So I have installed a Salsa Down Under Lowrider rack and two water bottle cages on the forks of my Surly Ogre. The Problem I am having is that when the rack is properly leveled, the end of it (see picture) goes through the water bottle cage and actually gets in the way of a bottle in the cage. Now, I can use a plastic bottle like a polar bottle, but I really prefer to use stainless steel bottles with no give. My question is, what to do? Should I cut back the end of the Salsa rack (voiding the warranty) or should I try to install some sort of riser for the water bottle cages and longer screws? Help!!!!

I gather you can't reinstall the rack using the second hole?
Well, if it were mine, I'd cut that bit off of the rack.
The rack will still function and the water bottle holder will hold a stainless steel bottle.
Keep in mind, I rarely worry about warranties.

If you can't reinstall the rack using the second hole I would cut it off. It adds nothing to the rack.

If you don't want to cut the rack, buy some spacers and longer bolts to move the the cage out enough to clear the rack.

It looks like you have a lower water bottle mounting bracket also? Can you mount the bottle lower?

I'm one for cutting it too.

Cutting or bend the end in some, that way you can bend back if needed.

What panniers are you using? Is that bottle cage even usable with the pannier in place?

+1

I would prefer to bend the bracket (if possible) because you never know when/how it can be used in the future.

I would cut , round off the edges and be done with it.

+1, assuming you are happy with the rack and planning on keeping it. Otherwise, I'd go with spacers. Someone (Problem Solvers?) makes spacers specifically for water bottle cage bolts. I'd worry that bending it would end up scratching the fork.

Bending it could also weaken the metal.

If I could find some frame specific (bent) spacers I would just raise the bottle cages, though it hasn't happened yet. I may just have to grind away at the end of the rack.

Cut it ...

take it off and trim the brace with a hacksaw, file the edges, then re-install

if you have power cutting and grinding tools, even better

Here's a bottle cage adapter we made to fix these sort of problems



https://mountskidmore.com.au

so you can put the hacksaw away for now.. if you want

Very nice idea. If I was having water bottle placement problems, that would definitely be the solution.

Think I'm going to bookmark your link for future reference.