Author Topic: Waterbottles: alternatives to plastic and frame mounts  (Read 9932 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Red Ridinghood

Waterbottles: alternatives to plastic and frame mounts
« on: December 24, 2019, 10:06:52 am »
I'm looking for advice on mounting metal waterbottles to a bike.  My aunt is starting to bike longer distances and won't use plastic waterbottles, so I'm looking for a good solution to mount something like a hydroflask to her frame.  I anticipate that a hydroflask in a standard cage would rattle around-- does anyone have good experiences to share re: alternatives to plastic waterbottles and what kind of mount you use on a bike?

FWIW, she is not interested in camelbacks.  I'm looking for a frame-mounted solution, or something else that would allow her to carry water on the bike itself, rather than on her person.

Thanks!

Offline John Nettles

  • World Traveler
  • *****
  • Posts: 1998
  • I ride for smiles, not miles.
Re: Waterbottles: alternatives to plastic and frame mounts
« Reply #1 on: December 24, 2019, 11:13:49 am »
I would look into some expandable type of bottle cages like a Profile Designs Kage (just plain Kage).  It expands some to allow for larger bottle, i.e. a 1 liter plastic soda bottle.  Also, you could use a rubber strap like a Voile strap to help to prevent it from rattling if it is still too small.  Worst case, use a regular metal bottle and stuff in a pannier or handlebar bag.  Tailwinds, John

Offline DaveB

Re: Waterbottles: alternatives to plastic and frame mounts
« Reply #2 on: December 24, 2019, 12:32:33 pm »
Wrap a metal water bottle in duct tape or electrical tape.  That will keep it quiet in a conventional bottle cage.

Offline ray b

Re: Waterbottles: alternatives to plastic and frame mounts
« Reply #3 on: December 25, 2019, 09:48:18 pm »
I'm looking for advice on mounting metal waterbottles to a bike.  My aunt is starting to bike longer distances and won't use plastic waterbottles, so I'm looking for a good solution to mount something like a hydroflask to her frame. ....  I'm looking for a frame-mounted solution, or something else that would allow her to carry water on the bike itself, rather than on her person.
All depends on how much she wants to carry and how tight she is for frame and handlebar space.

For what it's worth, I often carry an MSR 6 liter bag on my rack when running drier areas, and use it to fill more accessible bottles or flasks such as a PDW cup holder as seen in the attachement.

« Last Edit: December 25, 2019, 09:51:21 pm by ray b »
“A good man always knows his limitations.”

Offline agruntgrunt

Re: Waterbottles: alternatives to plastic and frame mounts
« Reply #4 on: January 08, 2020, 06:02:45 pm »
I use a good plastic cage, I only use Thermos brand insulated, 18-20 oz of fluid, CVS $20.00. I put Ice in them in the morning, put as many cubes in as possible the size from ice trays. When I used them for work and came home I would still have ice in it. On a hot summer day if you refill with cold liquid the ice will last most of the day. If it melts with I get to a stop n rob I purchase a bag of ice and refill and let others use the rest.
Another thing I do when it is hot out, when I make a stop at a stop n rob I always put my helmet in the ice freeze, remember to get it before leaving.
If You choose to use metal cages use the spiral plastic (looks kind of like a springs) they are use for enclosing multiple wires, wrap on metal cage where metal bottle makes contact.
DO NOT PUT ANY KIND OF TAPE ON YOU BOTTLES, if you use sports drink and it gets on the tape, you will get sticky fingers, gloves and bars.
« Last Edit: January 08, 2020, 06:09:22 pm by agruntgrunt »

Offline BikePacker

Re: Waterbottles: alternatives to plastic and frame mounts
« Reply #5 on: January 08, 2020, 09:16:05 pm »
I'm looking for a good solution to mount something like a hydroflask to her frame.  I anticipate that a hydroflask in a standard cage would rattle around--
I use metal cages that (because they are bendable) adjust to a range of water bottle diameters and thereby do not rattle.

Offline nilejam

Re: Waterbottles: alternatives to plastic and frame mounts
« Reply #6 on: January 24, 2020, 01:10:36 pm »
HI:

You might try some handlebar "feedbags". I have a pair on my commute/tour bike. Easy access for everything from snacks to 1 qt nalgene bottles. I have the rockgeist ones but there are a number of companies that make them at various price points https://www.adventurecycling.org/cyclosource-store/equipment/sp/revelate-designs-mountain-feed-bag/ . I put a slimmer metal thermos (that doesn't quite fit in my regular bottle holders) in one for cold weather rides.


Offline gottobike

Re: Waterbottles: alternatives to plastic and frame mounts
« Reply #7 on: February 09, 2020, 01:40:33 am »
Ditto on the feedbags posted by nilejam. Lots of good options available including the very well designed Revelate mentioned above. I like the Jandd and Oveja Negra best as they are less complicated and are available in colors other than black. All of these fit the larger diameter stainless or glass bottles very well, especially the double wall insulated stainless. For the ultimate in decadent pleasures, use a double wall hydro flask for hot coffee, tea or soup in the morning and ice water later in the day.
« Last Edit: February 10, 2020, 08:47:53 pm by gottobike »

Offline jbruced


Offline PedalingPete

Re: Waterbottles: alternatives to plastic and frame mounts
« Reply #9 on: February 10, 2020, 09:59:09 pm »
I use a old Specialize Mtn cage that is some sort of a plastic with my Hydro flask water bottle and coffee mug while commuting and have had zero problems.  I think that any plastic bottle cage will fit snug enough to stay put and not rattle with the hydro flask.  My wife prefers to use a Klean Kanteen with the sport top (bike bottle style).  The Klean Kanteen seems to be slightly smaller in diameter than the hydro flask and will rattle like crazy in a metal bottle cage, but if you put the bottle in a sock first it works fairly well.  The Klean Kanteen is ok in some plastic cages, if it fits loose you can always use the sock trick.
Pete

Offline froze

Re: Waterbottles: alternatives to plastic and frame mounts
« Reply #10 on: March 23, 2020, 12:49:04 pm »
I would get insulated stainless. Target stores have a nice selection of this stuff, simply measure how much length you have from the base of the water bottle cage to the where the top of a bottle may hit the frame, then take one of the bottle cages you'll be using with you and find a bottle that will fit.  Camelbak, Thermos, Takeya, Klean, and Coleman. 

When I did that I found the Coleman to be the best in fit and size of ounces (24 ounces), plus it will keep stuff cold for up to 31 hours, but also the Coleman Autoseal had some sort of scratch proof semi rough finish to it that didn't slip and slide in the cage which means it won't be bouncing out while riding.  But different Target stores in different areas will have different stuff so you need to take you cage with you to make sure it will fit, and going to Target is cheaper than going on line and trying to find a bike specific bottle. 

Walmart where I lived didn't have anything good.

Cage wise the Chris King Stainless steel cage can be spread a bit to accept slightly wider bottles, the Coleman Autoseal doesn't need to be spread; Velo-Orange makes a stainless steel cage that can be spread wider easier than the Chris King and the Velo Orange will clamp onto the bottle automatically.  I would not use any aluminum cage, or non adjustable plastic cages.  Arundel makes an adjustable plastic cage called the Looney Bin Cage, this is probably the best cage for holding slightly larger diameter bottles than standard, it will go from 3.7 1/2 inches in diameter down to 2.36 inches; there is a knob, similar to a helmet adjusting knob, that tightens the cage to securely hold a bottle.  I use the Arundel for my larger 40 ounce Colman Autoseal bottles on my fork and I might replace my others with the Arundel because it works so good.

Offline froze

Re: Waterbottles: alternatives to plastic and frame mounts
« Reply #11 on: May 22, 2020, 09:02:46 pm »
Update to my above post.

Target is no longer carrying the Coleman, instead they brought in the Camelbak line of bottles, including the stainless 20 ounce bottles, these fit any standard water bottle cage, plus they have a roughened surface which prevents them from slipping out of the cage, plus it doesn't make as much noise in alloy type of cages vs other stainless steel bottles.