puma1552

1 bottle cage or 2? If 2 cages, 1 bottle or 2?

I have one cage on the downtube currently, but thinking of adding a second. Usually don't need it, but it would be nice to have at times. Wondering if it's sort of weird to have two on a hybrid.

andrei_r

3 just because I'm too cheap to buy a fourth one. One on the down tube, one on the seat tube, one on the fork leg. Sometimes I strap a fourth bottle under the seat bag. It all has to do with how far or how hard you ride, how hilly it is and how hot it gets. If I rode under 30km on rail trails at sunset, one bottle would be enough.

hokiefyd 

I have two cages on all of my bikes, but I usually carry one bottle of water, on the down tube. I put my SKS Cagebox in the cage on the seat tube, and it has all of my flat tire kit (small pump, tire levers, patch kit, multi-tool, etc). This way, I need buy that stuff just once, and I can bring it with me on whatever bike I happen to ride that day.


roamcreek1 by jnjadcock, on Flickr

My Roam, pictured above, will actually take a third cage underneath the down tube, and I may add a third cage for a second water bottle (or for the Cagebox, if I want the other bottle up inside the frame).

CliffordK

Bring what you need.

10 to 20 miles poking around town... 1 bottle is generally sufficient, especially if you know where to refill.

100 to 200 miles in a day, self supported, with no water stops, pack it down with as much water as you can carry.

Frame Pump? I dislike TT frame pumps, so the rear bottle cage displaces my frame pump

HerrKaLeun

3 liter hydration bladder in framebag

ksywa

Hybrids ? One bottle cage. If I need more, there is an Osprey backpack with 2.5l or 3l hydropack inside.
Roadie ? 2 bottles, and a credit card if I need to buy some liquids in a gas station or beer^h^h^h^h coffee place.

/ksywa

Alleytom

My GT has five (4 cages and bottle holder on the bars) and if needed I add two more. It gets hot here in AZ.

WarrenR

2 cages 2 bottles

I don't always finish both and sometimes I could use more.

Pompiere

I only carry one bottle, but I live where there is a town or park every 8-10 miles, so refilling is not a problem.

I never understood cyclists who fret about shaving grams off the frame and components, but don't think twice about carrying several pounds of fluids on a ride.

mcours2006

This.

I do the same thing. My 1985 Gardin, however, has only a set of mounting holes, so unfortunately I have to carry the repair kit somewhere else. Maybe people back in the 80's didn't drink so much water. :shrug:

ksywa

Troll gives you 5 mounting points.. over/under down tube, back tube and two on fork.
/ksywa

hokiefyd 

You can get some period-appropriate clamp-on bottle cage mounts. You can use individual mounts, one for each hole in the bottle cage, or you can use nice band clamps (not automotive hose clamps...but I suppose you could use those, too).

I just bought (yesterday!) a late '60s Peugeot mixte and the only mounts it has are pump pegs on the down tube. I'll have to figure out what I'm going to do with that one, but I'll likely have a basket on the front or rear and set it up like a city/errands bike (so bottle cage mounts aren't all that relevant).

mcours2006

Thanks for the info. The bike has a pretty clean look to it, so I don't want to add anything clamps to it. Drilling a set of holes might be an option as well, I suppose, if I really wanted a second set of holes.

KraneXL

When I think hybrid, I think utility.Mine double as accessory/tool carriers, so I can mix/match and configure them as needed.
I live smack in the middle of the city. But if I ever do go off the beaten path, its one less thing I'll have to think about.

noglider 

The more, the better.

ChiefTJS

Two cages but on short rides I usually only run one bottle. Stupid rides I run two bottles and a Camelback.

Bholio

2 Cages on the Karate Monkey. 1 bottle when cool, 2 bottles when hot, camelback when really hot. Depends a lot on refill situation.

pjthomas

I have two cages but usually ride with one bottle in the down tube. The empty cage on the seat post is a useful handle.

MK79

Using 1 cage and 2L bag.

dbf909

2 cages and 2 bottles. It's always hot here in FL...

BiciMan

Important distinction. I sweat a LOT, so I always need two bottles, at least. My Sirrus has two cages, but my 8 .5 DS, one -cheap Trek move because there is plenty of space for a second set of bosses. Big difference for me, often determining which bike I take. I do have a hydropak for when I can't take a chance, and this is most likely if I'm taking the DS. DS must mean Don't Sweat. Excellent, most flexible of my bikes, BUT for THAT. I almost did not buy because of that one flaw, and if I had to sell one hybrid, it would go first.

blue192

When going shopping or biking with the kids I use two bottles and two cages. If I am on my fitness night right then only one bottle but a three litre bladder in my backpack.

hermanchauw

livedarklions

Water weighs a lot so I try not to carry more than I'll drink between chances to refill.

< 30 miles, no bottle.

30-100 miles - 1 bottle

.>100 miles - hot day 2 bottles, normal day 1. I'll be stopping places on a ride that long anyway.

Just did 138 miles on a hot day. I will not be doing that again, there wasn't enough water on the planet for miles 95-115 in the very hot sun. Went through both bottles during that stretch and had to stop at a convenience store and gulp down about 2 liters of liquid.

KraneXL

"Its not the heat, its the humidity."