Welcome guest, is this your first visit? Click the "Create Account" button now to join.

To disable ads, please log-in.

Shop at TeamEstrogen.com for women's cycling apparel.

Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: is it just me?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Posts
    32

    is it just me?

    To disable ads, please log-in.

    Today I went to REI and picked up a water bottle cage and saddle bag.
    I got the Lezyne Power water bottle cage and the Ortileb Micro saddle bag because both were on sale.
    I was super excited because I was riding without a water bottle for a while and with some tools in my jersey pockets.

    I put the water bottle cage on my bike and had an issue trying to put my water bottle in. Like it wouldn't go in because the triangle is so small on my bike! I tried it both ways having it be vertical and on the slope. I just gave up. My dad suggested stretching the water bottle cage. Is it ok to stretch the water bottle cage a little bit or would it break?

    The Ortileb took me forever to install. I didn't have a lot of room for it. The bike shop that did the fitting adjusted the seat like that for me. I had leave the screws a little looser just so the saddle could click in. It rattles a bit when I ride. I don't need something big, I just need something big enough to carry my blackburn air stik, tube, multi tool, and levers.

    should I just go back and do some returns?

    Am I making a big fuss over this?


    I need fenders to accommodation my 650c wheels and it seems all of them fit 700c. I did have a SKS S Blade on my other bike but i would rather not have that when I'm on a group ride.
    Last edited by amyp; 11-18-2012 at 08:36 PM.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Melbourne, Australia
    Posts
    507
    I would return the water bottle cage, you need to side loading one. One side is partly open for you to put the bottle in. This is for small framed or tight places on bikes (our tandem has them as some of the tubes make small triangles).
    Are you able to post a picture of the underseat bag on? Then we cpuld see what the trouble might be?

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Posts
    32
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	530864_4519162348868_1572441722_n.jpg 
Views:	174 
Size:	66.9 KB 
ID:	15769
    without

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	198272_4519162788879_1748353573_n.jpg 
Views:	183 
Size:	65.7 KB 
ID:	15770
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	63762_4519162988884_1054755914_n.jpg 
Views:	188 
Size:	71.3 KB 
ID:	15771


    hope the photos are ok.


    Ohhh I didn't even know there was a side loading water bottle cage. Sounds great!

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Rowland Hts, CA
    Posts
    461
    I have the Blackburn cage holder because the front is not connected, so that they bottle can be pulled in and out easily because the cage holder does stretch a little. I HATED my specialized bottle cage holder which would not easily release my insulated water bottle. So, I would go back to the store and bring your water bottle to the store to try out different water bottle cage options

    As to the saddle bag, I learned my lesson. I actually took my bike to the store and tested the saddle bags there. Because saddle bags do hang differently depending on the bike saddle. Plus, then you can try out the zippers and see how you feel about the space issues and how your bike rear light hangs on it. I like the saddle bags that have the extra zipper at the bottom so that I can enlarge my saddle bag if I go on longer miles for extra Cliff bars or a small shrug.
    ______________________________________________________
    2012 Specialized Amira Elite, upgraded carbon handle bars, Jett saddle 143mm switched to 145mm 2012 Selle Italia Max SLR Gel Flow saddle
    2010 Santa Cruz Juliana with R kit and Crampon pedals
    2011 Specialized Ariel Sport,suspension post,Serfas Rx Women's Microfiber saddle (sold)

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Melbourne, Australia
    Posts
    507
    Hmm your saddle is very far forward on the rails there. That's probably why the bag isn't sitting well. My guess it's so you can reach the handlebars OK. You might want to try moving it back and trying to get the underseat bag fitting right. You can get a shorter or steeper angled stem to bring the handlebars closer to you instead of having the seat so far forward. Or it that sounds like too much hassle, return the bag and take your bike to a store and try out some to find one that does work.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Uncanny Valley
    Posts
    14,498
    Moving the saddle back will change your position relative to the pedals. I'm assuming you're good the way it is. So a seatpost with less (or negative) setback is what you'd want, not a different stem.

    ETA - if you were fitted to the bike, then definitely don't change the saddle position. Looks like they were just trying to save you the cost of a seatpost, but you should be able to find an inexpensive one.

    As for the cage - I've always found it easier to reach the down tube. If you only have the one cage, how well does it work on the down tube? Otherwise probably try a side entry cage.
    Last edited by OakLeaf; 11-22-2012 at 03:10 AM.
    Speed comes from what you put behind you. - Judi Ketteler

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    WA State
    Posts
    4,364
    Yes - you can stretch the cage a bit. From the photos it really doesn't look like your bottle clearance should be all that bad.... looks like way more space than I have at least (my seat tube mounted bottle just about touches the cables). You may simply need a short bottle rather than a tall one and some practice getting it in and out. My cages are not side entry, but the ones on my race bike are split in the front - so I don't have to pull the bottles straight up to get them out. If your cages force that, you may need to try a different style. I have the plain old fashioned wire ones that come up around the front of the bottle on my Ti bike. Those work fine too.

    Seat bag- looks to me like you have a really small saddle with short rails - nothing wrong with that, but it does mean the clip has a hard time fitting (and probably won't fit well, even if you move the saddle.... the rails bend where the clip wants to sit flat). If you want just a little seat bag, I'd suggest a type with velcro attachments - like a Lezyne or Timbuk2 - I have one of these - fits a spare tube, a co2, a small screw driver and tire levers, but not much else.

    I've never tried to find full fenders for my 650 bike (wouldn't accommodate them anyway...) but race blades are fine for group rides, as long as you put a nice long, wide buddy flap on the end.
    Last edited by Eden; 11-22-2012 at 06:56 AM.
    "Sharing the road means getting along, not getting ahead" - 1994 Washington State Driver's Guide

    visit my flickr stream http://flic.kr/ps/MMu5N

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Posts
    32
    Oh yes I was fitted on this bike. It took them two days to do it. They put in a new seatpost too and jammed the stem all the way down.

    the bicycle before Click image for larger version. 

Name:	224649_4102925423205_1718559147_n.jpg 
Views:	171 
Size:	68.7 KB 
ID:	15784
    and after the fitting
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	bicicleta.jpg 
Views:	172 
Size:	99.1 KB 
ID:	15785

    I'm going to pick up a side entry cage this weekend. I tried the original cage I bought on the downtube and I still couldn't put my water bottle in.


    I will definitely check out those seat bags!

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    WA State
    Posts
    4,364
    I have a little Timbuk2 bag like this one http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/products/bike-seat-pack - it looks like there's one a bit bigger than this that still has velcro straps to attach it.
    "Sharing the road means getting along, not getting ahead" - 1994 Washington State Driver's Guide

    visit my flickr stream http://flic.kr/ps/MMu5N

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Boise Idaho
    Posts
    1,162
    Amyp,

    I ride 650B wheels. Depending on the tire width, we carry Gilles Berthoud, Velo Orange and Tanaka fenders in 650b sizes. Feel free to PM me and am happy to help you out with the best choice.
    Currently, I have the Velo Orange Zeppelin's on Sky - 650 x 52 as I have a wider tire at the moment.
    Sky King
    ____________________
    Gilles Berthoud "Bernard"
    Surly ECR "Eazi"
    Empowering the Bicycle Traveler
    biketouringnews.com

 

 

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •