Two Fish bottle cages - stability issues, any solutions?

[jbphilly]

Hey all,

Just got back from a great weekend outing...not quite a S24O, but maybe 27 hours. It was my first time using some Two Fish water bottle cages I'd just ordered (these things: http://www.twofish.biz/pdf/StainlessCages.pdf)

The cages held the bottles quite firmly, but the grip of the cages onto the fork legs left something to be desired. This was an almost all pavement trip, but even riding on the roads had the bottles sliding backwards around the fork legs, and then on singletrack, they slid all the way back until they were rubbing the tires.

I imagine there's something I could insert between the rubber grip and the fork leg that would prevent this from happening - preferably without damaging the paint, though I also have tape I can use to cover it.

Has anybody used these cages and dealt with a similar issue? Or, anybody know of any items that might work as inserts to keep this movement from happening?

[harryonaspot]

You could try friction tape, or just hose clamp the cages to the fork. I would still use tape to protect the forks.

[jbphilly]

Good idea...I wonder how well electrical tape would work? I'll give it a shot this evening and report back

[trebor]

I use a wrap of inner tube and hose clamps with "regular" cages. A bit of velcro to not have the bottle fly away in the rough stuff. They never rotate like this.

[jbphilly]

I just did a test ride (on pavement, some of it rough) with one bottle cage having electric tape under it, the other not. The one with electric tape was considerably more stable, though it still moved, but it didn't seem to be moving past a certain point. I'll update if I find any better solution. Next will be finding an old inner tube to chop up and use part of.

[Buttermilk]

like was stated before...inner tube, hose clamps and velcro...that works without fail. But, the bottle can fail. Make sure you have a tough enough bottle that it doesn't get a hole rubbed in it from all the action. Happened to me with two bottles...bummer

Also, here is the cage i finally settled on after many trial and errors. I like it because of the full loop around the bottle.

http://store.velo-orange.com/index.php/accessories/water-bottles-cages/vo-retro-cage-with-tab-new-version.html

[yz129]

3m-moisture sealing tape #2228 stuck on the inside of the strap works great on the down tube of my bike

[Norb]

I've been using these for awhile now. As Trebor said, an inner tube provides a good contact point and can prevent slippage. I then add a zip tie just below the Two Fish to prevent it from sliding down.  I use mine with the Salsa cages and even using the 33oz Zefal Magnum have only had bottle ejection once.

[jbphilly]

The inner tube solution does seem to work well. I've yet to test it on singletrack, but I took it around some of the crappiest pavement I could find in my neighborhood just now and jumped some curbs.

[glenndandy]

 I had two on my front fork for a 14 day trip across Switzerland's Alpine Bike 1. First day one of them failed....velcro strap tore and separated and the whole shebang,bottle and all, was retrieved by another rider riding behind me,never new I lost it actually.. I wouldn't recommend these for offroad. Hose clamp a standard cage and be done with it.

[vikb]

I wouldn't recommend these for offroad. Hose clamp a standard cage and be done with it.

+1 - cheap and effective.  

[303-biker]

it's a bit more complicated but check out my solution to the problem
http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/index.php/topic,5321.0.html

[jbphilly]

I decided to just go the hose clamp route. Should saved myself the money in the first place! It works just fine.