stevnim

I'm getting a 54cm LHT complete for US touring from the LBS. Yeah!

Is there any consensus on best cages and large bottles w/o any interference with each other or the bike?

Just wondering about the pros & cons.

-stevnim

kayakdiver

One of the best made..... hands down.https://www.kingcage.com/Home.html

xcapekey

I'm partial to Velo-Orange retro cages with stitched on toe leathers...the cages allow for lots of adjustability that really grips whatever you're sticking in there.....+1 for style points too

https://epicureancyclist.blogspot.com...e-holders.html

staehpj1

Personally I think the $6 ones from Delta or whatever serve the same function as a $60 titanium one from Chris King or whatever. They both hold a bottle. They both are pretty light. Even if the $6 one is more likely to fail it is likely to last years and when/if it fails it isn't like it leaves you stranded.

Just one cheapskates opinion.

kayakdiver

staehpj1, I was thinking more along the lines of the stainless version. They are $17 each. Still a lot of money for a bottle cage but very nice.

staehpj1

I am sure they are nice. It just isn't an item where I feel the need to spend much. I figured you meant the stainless ones and I was just making a point that whatever you spend they all do pretty much the same job unless you find one that is poorly designed or made. My experience is that the more gimmicky designs are more likely to be a flop than a cheap version of a "normal" design.

I feel the same way about bottles. The ones that are usually on sale for $3-4 at Performance are OK with me. Just smell them first since some batches tend to have a bad plastic smell and others not. A few trips through the dishwasher gets rid of the smell on all but the worst. I have to wonder why folks spring for stainless or other rigid bottles that are much more expensive and you cant squeeze. It would seem like they would be much harder to get a quick 8 ounces or so into your mouth while riding.

seeker333

Yep, Delta from Nashbar, $2.70 ea when they're the marked-down $2.99 with a 10% coupon. Used them for many years, have several. Delta makes some good value bike parts and accessories.

Al cages are stiffer than steel or Ti but they do mark the bottles with black.

I also have an adjustable Topeak that holds tall, skinny 1.5L (bottled water) bottles from the store.

https://aebike.com/page.cfm?PageID=30...ils&sku=WC1700

Although it basically works, its made of some sort of low-stiffness Al alloy, and bends like crazy. Night and day difference between it and other Al cages. After using it, I prefer std bottles and cages.

If I need more capacity I use a bladder-type container that fits in a backpack/racktop bag. I've used platypus, msr, camelbak, and gregory - they all work. The heavy, larger msr bladders are good for showers - they can withstand hoisting/hanging better.

https://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear...0226_200368397

Also, whatever water bottles you get, make sure the bite valves are a soft material. Some are hard plastic, which is hard on teeth. I prefer clear bottles so I can inspect for cleanliness.

Erick L

I'd put at least one Topeak XL cage for 1-1.5L bottles, two if you can fit two.

HardyWeinberg

I like my stainless cage 'cause I can bend it to fit whatever coffee cup I have shoved into it.

Six jours

I like a simple chrome cage because unlike other metal cages they don't mark up your water bottles.

Yan 

I use the cheapo cages from the bin in my LBS. They never drop my bottles and haven't deformed or rusted.

stevnim

Well it looks like there is no consensus of best bottles/cages for an LHT. Thought I'd ask the question anyways. I'll try some combinations down at the LBS. Thanks.

Until next time,
-stevnim

patgoral

These are the best ever!

bokerfest

Maybe my two cents are worth something.

I use these for two of the cages and they have worked well.
The third bottle cage I use is one I pulled off my early 90's Specialized Stump Jumper. It works the same.

carkmouch

I've had good experiences with an adjustable bottle cage from Walmart (gasp!) I bought for about 5 dollars. It has a little adjustable rubber belt and it fits my camelbak nalgene bottle perfectly, as well as adjusting to fit larger gatorade bottles or smaller soda cans. I use one of these on the seat tube and two standard cages on the top and bottom of the downtube on my lht.

DukeArcher 

I'm with staehpj1, this is definately not an issue you need to think deeply upon.

LeeG

basic 6mm specialized mtn bike cage. I set up my daughters mtn bike for touring and she insisted on using her 1l. nalgene bottle on the down tube, at first I looked askance at her cutting the main cross piece to spring the cage apart but it turned out to work fine. I wrapped the ends with 1" gorilla(heavy duct tape) tape to make it about 3/8" wide and so the bottle wouldn't get scratched. I'll double check with her on that but it appeared to work find for holding wide bottles.

bokerfest

OP,
I see you are from the twin cities. If I were you I would go to a community bike shop if you are close by and get a couple of used ones. Quick search came up with the Grease Pit, as your community bike shop.

vja4Him

I have two water bottle cages on my old mountain bike. They are made from aluminum. One is already broken, but I've bent the cage so I can still put a water bottle in. I've rode on rough trails, lots of bouncing around, up and down, and the water bottles have never fallen out!

The Smokester

I use Salsa Nick-Less cages...No problems.