Small Frame - no room for 2nd bottle cage

[velo]

I am about to take delivery on my new Wilier road bike that I've been having built up over the winter (will post pics after I get it tomorrow). The frame is a small and much to my chagrin, at this late stage it has been discovered that two bottle cages will not fit in the frame. Not the end of the world, but certainly something that I am not happy about. I know many here are small riders with even smaller frames. One bottle cage will NOT cut it and I don't like carrying water in my jersey - it's just uncomfortable enough to distract me. I've been googling for some other options, but wanted to know if any here have encountered this, what has worked for you. My first inclination is a rack (like tri riders use) under the saddle and carry tools in a wedge in front. Second is to use a camelback (and to heck what other roadies think ). Any thoughts on this? I'd appreciate any insight. Thanks!

[goldfinch]

Same problem.

I tried the camelback and don't like it.

I bought this stem mount for a water bottle and it works perfect: http://www.cambriabike.com/King-Cage...Cage-Mount.asp



But, you can't easily flip your bike over to change a tire.

For another bike I found another type of water bottle mount that goes off of the handlebar. For the life of me I can't remember who makes it and I can't find a link. Maybe tomorrow in the daylight I will look at the holder and see if there is a brand name on it. I like it. It doesn't interfere with flipping the bike over and it is really stable too.

I did not go for the cage off the rear because I have carbon rails on my seat and a carbon seat post. In restrospect, that might not have mattered as much as I thought.

[goldfinch]

Found the other mount I have, it is a Topeak cage mount:

http://www.topeak.com/products/Bottle-Cages/cagemount



I do not mount it so it is straight up and down, instead, it rides below the bars with the bottle facing forward at a slight angle up. It is easy to remove the bottle and it isn't in the way. The downside is that it is on your handlebars. I put it as close to the stem as I could.

[Catrin]

I use a hydration pack and like that fine but not all do. I love it for ice water

[Artista]

I don't like carrying regular water bottles in my jersey pockets but I don't mind carrying these soft water pouches because they're relatively flat. I keep filled pouches in the freezer so that I always have one ready to slip into my jersey pocket. By the time I finish the water in my bike mounted water bottle, the frozen water in the pouch is mostly melted and icy cold.

[luvmyguys]

I have a small frame, and while I can fit two bottle holders, I can only fit a small water bottle in the second one. So it only has one spot to put a bottle cage, or is it just that you can't fit a second bottle?

Which bike is it?

[Penny4]

Artista, those soft pouches from REI look great! Are they relatively durable?

[ny biker]

Artista, those soft pouches from REI look great! Are they relatively durable?

Agree! I want one. Or maybe two. I have two bottle cages but some rides don't have frequent enough rest stops to refill them often enough.

You can also get bottle holder that attaches to your seat post and holds two water bottles behind the saddle.

[Penny4]

Exactly! I'm thinking i could shove one in my seat bag, which is pretty big and I don't carry a ton in there. In the summer, I go through my 2 water bottles after about 30 miles or so.

[Artista]

The water pouches have been very durable. We used them 2-3 times a week last season and they still look new. Another benefit of the water pouch is that it can be flattened as the water level goes down, and rolled softly once it's empty so that it takes up very little space. The top third of the filled pouch sticks out of my jersey pocket but I've never had one fall out, even though I mountain bike with them.

[Pedal Wench]

I have the same problem with a new build so I'm gonna try this: http://www.xlab-usa.com/delta-wing.html The more expensive XLab Delta 200 has gotta good reviews with regard to the problem of the bottles bouncing out (a known problem with Profile Designs system.)

[tealtreak]

I use a camel back on road trips of more than 40 or so miles because I sweat so much even 3 bottles would not suffice. I have never given a second thought to what folks think, maybe because I think of myself as a mountain biker anyway......Plus as Catrin said- you can really get ice water to stay cold in a decent camelback! Heavenly when its 96!

[velo]

Goldfinch - thanks for the ideas. I'll check into first example you gave, but that is usually where I mount my computer, which can obviously go elsewhere on my handlebars. Even if you take the bottle out of the cage, does it make it difficult to flip over to change a tire? The second one is a good alternative, I think. It would have to go on my handlebars somewhere, but don't think it would go anywhere on the frame as it's oddly shaped.

Arista - I actually have one of those and they are really convenient for hiking, but I'm not sure I would like it for riding. For starters, it doesn't hold enough water for longer rides and secondly, it's a little cumbersome to get the water out when it gets low - using two hands as it get low because it's oddly shaped and rolling it up to get the last bits. Great for when you don't need a hand on the handlebars. It would be good to rehydrate when stopped, but not mid-ride, I think. Thank you, though!

Pedal Wench - that was what I was thinking of - behind the saddle, then I also like that wedge to use for tools that is in the first picture. Thank you for the link!

Teal - you know, I have to admit that 10 years ago I cared, but not any more. One thing life has taught me is that comfort trumps looks every.single.time. If you can be comfortable and look good, great, but if you have to choose, choose comfort. It's why you haven't seen me in high heels in a decade. I'm thinking very much that a camelback is going to be the winner because I'm tired of trying to find a place to refill on long rides, which is just as often as not from some nice person's garden hose which tastes like crap. Might as well be comfortable and practical at the same time, right?

[nuliajuk]

It used to be possible to get bottle cages with clips for bikes that didn't have built-in bottle cage bosses. Perhaps you could get something like that to hold a cylindrical case for your tools, underneath the downtube. (Many touring bikes have bottle bosses under the down tube, usually used to carry the bottle of camp stove fuel.) That would leave the space behind the saddle clear for bottles.

[Artista]

Arista - I actually have one of those and they are really convenient for hiking, but I'm not sure I would like it for riding. For starters, it doesn't hold enough water for longer rides and secondly, it's a little cumbersome to get the water out when it gets low - using two hands as it get low because it's oddly shaped and rolling it up to get the last bits. Great for when you don't need a hand on the handlebars. It would be good to rehydrate when stopped, but not mid-ride, I think. Thank you, though!

Velo, this still may not be an acceptable solution, but I frequently carry 2 water pouches in addition to my regular water bottle. I've also been known to pour the water from the pouch into my empty water bottle so that I can access it more easily while I'm riding.