkins, MN
Posts: 4,704
Bikes: 23 Cutthroat, 21 CoMotion Java; 21 Bianchi Infinito; 15 Surly Pugsley; 11 Globe Daily; 09 Kona Dew Drop; 96 Mondonico
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1110 Post(s)
Liked 1,013 Times
in
519 Posts
But the QR Cagemount just confuses me, I don't know why this is a thing....
The side-entry cages are fine, but the bottle will still slammed into the top tube, so I need a way to move the whole rack down or the X-15 would offer a reasonable solution too.
02-16-17, 09:03 AM
#13
Mad bike riding scientist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 27,359
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
Mentioned: 152 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6217 Post(s)
Liked 4,214 Times
in
2,362 Posts
I'd love to find a better solution to getting a second bottle on my wife's bike. The frame is so small that the seat post bottle rack doesn't allow enough room to fit a small bottle. She makes it work, but not great. Anybody else have issues like this? Ideas to make the seat tube rack work better?
). It's not as convenient but it fits.I would also suggest ovalizing the holes on the both cages. You should be able to move the down tube bottle up a little so that you can move the seat tube bottle down a little. Most bottle cages already have some adjustment available but you can take a file to the holes and make the a bit longer.
__________________
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
02-16-17, 09:11 AM
#14
meh
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Hopkins, MN
Posts: 4,704
Bikes: 23 Cutthroat, 21 CoMotion Java; 21 Bianchi Infinito; 15 Surly Pugsley; 11 Globe Daily; 09 Kona Dew Drop; 96 Mondonico
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1110 Post(s)
Liked 1,013 Times
in
519 Posts
The simplest solution is an 18 oz water bottle instead of a 20 oz water bottle. Something like this (Maybe not that one exactly but something similar). It's not as convenient but it fits.
I would also suggest ovalizing the holes on the both cages. You should be able to move the down tube bottle up a little so that you can move the seat tube bottle down a little. Most bottle cages already have some adjustment available but you can take a file to the holes and make the a bit longer.
). It's not as convenient but it fits.I would also suggest ovalizing the holes on the both cages. You should be able to move the down tube bottle up a little so that you can move the seat tube bottle down a little. Most bottle cages already have some adjustment available but you can take a file to the holes and make the a bit longer.
)
02-16-17, 09:20 AM
#15
Mad bike riding scientist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 27,359
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
Mentioned: 152 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6217 Post(s)
Liked 4,214 Times
in
2,362 Posts
The down-side of smaller bottles, less water for long rides. The Kona (reference photo in the first post) is Lisa's endurance bike. Machining the bottle racks could help for a small difference. I'm hopeful the the cage adapter I order will give the flexibility needed for larger bottles. I'm post an update when it gets here from Australia (long distance order )
)As to the cage adapter, I see a bit of a fly in the ointment. Looking at your picture, there's not much room between the down tube cage and the seat tube cage. The cage adapter is going to move the seat tube cage a 1/4" or more forward which will interfere with the downtube cage. You may need another adapter for the downtube cage but that may move it forward and up too much.
I honestly hope it works for you but you may just be move swamp water and alligators around rather than actually draining the swamp.
__________________
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
02-16-17, 09:31 AM
#16
meh
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Hopkins, MN
Posts: 4,704
Bikes: 23 Cutthroat, 21 CoMotion Java; 21 Bianchi Infinito; 15 Surly Pugsley; 11 Globe Daily; 09 Kona Dew Drop; 96 Mondonico
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1110 Post(s)
Liked 1,013 Times
in
519 Posts
As to the cage adapter, I see a bit of a fly in the ointment. Looking at your picture, there's not much room between the down tube cage and the seat tube cage. The cage adapter is going to move the seat tube cage a 1/4" or more forward which will interfere with the downtube cage. You may need another adapter for the downtube cage but that may move it forward and up too much.
02-16-17, 10:09 AM
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,549
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5224 Post(s)
Liked 3,581 Times
in
2,342 Posts
I've seen ppl w a bottle mounted on a front fork
I've got 1 bike w only 1 holder, so I put the 2nd bottle in the rear trunk (standing upright) not ideal but works. also trunks are not for everyone & I see no rack on those bikes
I've got 1 bike w only 1 holder, so I put the 2nd bottle in the rear trunk (standing upright) not ideal but works. also trunks are not for everyone & I see no rack on those bikes
02-16-17, 10:21 AM
#18
Mad bike riding scientist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 27,359
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
Mentioned: 152 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6217 Post(s)
Liked 4,214 Times
in
2,362 Posts
To mount the cage, use an Elite VIP Cage mount. It's very solid and won't mar the frame.
__________________
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
02-27-17, 09:34 AM
#19
meh
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Hopkins, MN
Posts: 4,704
Bikes: 23 Cutthroat, 21 CoMotion Java; 21 Bianchi Infinito; 15 Surly Pugsley; 11 Globe Daily; 09 Kona Dew Drop; 96 Mondonico
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1110 Post(s)
Liked 1,013 Times
in
519 Posts
Update: The parts arrived:
This works OK, but if you go this route you'll need two adapters, one to lower the seat tube cage and one to move the down tube cage up.
Comically, the day this arrives, Lisa decides (after 2 years of dragging her feet) to buy a new road bike. The new bike doesn't have this issue, two bottles fit fine. Now the Kona is going to be the indoor trainer bike and she does use the bottle cages when riding on the trainer.
This works OK, but if you go this route you'll need two adapters, one to lower the seat tube cage and one to move the down tube cage up.
Comically, the day this arrives, Lisa decides (after 2 years of dragging her feet) to buy a new road bike. The new bike doesn't have this issue, two bottles fit fine. Now the Kona is going to be the indoor trainer bike and she does use the bottle cages when riding on the trainer.
02-27-17, 10:55 AM
#20
Senior Member
Side entry cages are the way to go. I use the Lenzyne Flow SL on one mountain bike that has very tight bottle clearances. It works great: hold well, easy to put the bottle back, cheap, durable.
02-27-17, 11:30 AM
#22
meh
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Hopkins, MN
Posts: 4,704
Bikes: 23 Cutthroat, 21 CoMotion Java; 21 Bianchi Infinito; 15 Surly Pugsley; 11 Globe Daily; 09 Kona Dew Drop; 96 Mondonico
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1110 Post(s)
Liked 1,013 Times
in
519 Posts
To be clear: the issue with the Kona is that the bottle simply doesn't fit the space from the bottle cage to the top-tube (see the picnic table pic in the first post). Accessing the bottle is a minor issue. I hope that makes sense.
02-27-17, 11:50 AM
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Metro Detroit/AA
Posts: 8,207
Bikes: 2016 Novara Mazama
Mentioned: 63 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3640 Post(s)
Liked 81 Times
in
51 Posts
Even though you solved the issue, I figured I'd drop this here for anyone searching in the future. I bought one of these, to put a second bottle on one of my bikes without second braze-ons. I just mounted it a bit to the side, instead of dead center of the frame, so I could bring it up a bit higher and easier to access while riding, works great being offset like that.
https://www.rei.com/product/873462/t...Fcq2wAodDoEHnA
https://www.rei.com/product/873462/t...Fcq2wAodDoEHnA
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
suburbanbeat
Touring
45
03-23-14 07:51 PM
