tourbike

Sorry, forgot to include the linky:
https://www.topeak.com/products/bottle_cage_001.html

Losligato

I'm still looking for a way to carry a few Nalgene sized bottles (Klean Kanteen is the stainless version) on my bike. The Topeak XL is tall but not fat enough. Suggestions?

spokewrench55

I have used the Blackburn cages like this (NLA) that fit the 1.5 litre bottled water bottles for some time. Two do very well when camping. An MSR water bladder is back up if needed and can be a solar shower too.

One of the great advantages of the 1.5 litre bottles is they don't have that plastic taste most bike shop water bottles seem to give, and are pretty easy to replace. They even come with water. In some places, bottled water may be the only water you want to drink. I have always wondered why they (the 1.5 litre cages) were not more popular.

I do like the idea of moving the bottles onto the front racks though.

Bekologist

Just got back from a five day tour on the Olympic peninsula and the bottle holders worked FINE.

Easy to grab while in the drops. So secure I took the bungie safties off and just used the cages. I did both on road, rail to trail, and two track touring on this trip, so put them through a good rattling. any more technical stuff I might add the bungies back. Didn't have to mess with the hose clamps at all.

I've been using zefal mega bottles that are a full quart apiece, but I used some 28 ounces on the front cages this tour. significantly more than a 16 oz pint bottle.

i still pack a MSR hydration bag for more capacity, (hangs onto the Tubus Cargo rack like it was made for it!) and will possibly add a topeak xl cage in the main triangle, to accomodate buying bottled water at stops. good idea.

GiantDave

Excuse me, tourbike--do you mean the topeak modula cage XL? Its the adjustable height one. Sorry Bekologist, I dont mean to hijack your thread.

GiantDave

OOPs! Sorry, I didnt see spokewrench55's answer.

tourbike

Thanks! Two things: most frames won't fit two Topeak XLs on the downtube and the seat tube, but possibly the top tube can be drilled and tapped to support both. Aaaaannd, have an old Blackburn 1 1/2 liter bottlecage, and have heard that the Topeak XL is a bit wobbly, so it might be wise to hold it down on both ends with zipstrips for stability, I'm thinking on doing the same for my Blackburn.
Cheers.

tourbike

I wonder sometimes too, but it might be because such a design appeals mostly to tourers like ourselves, a relative "niche" market.

The difference in the plactic that imparts the taste is that standard cycling water bottles are made of the plastic that has been "softened" with other (mutagenic!) chemicals- like squeeky toys for pets- and the water bottles sold in most stores is made from hard PET 2 plastic that doesn't release chemicals and off-flavors even when heated in the sun. The best thing is that you can drop a store-bought water bottle on the tarmac numerous times and never fear damage, as they are virtually unbreakable.

tourbike

No, sorry. I suggest engineering your own, I might well do the same for Nagene-sized bases.

Bekologist

Here's a pic of the bike with bottles, loaded, next to some big gun water bottles I'd like to have when the nuclear apocalypse hits. Might need a BOB trailer...

NoReg

I'm carrying the nalgene bottles, the lexan ones, they fit my cages:

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...&page=16&pp=25

Bekologist

i've recently upgraded my 'light tourer' with five water bottle cages as well, to feed my reasonable obsession with staying hydrated during long unsupported tours without adequate water sources.

Here's a photo of my Trek 520 with five water bottle cages.....carrying over one gallon of water as pictured. bottom cage hauls either the coffee flask, fuel bottle, or more water. small brake boss rack is rated for 15 pounds but mainly carries my tarp, sleeping pad and groundcloth.

Cyclist0094

You can also add up to two water bottle cages to the handlebars if you don't use a handlebar bag. You know the old saying. " Better a bottle in front of me than a frontal labotomy."