Anyone Using Blackburn Cargo Cage?
 

I'm thinking about trying these out. Is anyone using them? I'm also thinking of the pros and cons of using plastic bottles/containers rather than dry bags. The weight penalty is there, but otherwise bottles would be extremely durable and completely water tight. Any ideas on good wide toped containers to try?

https://www.blackburndesign.com/en_e...argo-cage.html

I use one on my bike now and find it is pretty simple and effective. I put a 1.5L Naglene bottle and SS cup/pot in it. The straps are way too long for my use but they can be cut to size and have an impregnated rubber compound that makes them very grippy.

Mine was 32CAD.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4229/...d726bc87_z.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4278/...2e91071f_z.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4214/...a78b4cdf_z.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4298/...4ba24d6a_z.jpg

Nice. I like the front half frame bag and still have a spot to have a water bottle. And good thinking nesting the water bottle in the cup!

i've got them on my front fork of my Surly Troll.
I put the same 1.5 liter Nalgene bottles Happy Feet uses.
Great for gravel road touring where water supply is an issue.
Only used them on a couple week long tours so far. No complaints.

I use one on my bikepacking/dirt-road touring bike. Love it. But since this photo, I learned about Voile straps, which are a MUST REPLACE item. 15" straps fit a 1.5 L Nalgene bottle perfectly.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/38i1jgsfrx...CR2z.jpg?raw=1

Hey dh, I love your ogre setup there. I have a troll that has been through various bar setups, presently dropbar, but one day would love to do it up like this.

Heck, I already have some ET's, Jones bar's, trigger shifters and one pair of dry-lites kicking around....
What front rack did you use that has a platformy type too that works well with the drylites?

Did you use those specific ergon grips designed for jones type angled bars, or regular ones?

Cheers

So they're definitely good for 1.5l nalgene bottles.

dh024, are you running your Ergons opposite ways?

I have a pair of dry-lights that I plan to use in the rear, but want to try two cargo cages on the fork. I'm hoping that and a frame bag will be enough for a short bike-packing trip. I might use a trunk bag if need be, since I have one of those on hand.

I did find the Topeak Modula Java Bottle Cage more sturdy, versatile and cheaper that Outpost.

Also the rubber strap hold more tight than the nylon bands.

That's a nice practical setup. :thumb:

See, ignorance is bliss...and economical.
Then I come on here and see this thread and think, "Hey I NEED one of those".

And so, my wallet gets lighter...

The front rack is an Old Man Mountain rack bolted to the forks, rather than using the quick release skewer system. I can't remember now, but I think I used a smaller rack (26er) so that the profile was a bit lower.

And those are the specific grips for swept bars like the Jones H-bar -- they are necessary, IMO (the regular grips put your wrists at an awkward angle).


That photo makes it look as if the grips were backwards, but they are not - they are set up the typical way. By the way, I LOVE the cork grips!

Those Dry-lite bags can hold a lot of gear. With a set front and rear, I find myself carrying more stuff than I need (particularly with the partial frame bag and handlebar bag. I have often thought of downsizing to just the rear set. That's the nice thing about using soft panniers for bikepacking - you get a lot of gear in the bags, plus a tent or dry bag on the platform of the rear rack, which eliminates the need for a backpack. I hate backpacks, although I will say that on more techy trails or hike'n'bike situations, a backpack does make it easier to carry your bike.

I had the opposite experience. I used to run that exact Topeak bottle cage on the bike pictured above, but it didn't work well for me. On the downtube, especially, it didn't hold bottles securely enough, and I especially disliked the flimsy rubber strap (yours hasn't stretched out yet??).

I replaced the Topeak cage with the Blackburn cage and couldn't be happier. The Topeak is less expensive, though - I agree with you there.

An omm, thanks. And re the grips, that is what I figured. I briefly put my cork/ bar end combo ergos on the Jones and it felt weird.

Have those grips on my old mountain bike and I agree, they do feel very nice on the hands.

I think they're aimed at different functions. The cargo cage is more for cargo, though of course can be used for a large water bottle. I plan to use a 4-5liter-ish stuff sack or large container filled with gear on the cargo cage. It looks like the modula java is meant more specifically for drinking bottles.

I hacked a 10 liter dry bag to fit on the Blackburn. My one complaint is the ladder lack buckles are a pain to thread. I plan to change them out for side release buckles.