Bottle cage . . .
 

There is a bike component that I've never selected, but have always just picked up whatever was laying around the garage and bolted on whatever bike needed it, without regard for period or style.

Yeah, shocking, I know.

I'm talking about the water bottle cage.

Are there any favourites you always use on your bikes? Or any rules that help you match cage to bike? And what would you say is the weight weenist cage that still looks okay on a c&v bike?

i too am struggling with this dilemma

Two words, King Cages, best performance, best price I am aware of:
King Cage Titanium Water Bottle Cage | The Colorado Cyclist

That's a nice looking cage, but there's no way I'd spend $45 on a bottle cage. Since most steel bikes weigh over 20lbs a 28gram cage is going to make much of a difference. I usually get the $3 aluminum cages. My Gazelle came with a TA cage that I like a lot.

I think the Ti King cages look too chunky on vintage steel frames. I am partial to stainless:

King Cage Stainless Steel Water Bottle Cage | The Colorado Cyclist

and for a little more bling:

http://www.amazon.com/Elite-Ciussi-s.../dp/B009KK7662

Go true C&V plus satisfy your weight weenie diet with an NOS (in raw finish) Hi-e. The fellows running the WOMBAT.org mountain bike museum site acquired the Hi-e leftovers a few years ago. Sort of neat piece of history too.

my expensive builds get a stainless cage that doesn't blacken my plastic bottle as much as aluminum. i prefer the velo orange 'moderniste' look, but i get them from thailand (ebay).

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7369/...1b8a1674a4.jpg

have to be careful with these on ebay, 'cause sometimes they appear silver in color, but they're either pewter or grey. i hate that.

My favorite is the Blackburn race bottle cage.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Blackburn-Co...item56655a3046
Nice, simple, strong, light (and cheap too!) and it hasn't changed since I bought my first one for my PSV back in the 80's, cause they never had to. I've considered getting the newest composite molded resin ones from makers like Specialized for my latest builds, but decided they would just look out of place on the bikes.

I avoid AL cages due to the blackening issue too. SS is may preference. I was given an EC which broke. Fortunately I was working with a company that did a lot of SS welding.

The bottle is my cage.

But seriously, there are rip-offs of the good old Chiusi cages (and several other vintage styles as well) out there under the XLC label. Dirt cheap and are good ten yarders on a vintage bike.

I like the TA Specialties cages, with the ivory colored plastic piece that ends up breaking off.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...1973Green7.jpg

King Cages

All I need for my bikes.

Made in the USA.

King Cage - Bicycle waterbottle cages handmade in Durango, CO

I'd never use a titanium cage. I shudder at the thought of water bottle cage failure when I'm miles from home.

My bikes have several different kinds of cages. Some are twisty little wires, all alike. Some are twisty little wires, all different. Some are little twisty wires all different.

Seriously, whenever I've need a cage and didn't have something appropriate I'd just pick up a light but inexpensive cage at my LBS. For examples -

The black Bianchi has two black plastic cages.
http://world.std.com/~muller/pics/Bianchi_ConcordR.jpg

The Moto has something undefined. But it works.
http://world.std.com/~muller/pics/MotoInBedford2.jpg

I use the $5 stainless cages from the LBS. I like them, they're understated, they're shiney, they seem to be quite durable and they look nice with no obscene logos. They look a lot like the old Blackburn cages.

Otherwise, I use the old Blackburn cages.

I have a set of Planet Bike cages that I don't particularly care for- they're a dull silver color and have a big "PLANET BIKE" logo cast into them.

I've had thoughts about buying a set of the Nitto cages... but I like the ones I have.

A Centurion I was quite fond of had an 'incident' in the woods (single track) and had to be retired. It had three REG cages, and I've used those on my last two builds as I like 'em and it's a way to keep the Centurion 'alive' through other builds.

Other than that it comes down to aesthetics for any particular build.

I purchased this Ironman Master a few years ago with the two water bottle holders still attached. (I replaced tires, tape and saddle). I have no idea where the pervious owner found the cages, but I've certainly never seen them in this color.

My favorite is the Nitto R Cage.
http://www.compasscycle.com/images/cage_nitto_r.jpg

Delta Inox stainless cage on ebay for only $6.87

I have aluminum cages on some of my bikes, steel cages on my Salsa and my wife's Jamis. Mostly Planet Bike brand, I think. The only cages I don't care for are the plastic ones I put on my converted Trek 930 last year. I like the look, but they don't seem to work as well as the steel and aluminum cages.

jyl, There are two cages that I really like, the Elite Ciussi and the 6 mm Avenir. A third that I've come to like is the Cannondale GT40.

Brad

In order:

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=435216http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=435217http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=435218

Another Blackburn fan here. Have gone with cheap like $1.99 anodized/coated aluminum if it matches the paint scheme. The Shogun is light blue w dark blue head tube & cage is all but spot on match.
Had a REG erector on my old winter beater which I'm "refurbishing" for the winter project. Personally I think they're clucky looking but it was a dump save & period correct.

Annoyed at the prices that I consider to be inflated, I went as cheap as I could and got some cages from one of those shady supplier in China. I discovered I went too low, as the welds failed early. I haven't found the perfect cage. To me, the perfect cage would be made of steel and no more expensive than it needs to be. Maybe that would be $10. I don't see why it needs to be more than that, but maybe I'm unrealistic.

My daughter spent $50 or so on a carbon fiber cage. At least she admits it was a silly luxury purchase. I just don't get it.

[MENTION=63590]jyl[/MENTION] thanks for starting this thread! Nice to see such a wide variety of cages. There are a number of different ones I like to the looks of, but the CS and Blackburn styles are timeless and classic in my mind, transcending period correct.

Plastic doesn't cut it for me including Carbon, at least not on a C&V bike. I agree with noglider on cost. I can see the need to charge more for Ti but I don't understand that anymore than plastic or carbon. If it doesn't mark up the bottle, fail due to vibration and has minimal surface area, it works for me.

the only ones I have that will fit in the narrow parameters of the C&V period correct looking, or at least not too modern, discussion,
are American Classic . In a parts bin I have a band clamp set they made for non braze on fitting to 9/8" tubes..


once free of those constraints , I have fiberglass reinforced Nylon cages from Specialized ( a `perfect snap fit with their Bottles )

and the Profile Ones that I Can stuff any sort of Bottle In. thin O ring pulls them snugger.

But Unlike jyl I only have 1 road Bike . and No Porsche.

pack a bottle occasionally in a back pocket on My Brompton Front Bag..

I bought one of these for my new bike in 1981, I think the first year Blackburn started making them. Last year one of the welds on it broke. Remembering that it came with a lifetime warranty, I took a picture and sent it in an email to Blackburn. They sent me a new one, thus saving me all of $5!