Cages + Water Bottle Clearance = Advice

[tongue_tied]

I installed a water bottle cage on my seat tube, however I noticed that when I try and put my 24 oz. CamelBak podium bottle in it, it doesn't clear the top tube and I can't get it in the cage. Anyone know of other cages that have a deeper bottom so this water bottle can settle lower on the seat tube?

[OakLeaf]

Try a side entry cage. Lots of manufacturers make them.

[tongue_tied]

Try a side entry cage. Lots of manufacturers make them.

But the top of the bottle still hits the top tube which doesn't allow it to fit. If the depth of the side entry cage is still the same, my water bottle would still be too tall.

[rubywagon]

I had the same problem and had to downsize to the 21 oz Camelbak podium bottle. It still is a little bothersome getting it out of the cage, but it fits.

[tulip]

I use a smaller water bottle on my seat tube and a larger one on the downtube. I think that's the only solution. You lose 3 oz., but it has not been an issue for me.

[MartianDestiny]

It doesn't necessarily need a deeper bottom if the mounting holes are higher on the cage (making the cage sit relatively lower).

This would be an issue of going to the bike shop and measuring distances, finding a cage that has "sliding" mounts (larger, elliptical, holes so you can position where you want rather than one fixed circular hole), or I believe they also may make an "adaptor" of sorts that would effectively change the position of your mounting holes (basically a piece of metal/plastic that has mounts for your cage AND another set of mounts that will mount to your bike and lower the cage).

Lots of potential solutions.

However, if you want to actually get that bottle in and out of the cage while you are riding you'll still likely want a side entry in addition to the fix because the fit will still be quite tight.

I use Arudel "sideloaders" http://www.arundelbike.com/products.html With no issues at all. Never lost a bottle. Unfortunately, because they are carbon, they aren't the cheapest out there. Hopefully they will soon make a "plastic" version of this because they are great cages. (Also, you'll note if you look at the close up picture of these that they are drilled for two mounting positions to help alleviate your current problem as well).

I manage to get two full sized (24 oz) standard bike bottles (a camelbak bottle would not fit, they are taller) on an Extra Small, sloping top tube, thick tubed, carbon frame. And I can access both of them on a ride. There are many a trick and it can be done ;)

[GLC1968]

I use a smaller water bottle on my seat tube and a larger one on the downtube. I think that's the only solution. You lose 3 oz., but it has not been an issue for me.

This was my solution for my mountain bike.

You could also get the adapter that allows you to put bottle cages on the back of your saddle - I did this on my second road bike that didn't even have holes on the seat tube because the frame was so small.

[nscrbug]

X2 on the Arundel Sideloaders. I have 2 of these on my bike. I had to switch to sideloading cages when I bought my 51cm Cervelo, because standard cages would not work due to the small frame. Yeah, they are carbon like someone else already mentioned...but I did manage to find mine for $40 a piece at trisports.com, so while that is way more than I really wanted to spend on bottle cages...in the end, they do look nice on my bike. There is a much cheaper aluminum sideloading cage offered from Elite...$12.99 at Performance Bike.

http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/ProductDisplay?storeId=10052&langId=-1&catalogId=10551&productId=1024975&cm_mmc=$%28referrer%29$-_-Nutrition/Hydration-_-ELITE-_-20-4917-BLK-NON&mr:trackingCode=376E9846-A681-DE11-B7F3-0019B9C043EB&mr:referralID=NA

[OakLeaf]

Specialized has a nylon one for around $20.

I need a sideloader for my commuter. I rarely go far enough on it to need water, but it sure would be nice to have once in a while.

[Pedal Wench]

I have Velocity bottle cages that are adjustable, so they can be mounted much lower.

On another bike, it only had one set of bottle cage mounts, so I've had to go to the Profile Design seatpost mounts. Can't get used to using it while I'm rolling, but it's great when I'm stopped. :)

[tongue_tied]

I appreciate all of the feedback... I think I have a good idea of how I need to work it.

This is incredibly vain of me, probably, but what if I don't want a standard black (sideloader) cage... anyone know of manufacturers that make colored cages? Specifically either red or white?

[Pedal Wench]

The Velocity ones I have are pink, so I'll assume they come in other colors too.

http://www.bicycling.com/gear/detail/0,7989,s1-14-53-173-0,00.html

[OakLeaf]

The Specialized Zee cages come in both red and white (also silver, black, matte black, and blue/white), but they're out of stock on the website. You might be able to find a dealer that has them in stock.

[spokewench]

I've had a couple of bikes that had very small triangles; so I would put one bottle in with sports drink type drinks on the bike (whatever size of bottle that would fit) and then carry a very small camelback on my back.

I know, I know, some people think you can't wear a camelback on a road bike; but I say why not????

spoke

[tulip]

I know, I know, some people think you can't wear a camelback on a road bike; but I say why not????

spoke

I've never heard of that restriction before.

[Miranda]

Another Arundel fan here.:)

Mine have pink accents on them.

http://www.arundelbike.com/Sideloader.html

I love them. It's funny... the roadie guys are always the ones in the club who zoom in on my pink accent carbon cages lol.

They can slide and adjust down just as posted. I ride a small triangle 49cm Orbea Onix Dama.

Rock solid hold. Never a problem.

Even survived my posted crash a while back--not one problem. AND still held the freakin water bottles dead in place with the bici doing a 360 cart-wheel on top of me in the road on impact.:eek:

Now, man... THAT is what I call performance lol.;)

Oh... on the whole wearing a CamelBak for water thing as a roadie...

They do make a roadie style vest that is like an undershirt. I had it ordered. Then my order got messed up & I canceled yadda yadda. BUT, I think that's another source of more H2O provided you can deal with weight directly on your back on the roadie. I personally have some back issues and can not.

On the mtb I'm more upright, not in one position as long, or as low, like the road. It's just diff.

I think George H. wore a vest like this at the Tour one year. FWIW.

http://camelbak.com/en/sports-recreation/wearable-hydration/racebak-women.aspx

I could see this next to bod vest being a really nice thing for winter cyclists (assume would not freeze like external bottles can). Plus, they do make a CB insulated straw too. I have winter CBs for xc skiing that have this straw. You can just get the straw sep and switch it up. More options to consider in the big water picture.:rolleyes: On a thread drift note lol.

[spokewench]

It's one of those snobby road biker things! No camelbacks and no visors on your helmet!

[Crankin]

I just bought the smaller, 20 oz. bottles...
I wore a Camelbak for a long time and no one ever made fun of me (except my son, but hey, he was 17 and a racer).

[OakLeaf]

There's definitely a snob element to it, but also the hydration packs that sit high on your back are really unwearable on a road bike - they put too much stress on your back. You'll want one with a waist strap to put the weight of the water onto your hipbones, and just let the shoulder and sternum straps stabilize the position.

[MartianDestiny]

There's definitely a snob element to it, but also the hydration packs that sit high on your back are really unwearable on a road bike - they put too much stress on your back. You'll want one with a waist strap to put the weight of the water onto your hipbones, and just let the shoulder and sternum straps stabilize the position.

This.

I wore my camelbak a grand total of once on a road bike. Not again. It's painful and restricting and really makes a huge difference. A low sitting one I might consider for very long rides. But even my traditional (vertical bladder) bag with a "waist strap" has too much weight up too high. It's never been an issue on the mountain bike or hiking.

[OakLeaf]

too much weight up too high. It's never been an issue on the mountain bike or hiking.

What happens if you just loosen the shoulder straps (and possibly tighten the waist/hip strap)?

I don't really like to wear a hydration pack on the bici, just because when it's hot enough to need one, it's too hot to have something on my back - but on hot days, I really, really need the extra water. I'm the queen of sweat :p and it can be 30 miles or longer between water stops.

I basically have three settings for the straps: short for walking/outdoor events; low on the hipbones for cycling; and blow it all out when it has to go over a motorcycle jacket and armor.

[MartianDestiny]

What happens if you just loosen the shoulder straps (and possibly tighten the waist/hip strap)?

I don't really like to wear a hydration pack on the bici, just because when it's hot enough to need one, it's too hot to have something on my back - but on hot days, I really, really need the extra water. I'm the queen of sweat :p and it can be 30 miles or longer between water stops.

I basically have three settings for the straps: short for walking/outdoor events; low on the hipbones for cycling; and blow it all out when it has to go over a motorcycle jacket and armor.

No dice. They make packs where the bladder is horizontal around your waist and I bet those would work, but it doesn't matter how I adjust the vertical pack it's too much on my back on a road bike.

This doesn't bother me as going to bottles wasn't a big problem. But it's not just "snobbery" that keeps roadies away from camelbaks and I imagine the "n00b" comments associated with them occur far more often on internet forums than on actual bike rides.

[wackyjacky1]

No camelbacks and no visors on your helmet!
Uh oh, guilty on both counts, LOL! :D

(I have found my Camelbak to be invaluable during our hot summer months, and surprisingly comfortable.)

[tongue_tied]

I use a CamelBak if I'm going to go on a really long ride, like sixty miles plus... and this was when I only had one bottle cage. It really is uncomfortable - but it forces me to drink more water to get the weight off of my back. It just seems like two water bottles wouldn't do it on a longer ride... but I guess it depends on the distance between stops.

[arielmoon]

I use shorter (20oz) bottles and honestly I think they are easier to handle when I am out riding.

[BellaMTB]

It's one of those snobby road biker things! No camelbacks and no visors on your helmet!

Just curious; who makes these rules anyway? I depend on my visor to keep my face from burning and to help see the trail at dusk. So glad I'm not a road biker.

[MartianDestiny]

Just curious; who makes these rules anyway? I depend on my visor to keep my face from burning and to help see the trail at dusk. So glad I'm not a road biker.

Mountain bikers that want to make road bikers look like jerks.

Frankly, there are reasons why many road bikers ride without camelbaks or visors. Camelbaks have been covered. Visors can reduce your vision, especially in an aero position and loose some of the utility they have on mountain bikes. Still some people ride with visors and/or camelbaks. I've done both. No one has ever said anything to me or anyone else (that I've witnessed) outside of joking on an internet forum with the exception of mountain bikers (on internet forums) talking about what jerks roadies are. It's all very ridiculous.

[crazycanuck]

Excuse me? I'm a mtn biker & i think it's roadies that have the anti-camelback attitude thank you very much! Roadies make fun of mtn bike baggy clothes etc.

Roadies think they rule the planet...

*harumph*

Excuse me whilst I go and drool over some singletrack. :p

[pinkbikes]

Now see, I'm a roadie, a mountain biker and a triathlete as well, so everybody gets to make fun of me!:p

Or is it that I get to make fun of everybody else??:confused:

I do wear a visor on my helmets. But I don't wear a camelbak on my roadie. I do wear a camelbak on the mtb. I do wear lycra for everything (although some would wish I didn't:)). I sometimes wear full-fingered gloves on the roadie!:eek:

I do have a tiara cable-tied to the top of both my helmets, although I broke one (helmet and tiara) the other week when I took a swan-dive onto the road after a collision with another direction-challenged cyclist! I do wear seasonal jerseys (Easter Bunny and Santa Claus) in triathlons. I love jerseys that poke fun.

I think everybody suspects I don't take "the rules" very seriously. I suspect we only make up the rules for a bit of fun at each other's expense. I've got enough amunition to poke fun at myself all day!:o

[MartianDestiny]

Excuse me? I'm a mtn biker & i think it's roadies that have the anti-camelback attitude thank you very much! Roadies make fun of mtn bike baggy clothes etc.

Roadies think they rule the planet...

*harumph*

Excuse me whilst I go and drool over some singletrack. :p

I'm a mountain biker too, BUT... I have NEVER met with an anti-camelback, down on baggy mountain biker cloths, rule the planet roadie in person. Mountain bikers really seem to love to beef up that stereotype though. You just proved my point.... :rolleyes: