These are not my first choice by any means but I have a question.
I built up a 1981 Miyata 310 mixte for my wife. It is in almost mint shape. But there are no bosses for a water bottle cages. I have one temporary cable tied to the down tube.
Wondering how reliable Rivnuts are in the long term.
Just don't want to have bosses brazes and have to do a repaint.
Thanks!

I just used stainless steel hose clamps to hold my bottle cages on my old Raleigh. Cut an old inner tube to fit under the clamps to protect the frame. I don't think anyone noticed it but me.

Be interested to see other thoughts on the rivnuts. I considered them once but knew I'd eventually be repainting the frame and would install bottle bosses then.

I've ridden thousands of miles with my spare fuel bottle held under the down tube with hose clamps and many tens of thousands with my TA bar cage also attached by hose clamps. Very reliable, low cost and removable.


I hold less regard of Rivnuts. Maybe because of the few dozen I've repaired/replaced over the years, maybe because I can do a better boss by brazing one in. The big problem with Rivnuts is that the clamping/riveting aspect can/does loosen up over time. The harder the tube is and the thinner the tube wall are the less the initial holding will be. I have done a number of replacement repairs on steel bikes where I've applied epoxy to the tube hole and the Rivnut prior to installing. While one can use a make do tool to compress the Rivnut having the proper setting pliers makes the job go far nicer and the results can be far better. One problem with compressing the Rivnut is that it won't compress evenly every time. Being able to hold the tool's mandrel straight/square with the tube really helps result in a tighter grip, a smooth threading in of the cage bolt and a cage that sits straight on the tube. Andy.

rivnuts don't always hold when they are applied in a production application. People will probably show up saying they are great, but it's not their bike. Just use hose clamps or some other clamp that is made for the purpose.

My Koga World Tour has a Dozen in its 7005 aluminum frame.. [I have set and replaced some, in the shop]

NB you can get a 2 fish velcro buckle on bottle cage if that is all you need to add..

they have a product that lets you use any bottle cage, the others have a steel cage. fit stainless bottles..


been here before.. https://www.bikeforums.net/general-c...lls-print.html






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I used rivnuts on an old Schwinn Sports Tourer frame with very thick walled tubes. They have held up very well. I wouldn't use rivnuts on a nice road frame with thin walled tubing. I wouldn't hesitate to use them on a mild steel frame with thicker walled tubing. Miyata 310, get yer drill out!

Mixte frame?, under-side of the down tube is the only 'easy' place to drill the holes .

Actually I have the cage temporary mounted between the diagonal and the down tube.

For a mixte frame a long (jobber length?) drill bits might reach down between the twin laterals. I use a right angle drill if I need to drill on a built frame. Andy

I have a couple of Rivnuts that spin in the frame, so I can't remove the bottle cage.

When I care enough, maybe some skinny needlenose pliers will hold it in place while I unscrew the bolt.

Gabe- I've found that trying to trap the Rivnut from spinning by wedging a thin blade (screwdriver, knife) between the Rivnut's lip and the frame tube will often allow the bolt to be loosened. Be warned that a small amount of paint damage/scratching can happen. The other way is to cut/grind away the bolt head and then lift up or break off the Rivnut's lip and poke the Rivnut into the tube (with the bolt's threaded portion still inside the Rivnut). Of course if the tube isn't open enough at the ends/vent holes then you now have a rattle. Andy