Do you use your under-the-downtube water bottle bosses? What for?
#1
Chases Dogs for Sport
Thread Starter
Do you use your under-the-downtube water bottle bosses? What for?
I've placed my order and my new bike is going to have the near-ubiquitous water bottle bosses under the downtube, near the bottom bracket. If your bike has them . . . do you use them? And if you use them, what do you use them for? Another water bottle? One of those little cargo containers? What product do you use / have you used . . . and are you happy with how it all works?
#2
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I use it for either a water bottle or for a tool pack, depending.
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Keeping Seattle’s bike shops in business since 1978
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#3
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On my touring bike i use it for water sometimes. I have a velcro strap too as that takes pressure off the bottle cage since its in a position it wasnt designed to be in(force pulling it apart).
Could be useful for really long rides. Just change the top for one of your others before using.
Could be useful for really long rides. Just change the top for one of your others before using.
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My current bike doesn't have downtube bosses and it's been kind of a hassle. Usually I can get a 17 oz bottle into my bib pocket so it's ok but during the summer I really miss the extra capacity.
Previously on my bike that did have the DT bosses I carried just a water bottle, usually a 1 liter soda-type bottle that I use to refill my regular water bottles I carry inside the triangle. No need for a tool bottle as I've got a half framebag that holds tools and tubes. I also use a velcro strap to help reduce the forces experienced by the cage.
Previously on my bike that did have the DT bosses I carried just a water bottle, usually a 1 liter soda-type bottle that I use to refill my regular water bottles I carry inside the triangle. No need for a tool bottle as I've got a half framebag that holds tools and tubes. I also use a velcro strap to help reduce the forces experienced by the cage.
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Blackburn Outpost Cage with a 1.5 or 2L water bottle if needed.
#7
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Are there bike pump mounts for water bottle bosses that place the bike pump on top of the tube and not on the side?
My Salsa Vaya has the extra bosses under the down tube, near the BB, and I'd love to mount my mini bike pump there.
My Salsa Vaya has the extra bosses under the down tube, near the BB, and I'd love to mount my mini bike pump there.
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Nope. In the rare occasion I've wanted a third bottle cage, I've used a double - a.k.a. Rocket Launcher - behind the seat, or a seat post mounted single bottle cage.
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None of my bikes have bosses in that location, but sometimes I'll use one of these to carry a water bottle there: https://www.amazon.com/Bell-Clinch-U...ds=Bell+clinch
It tends to get filthy carried there, so wrap the top of the bottle with plastic wrap secured by a rubber band if you decide to use the bosses for a water bottle.
(FYI for anyone thinking about using the Bell Universal mount, it works pretty well but the cage that comes with it is garbage, so plan on using a different cage on it if you buy it.)
It tends to get filthy carried there, so wrap the top of the bottle with plastic wrap secured by a rubber band if you decide to use the bosses for a water bottle.
(FYI for anyone thinking about using the Bell Universal mount, it works pretty well but the cage that comes with it is garbage, so plan on using a different cage on it if you buy it.)
#10
Chases Dogs for Sport
Thread Starter
For those who use it for a tool bottle . . . do you like it better than an under-saddle bag? And what sort of cage do you use (that works)?
#11
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Nice unit, it has a fairly accurate pressure gauge on it.
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Usually leave it empty but sometimes an extra water bottle and on a few tours it's held a bottle of fuel for my white-gas stove. I use an elastic hair band to stabilize the bottle in the cage under the down tube.
#13
Senior Member
I’ve recently had down tube bosses added to my bike’s frame. It was well worth the 50 bucks the frame builder charged. So far I’ve only used it for a water bottle but thought in the future a stove fuel bottle would ride there nicely. Maybe even tent poles. The tool bottle sounds like a good candidate as it would keep a fairly heavy load quite low.
#14
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I have a 2018 Norco Search XR 105, and it came with the bosses underneath the downtube close to the BB. I was somewhat excited, since with the mounts on the carbon forks, i would be able to mount up to five water bottle cages. But dang it, when i installed a cage on the bottom mounts, the cage was practically touching the big ring on the 2x crankset. This would have prevented me shifting to the smaller chainring. what the????
Perhaps it's the design of the cage i used (old style thicker tubed aluminum cage), but seems a bad design. if only one inch higher up the DT.... i know Problem Solvers offers an adjustable/sliding mount to address this. Then i started wondering if there was a slim design tool bag or box i could use there, but haven't found one yet. many use a bottle cage for storage, which would not work, at least with the style cage i tried. and i'd like to screw it into the bosses. not use straps. anybody know of anything out there that fits that description? a mount for the bosses, a box/bag that slides and clicks into place...
Oh. i see Wolftooth has an interesting offer... https://www.wolftoothcomponents.com/...ducts/pump-bag
eric
fresno, ca.
Perhaps it's the design of the cage i used (old style thicker tubed aluminum cage), but seems a bad design. if only one inch higher up the DT.... i know Problem Solvers offers an adjustable/sliding mount to address this. Then i started wondering if there was a slim design tool bag or box i could use there, but haven't found one yet. many use a bottle cage for storage, which would not work, at least with the style cage i tried. and i'd like to screw it into the bosses. not use straps. anybody know of anything out there that fits that description? a mount for the bosses, a box/bag that slides and clicks into place...
Oh. i see Wolftooth has an interesting offer... https://www.wolftoothcomponents.com/...ducts/pump-bag
eric
fresno, ca.
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At one time, bike tourists would carry their fuel bottle for their kerosene stove down there. That way, if it leaked, it didn't get all over the rest of the gear.
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I have used it for water in the past but I found it to be a hassle -- I'm not bothered by the dirt so much, but I can't actually get to the bottle while I'm riding. Also, for really long rides I made the switch to using a hydration pack so the extra water bottle is kind of superfluous.
As far as what bottle cage -- I've used a bontrager side-loader cage but mainly because that's what I had in my bin. I'd probably go with a King Cage if I was buying another one.
#17
Chases Dogs for Sport
Thread Starter
Perhaps it's the design of the cage i used (old style thicker tubed aluminum cage), but seems a bad design. if only one inch higher up the DT.... i know Problem Solvers offers an adjustable/sliding mount to address this. Then i started wondering if there was a slim design tool bag or box i could use there, but haven't found one yet. many use a bottle cage for storage, which would not work, at least with the style cage i tried. and i'd like to screw it into the bosses. not use straps. anybody know of anything out there that fits that description? a mount for the bosses, a box/bag that slides and clicks into place...
Oh. i see Wolftooth has an interesting offer... https://www.wolftoothcomponents.com/...ducts/pump-bag
eric
fresno, ca.
Oh. i see Wolftooth has an interesting offer... https://www.wolftoothcomponents.com/...ducts/pump-bag
eric
fresno, ca.
https://www.biketiresdirect.com/product/fabric-tool-keg
Last edited by FlashBazbo; 09-21-18 at 12:25 PM.
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Honestly, on the infrequent occasions where I have wanted to carry a third bottle, I have forgotten that I even have those downtube mounts. I just strap on a Revelate "feed bag" and use that instead.