Cage for big bottles
 

As I've begun riding longer and longer distances through arid regions, I've found that the two standard-sized water bottles that I carry are no longer enough. I'd rather not load myself down with a Camel Back, so I was thinking I might replace one of my water bottle cages with one that could handle one of those big soft drink bottles.

Do you know if such a cage is available? Any other ideas for carrying larger quanties of water?

Thanks.

Ekdog

Yes, it does! I met a guy on my tour this summer who had a liter sized cage. He said he bought it from Topeak, I believe (but I don't know what store).

Hey, thanks for the tip. I think this is just what the doctor ordered.

I saw those cages in Mountin Equipment Co-op today. Only $12 CND

We've been using these for a while with our stainless steel water bottles.

They are available from REI for $10 and are made by Cannondale. The wings spread wide enough to hold a nalgene sized bottle.



http://www.vwvagabonds.com/Bike/imag...eanKanteen.JPG http://media.rei.com/media/183195.jpg

Don't change your cages, just change your bottles to the tall 1 litre "Smartwater" bottles. They fit in regular
cages and hold a full litre. I carry 2 on my frame.

Sounds like a winner. Do you know if those are available on-line?

Sounds like the way to go for tea.

Check out your local supermarket. I'm not sure if Smartwater is sold in Spian, but there should
be something of a similar size

Oh, I see, it's a type of bottled water. I'll keep my eye out for bottles of that shape and size. I usually never buy the bottled stuff, so I'm not sure what's available.

That's right, in the US the liter bottles cost $1.50. I simply keep the bottle and use it again. Its pretty tough
I've been using one set for the past year.

A buck and a half! That's a lot of coin for a liter of water, but a steal for a good water bottle. :D

Theres a guy from Korea who recently posted in 'touring' with pics of his bike.
He had a huge water bottle on the downtube cage.

this is it:

http://srgb.net/pt.jpg

The Topeak cages for 1.5l watter bottles (in the pic above) are really big! I have 58 and 60cm frames and I could only get one to fit and then it interfered with the other mount. I couldn't get one on my MTB frame.

Best option I've found is regular cages with Zefal Magnum 1l bottles. Also tried some Elite 1l bottles but the lids didn't seal well and leaked.

Here's my set up with Smartwater bottles

Losligato,

Do those REI bottle cages have a good grip on the stainless steel bottles? I also use Klean Kanteen bottles, and I'm looking for new cages. From your picture the REI cages look like they wouldn't hold the bottles too well.

I have two different kinds of bottles that hold a liter and fit in a normal size bottle cage if it is a little springy like most metal cages. Try "Rubbermaid". That's one, the other is "California innovations".

I cary two on a long ride and they hold as much as many camelbacks. (2 liters) But with the normal cages I can go to a small bottle any time. It's also a very lightweight way to hold that much water.

The bottle has come dislodged only once since I've been using it.... I got walloped by a tuk-tuk in Cambodia. With the wings spread, it grips on tight. That said, if it were mounted in the other position (I can never remember which is the downtube and what the other is called) in a more vertical position the bottle may fall out.

Hope that helps.

This is brilliant! I have been looking for hours and days for a cage or some kind of hydration system that would allow me to carry my two 32oz bottles, for less than $80. So simple yet so brilliant! Props to you!

BBB XL Fueltanks and 1.5 litre Nalgene bottles


http://i1198.photobucket.com/albums/...ps9ff463f4.jpg

I wouldn't substitute a grease g u n for a bottle cage ; ) (that is what the website directed me to)

Topeak makes a wide range of options in the Modula line from the regular to XL to Java Cage (which might be a bit more secure for bottle similar to a coffee mug)
Blackburn also makes the tallboy cage for 16oz (w/koozie) and 24oz beverages.

You could probably also use the Portland Design Works Bird cages with wider bottles and just bend out the wings a touch. They are my favorite cages on the market and I have not had any dropped bottles partially because of the ability to bend the wings a touch.

Also come to think of it the Salsa Anything cage (and the new HD version) are designed to carry bigger loads and you could strap in a wider bottle. You could also take a Pack-Tap or bladder of some sort (Camelback, Osprey...)and refill bottles every so often, that might allow you to take more plus when the water is gone the pack tap is flatter and smaller bottles can be a little easier to deal with, plus you can get squirt tops to make it easier to drink and ride.

We use Zefal Magnum liter water bottles, designed for ordinary bike cages. They work very well.

Velo-Orange Mojave bottle cage

http://store.velo-orange.com/media/c...n_downtube.jpg

Read quite a few reviews of the topeaks top clips breaking before heading in the direction of the XL Fueltanks.
I removed the top clips to fit the forty something ounce Nalgeens and have a couple of velcro straps for off road conditions.
To be honest my pace is fairly staid so even without the straps (I usually forget to take them) the bottles have shown no inclination yet to fall out.

Minoura of Japan also makes large cages, e.g., Minoura Japan ? AB-1600

Good price here - http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/hakusen/item/268524/

It seems you like a sip of Trangia stove fuel every now and then... :D The cage on seat tube looks different, is that a normal cage? Apparently the Nalgene bottle is too long to fit there?

I bought a similar cage (mine is the Roseversand branded Petcage) that takes normal 1,5 litre PET bottles. Not sure about the 2 litre bottles. They sell a separate drinking valve that screws on the bottle. Does the XL Fueltank take normal water bottles too?

--J

Nice bike. Sorry to get off subject but I've got a question for you. Can you grip your handle bars where your handlebar bag is? I'm just wondering if I can mount a HB bag where I can slide my fingers under it so as not to loose my upright position.

Thanks for the link.
Large bottle cage questions come up regularly on bike forums so it'll be good to be able to contribute another option.

The XL Fueltank take PET bottles as well e.g. 1.5 coke bottles etc.
When you say normal bottles, I'm assuming you mean standard bicycle water bottles.
I haven't tried but think not. It likes fat bottles like the widemouth Nalgeens so I'm guessing the standard bottles would be too narrow.
Saying that, when my cages were new, I had to squeeze them in a bit for a firmer fit for the Nalgeens so maybe I could squeeze them in to offer a firm fit for a narrow bottle - I haven't tried.
Standard water bottles don't cut the mustard here in Western Australia (for me anyway).

Yeah I use a Trangia Cooker.
Super simple with little to go wrong and no moving parts.
I think from memory its a 27 or 28 series which comes with two pots of 1 litre and 900 mills respectively and a small kettle.
Means I have two pots to cook with and dirty and I can still have a cup of tea/coffee without having to get motivated enough to wash dishes first.
Yeah standard bottle cage for the Trangia bottle but the cage isn't a good fit in that the bottle touches the down tube of the frame.
Your question has reminded me I've a piece of helicopter tape that needs to be put there so I don't mar the paint.

Topeak's Modula Cage XL. Topeak® Cycling Accessories ? Products - Modula? Cage XL
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=436091

Blackburn made cages that fit Nalgene Quarts, and 2L store bought bottled water, but not many , then quit them. [I have the 2L cage]

Thorn/SJS has a cage for Sigg Liter bottles , though say they intend them for like stove Fuel bottles. Sigg does make lined drinks bottles .

Though they have .75L sports bottles .. SjS has a cage made for those too..

Sigg fuel bottle cage for 1 litre fuel bottle - £4.99

Carbon cage for 0.5ltr & 0.75ltr bottles - £5.99 the airflow into the bottle thru their cap. is excellent.

Zefal's Metal Bottles http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/zefal-zef...20575/?geoc=us are also made with an easy flow cap.