To cage, not to cage, where to cage?!

[KayOs]

Of course, a bottle cage has to be attached to the seat tube, how else would you transport your burrito?

 

[novocaine]

Of course, a bottle cage has to be attached to the seat tube, how else would you transport your burrito?View attachment 898855

I'm with him, if you have it on the downtube your bottle size is limited to 25cl. I like to lug a good 50 or 75cl with me. It's still an amazement to me that the cycle industry followed suit and made there water bottles match my wine bottles.

I don't go on long rides with my wine bottle.

 

[Woz]

Some of the bottle cages can be right ghastly. Plastic modern ones may be light but think the designs are hideous for retro bikes.

Still got one of these in the attic - retro Minoura PET.



And one of these. A more modern BBB Fuel Tank XL.



All out of fashion now the kids put frame bags and bottle cages are supposed to go on forks

They still have their use for errrmmm special bottles of errrmmm special stuff for errrmmmmm special outings

 

[Imlach]

I recently put one on and I lived to tell the tale

 

[boy"O"boy]

For a bike used only on shorter rides, I think they look better without. If you fit only one, it’s on the downtube for me.

For me.....if I'm going to put a bottle cage on, it's got to be on the down tube.

Sometimes the image that influences the build has a bottle cage.....and I've got to add one.
The MBUK image from the Oct 1990 RC100 test has one (without bottle) ....so I added 2 to my build!! Didn't get a choice on placement though as both mountings are on the down tube.
Another influencing pic is The Freewheel 1989 catalogue. This time there are 2 - but only 1 bottle.

There is always the viewpoint that the build looks cleaner without them......and I don't have bottles for them anyway......and it's more of a garage queen anyway as I have others to ride.
Do I like them? - of course I think they suit the build.
Do they serve any purpose? - of course not!
A cage without a bottle is like an ashtray on a motorbike!!


MBUK Oct 1990


Freewheel Catalogue 1989


My 'bottle cage without bottles' build!!

Now.... If you're actually planning on riding the bike - I'm a fan of the bottle on down tube mount.

Then if you have, you have this....

No cage. Too much of the "mud" that inevitably gathers on the drinking bottle has passed through a cow or a deer. Bit off-putting. Bottle in the backpack.

Mud or Muck?

Cheers
boy"O"boy

 

[TreaderSteve]

Cor, that Pace with double neon cages is fricking sweet! As for muck and mud - bleurgh! Maybe that's why they invented Camelbak?!

 

[MattiThundrrr]

Every bike gets a cage, but I ride them all. Always on the downtube because that's where my hand goes without looking. If there's a second cage on the seatpost, that's the back up. I'll switch them when one empties. I might be bottle neurotic though

 

[Woz]

Top post @boy"O"boy - the improved aesthetics of adding (a) bottle cage(s) is not to be taken lightly.

Hard fast rules based on being only practical sometimes fall short:
https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads...lict-tinkerer-test-bed-🍷🤪.483550/post-3642122

 

[Lhatch4]

I still use my CamelBak Mule that I bought in 1998. No cage.

 

[boy"O"boy]

Top post @boy"O"boy - the improved aesthetics of adding (a) bottle cage(s) is not to be taken lightly.

Hard fast rules based on being only practical sometimes fall short:
https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/2001-ti-airborne-corsair-infant-joy-eternal-conflict-tinkerer-test-bed-.483550/post-3642122

Thanks @Woz
Completely agree - the Aesthetic of adding a water bottle/ cage are often overlooked.....but it can be a Marmite choice, especially on a small frame or e-stay.
Images, catalogue specs, and magazine articles had an influence over what was cool or desirable, but by '93 and the 'must have' Camelbak - the bottle was becoming obsolete. As suspension evolved, the frames had no room for a bottle anyway. Only the top flight XC racers seemed to still use them...free energy drink handouts at Mountain Mayhem and Sleepless in the saddle but no-where to put them on your bike!

Here's another build where the water bottle and cage was a key build 'must have'

1989 Ridgeback 604 SIS - Freewheel Catalogue

Apart from wheels/tyres/saddle - sourcing the yellow Blackburn bottle cage was almost impossible. I ended up buying a silver one, stripping it and respraying to get the spec 'just right'

A lot of effort for something that isn't vital unless you ride it! (Or even put a bottle in it!)


Even my modern isn't exempt. This is post ride London to Brighton off-road 2024.
I used bottles and filled up at the check point stops, carrying spare bottles in my back pack.
Surely I'd be better using a camelbak? - well yes and no..... I'd not be ingesting all sorts by using one, but in the same breath...I'm lazy when it comes to Camelbak maintenance and there's probably more bacteria in the feed pipe than on my bottle.

Plus I'm old school. I like the bottle aesthetic....I like grit and mud in my teeth and dicing over whether it's safe to drink or not. Just like bitd.

Cheers
boy"O"boy