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@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