what bottle cage for underside of down tube on a world tour?

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vegan dog
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Joined: 28 Nov 2019, 8:06pm

what bottle cage for underside of down tube on a world tour?

Post by vegan dog »

I am in the process of kitting out a bike for a world tour and want a bottle cage for the underside of the down tube. Ideally I need something that will accommodate a bottle in the range of 1L to 1.5L. I need this to be tough as I like riding offroad when I can.

Doing a google search, some people recommend the Nitto T for the underside of the down tube, saying it clamps the bottles really well and is tough:

Nitto T Bottle Cage
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/BONITT/ni ... ottle-cage


But I was wonder if this is an identical, but cheaper copy than the Nitto T:

Velo Orange Type I Retro Cage
https://freshtripe.co.uk/velo-orange-ty ... ii-no-tab/

Anyone know the largest bottles that this 2 cages would take and any bottles people would recommend?

I would be interested to hear if there are any other recommendations for the underside of the down tube to accommodate the bottle size I want?
Thehairs1970
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Joined: 11 Aug 2018, 9:30am

Re: what bottle cage for underside of down tube on a world tour?

Post by Thehairs1970 »

I don't know anything about the two you mentio. I have this:

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/bottles-cag ... ttle-cage/

It does the job. My problem was that it won't fit on the down tube. It has to go on the seat tube to stop it interfering with the front wheel. Have you checked with a short cage and large bottle?

Hope this isn't "Grandma, suck the eggs like this".
MarcusT
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Re: what bottle cage for underside of down tube on a world tour?

Post by MarcusT »

Same problem. Under the down tube, I can only get a 500ml bottle down there.
I wish it were as easy as riding a bike
vegan dog
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Re: what bottle cage for underside of down tube on a world tour?

Post by vegan dog »

Thehairs1970 wrote:I don't know anything about the two you mentio. I have this:

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/bottles-cag ... ttle-cage/

It does the job. My problem was that it won't fit on the down tube. It has to go on the seat tube to stop it interfering with the front wheel. Have you


I have seen quite a few people buying those, but I hear the retaining loop on the top of them is very weak. I already tried the BBB Fuel Tank XL on the down tube, but it does interfere with the front wheel by a few mm. It's only because of my mudguard, which I have setup for off road riding. So I doubt the SJS cage will fit. I have plenty of room towards the bottom of the down tube, so probably want a bottle that is fat at the bottom and then tapers in towards the top. I'm pretty sure if I get the right shape, I should be able to accommodate 1l to 1.5l
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Mick F
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Re: what bottle cage for underside of down tube on a world tour?

Post by Mick F »

MarcusT wrote:Same problem. Under the down tube, I can only get a 500ml bottle down there.
You've got the wrong bike. :wink:
My 500ml bottle fits easily, could even fit one double the size.

Two Bottles.jpeg
Mick F. Cornwall
hufty
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Re: what bottle cage for underside of down tube on a world tour?

Post by hufty »

I take it it's a fuel bottle going under the down tube? I always use a Sigg bottle and these have proved surprisingly bomb proof:
https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/bottles-cag ... g-bottles/
Obviously it will take other bottles too with a bit of careful soft drink selection, maybe a wrap of cloth to snug the fit.

Personally I would pump for plastic cages. In my experience any aluminium bottle cage with a welded joint will break at the welded joint sooner or later.
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vegan dog
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Re: what bottle cage for underside of down tube on a world tour?

Post by vegan dog »

hufty wrote:I take it it's a fuel bottle going under the down tube? I always use a Sigg bottle and these have proved surprisingly bomb proof:
Personally I would pump for plastic cages. In my experience any aluminium bottle cage with a welded joint will break at the welded joint sooner or later.


The problem with those Sigg bottles is they don't really taper. I think I will need something fat towards the bottom and gradually tapering towards the top.

Also surprised what you say about plastic, I normally hate plastic with passion! Are they really that durable if used off road etc?
vegan dog
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Re: what bottle cage for underside of down tube on a world tour?

Post by vegan dog »

Mick F wrote:You've got the wrong bike. :wink:
My 500ml bottle fits easily, could even fit one double the size.


Is that a moulton?
reohn2
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Re: what bottle cage for underside of down tube on a world tour?

Post by reohn2 »

TBH most cages will work if you're prepared to use a toe strap around bottle and downtube to stop the weight of a full bottle from causing the cage to fatigue or bend.
Over the years I've tried all sorts of cages presently I use two types Elite Canibal and Specialized Resin both plastic of some sort and I'm happy with both
Are you sure there's enough room to fit a 1.5l bottle under d/tube?
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Ant...
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Location: Denbighshire

Re: what bottle cage for underside of down tube on a world tour?

Post by Ant... »

Have a look at a bike buddy it will take allsorts of containers.
http://www.bikebuddy.co.uk/
iandriver
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Re: what bottle cage for underside of down tube on a world tour?

Post by iandriver »

Riding a 60cm framer, I find I can use a 1l bottle down low.
Image

I secure the one under the down tube with a toe strap.

In 1l sizes , I've found the lids to be the weak point. They are no more robust than the small sized bottles. If you drop a full one and in lands on the top of the spout, it punches the nozzle clean through destroying it. For this reason, I use one 750 and decant from the others to it, carefully. So, if I was off on a big tour, I'd use a cage that takes more regular hiking bottles. I've got a BBB XL, but you can't seem to source them any more.
Supporter of the A10 corridor cycling campaign serving Royston to Cambridge http://a10corridorcycle.com. Never knew gardening secateurs were an essential part of the on bike tool kit until I took up campaigning.....
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Sweep
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Re: what bottle cage for underside of down tube on a world tour?

Post by Sweep »

The Profile Design Kage

though there may be two slightly different designs.

Mine are like this:

https://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/pro ... gIyuvD_BwE

where that notched bit at the top provides a handy means of fixing a strap or ball bungy.

This pic seems to show a version of it without the notched bit:

https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Profile-Design ... gKdpfD_BwE

I fitted one to my old hybrid and all works fine - a bit of old tyre as padding means that it will secure the smaller 500mil Trangia bottle solid as a rock. As some have advised, you need to check what your frame will accommodate - on that frame I couldn't get anything but the smaller bottle to fit without fouling the front wheel - on my 26 inch wheel exped bike I can fit the larger Trangia bottle - though that set-up uses a BikeBuddy.

Plus one for the Bike Buddy solution as well if it suits your application.
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simonhill
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Re: what bottle cage for underside of down tube on a world tour?

Post by simonhill »

You don't say what you want to carry in the bottle.

If it's something like a sealed alu bottle with fuel, etc OK, but I'm not sure I would want to carry drinking stuff under there, particularly in a normal cycling bottle (bidon).

Presumably you'll be riding in some far flung lands and you will pick up all sorts of muck that could seriously contaminate your fluid.

The front of my downtube is usually smattered in something. Maybe the worst was in India when a close pass forced me to ride through the middle of a freshly dropped and near liquid cow pat. Yummee, pick that out of your drinking spout.
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Sweep
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Re: what bottle cage for underside of down tube on a world tour?

Post by Sweep »

I agree totally about in no circumstances putting a drinking bottle there - even if it's one with a cap.

Fuel bottles only.
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iandriver
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Re: what bottle cage for underside of down tube on a world tour?

Post by iandriver »

I never drink directly from the lower bottle, I only unscrew the whole top and decant into another. Never been a problem. If your that bothered, wrap it on a bag first.

As ever, I'd just use your discretion as to what you put on the more exposed area of the bike. If your riding through something sloppy and nasty, I think carefully about any of the bottles. There is probably an argument for keeping other items in frame bags and the bulk of your water in panniers if you're really in the wilds.
Supporter of the A10 corridor cycling campaign serving Royston to Cambridge http://a10corridorcycle.com. Never knew gardening secateurs were an essential part of the on bike tool kit until I took up campaigning.....
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