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Half frame bags & bottle cages

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Old 11-11-23, 01:44 PM
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Bob N.
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Half frame bags & bottle cages

Hello all,

Just got a half frame bag (semi-rigid)

and now I need to solve to water bottle access issue. I'm wedded to carrying to carrying two 24oz bottles in the triangle and was wondering how some of you folks accomplish this.

I see pics on the internets that appear to show regular cages with bottle tops tight to the underside of the bag and that looks maddening. My down tube bottle is like this but I would assume that a side loading cage would solve this. Which cages do you like? I would very much want a black one. Minimal graphics/aluminum rails would be nice too.

For the seat tube bottle cage in its current position there is no room for a 24oz bottle. Wolf Tooth has some rails that could lower the cage substantially at which point maybe another side load cage? They also have things that rotate the cages outward but I would worry about hitting the bottle with my foot since I can't push them upwards.

Thoughts?
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Old 11-11-23, 11:13 PM
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BigC_82
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I use a wolftooth B rad double bottle cage with my half frame bag
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Old 11-14-23, 06:41 PM
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SoSmellyAir
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Originally Posted by Bob N.

... I'm wedded to carrying to carrying two 24oz bottles in the triangle ...
Either carry smaller bottles (~ 21 oz.) or mount the bottle cages on the sides of the fork?
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Old 11-14-23, 07:08 PM
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As Big C mentioned above use a B rad mount. You can get that bottle far lower.
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Old 11-14-23, 10:25 PM
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john m flores 
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Definitely a downside to frame bags. Maybe I need to move to a water reservoir.

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Old 11-14-23, 11:39 PM
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frame bag ? nuh uh not gonna happen for me

as can see in bottom pic - can just barely fit a large bottle in the forward cage

I often wear a fanny / waist pack
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Old 11-16-23, 04:44 AM
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Downtube bottle looks fine. Seat tube cage can be moved down with one of those adaptors, but the FD band may interfere. If you don't need a frame bag that long, you can get one that doesn't go the length of the top tube.


Here is an example of how I run 1L bottles; downtube cage shifted down slightly and seat tube cage left alone but doesn't get interference from the frame bag.
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Old 11-16-23, 07:36 AM
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john m flores 
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Originally Posted by tFUnK
Downtube bottle looks fine. Seat tube cage can be moved down with one of those adaptors, but the FD band may interfere. If you don't need a frame bag that long, you can get one that doesn't go the length of the top tube.


Here is an example of how I run 1L bottles; downtube cage shifted down slightly and seat tube cage left alone but doesn't get interference from the frame bag.
Nice setup. Apidura should make a bag that's tapered opposite to the above - shallower near the head tube and downtube water bottle and deeper in the space between the water bottles. There's a liter of space between the bottles.
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Old 11-17-23, 07:14 AM
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They make cages just for that purpose. I use the Arundel side loaders. Work well with my Apidura frame bag.
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Old 01-12-24, 07:54 AM
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commo_soulja
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Yup, B-Rad mount to lower cage on seat tube and use side entry cages.
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Old 01-12-24, 11:35 AM
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Easy fix- you take frame bag, sell it at a loss, buy a bar bag and a wedge bag that holds what you wanted to hold in the frame bag, and then access your bottles without issue.

Half frame bags for day riding are...a less than elegant product. They can be good for races where you don't have access to water as a hydration bladder can be stored in the bag.
Besides that?...there are easier, cheaper, and better ways to both store and access gear.
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