Attaching bottle cages to front shocks

[Loisbikelane]

Going on my first bikepacking trip next month, and it was suggested that I attach a pair of standard bottle cages to my Fox fork with pipe clamps cushioned by used inner tubes (since I don't have bottle cage bosses on the fork). Has this worked well for anyone? We will be traveling mainly on double-track/forest roads, and I hope that they won't be shaken loose.

Also, any advice on preventing my Pika seatpost pack from being further shredded by my rear tire? I'm only 5'5" but insisted on buying a 29er hardtail, and the saddle is at minimum clearance from the tire. Should I try installing some kind of fender, or. . . ? to keep it clear of the tire? My other alternative is to add a rear rack, but I'm loathe to add any more weight than necessary.

signed,
Too Late to Shop for New Bike

[AZTtripper]

I used Gorilla tape to protect the fork for adding cages, used hose clamps on the bottom side but just zip ties at the top. Then I used velcro straps to make sure the bottles stayed put.

I had a 29er hardtail for a while and the tire did rub a small hole in my seatpost bag. Used some old inner tube as a patch to protect it.

Hope that helps.

Tim

[sherpaxc]

I'm currently riding with cages on my Reba using hose clamps. They have stayed put on even the most technical of trails. It's a great solution for extra water.

As far as the seatpost pack. I put on a Thudbuster seatpost and had some small rubbing. I solved that problem by adding an extra webbing strap that I thread through my seat rails and wrap around the seat pack. I cinch it down real tight and it has stopped all rubbing.

Good luck!

[dadana]

I run Lezyne heavy duty cages on each fork tube of my Fox Float fork, 2 on each side. The Lezyne cages don't require any additional straps. I use standard hose clamps without anything underneath. It does scratch the paint and decals but hey, its a mountain bike. If you never take them off you can't see the scratches. Just don't over tighten them or you may possibly collapse the tube.

[Adam Alphabet]

I tried the cages on my Fox Talas with two fish adapters for a Colorado Trail through ride. Took them off after Segment 1 and will never run bottles on my suspension fork again, FSR's, double track or single track. Bottles ejected into the front wheel twice in 10 minutes coming down towards the South Platte (even with a velcro strap to hold em in place) was enough to put them in my jersey pockets the rest of the trip.

Rigid fork on the other hand, never a problem.

[bekologist]

Bottle cages on the forks:

 i went through a string of 5mm aluminum cages on the forks riding gravel roads- seems like cages would break every couple hundred miles of gravel.

 if you do mount cages on your forks, get a stainless or otherwise durable cage- high impact nylon cages might even be a good choice here- and definitely use a velcro keeper strap if you want to keep the botttles in place.

 other suggestions- if you do run bottles on the forks, DRINK THAT WATER FIRST. 

and - seatpost rack below the pika? I bet you can slip a SP rack in there, to act as support and fender. if not a seatpost rack, a mini back rack like the Nitto Mark's Rack is adjustable to fit and clamps on seatstays.

 Otherwise, just run a rack, they only weigh about a pound. a pint of water weighs a pound!  and then you can keep gallons of water back there if need be and off the fork. 

 Depends on the type of trip, but don't count out a back rack/mini back rack. 

[PeteStaehling]

To me it always seemed like a bad idea to mount heavy stuff on a suspension fork where it is unsprung weight.

If I don't have room in my bags I'd carry extra water in a small backpack or even a jersey pocket.

[ImAFred]

...

Also, any advice on preventing my Pika seatpost pack from being further shredded by my rear tire? I'm only 5'5" but insisted on buying a 29er hardtail, and the saddle is at minimum clearance from the tire. Should I try installing some kind of fender, or. . . ? to keep it clear of the tire? My other alternative is to add a rear rack, but I'm loathe to add any more weight than necessary.

signed,
Too Late to Shop for New Bike

Take a piece of leather and sew it to the bottom of the bag.

[sashax]

May not be exactly what you're asking, but I am also short (and bike pack on a 26" bike for that reason, but anyway), and I had the same problem of the pika drooping and hitting the rear tire. I ended up using an old taillight mount to keep the front end of the pika low, which keeps the back from dipping down and rubbing on the rear tire.

[wahday]

The key issue with bottle cages on a suspension fork is you must secure the bottles to the fork with a Velcro strap or something similar. Being unsprung weight the potential for ejection is very high. But a good secure strap (I put it tight around the neck of the bottle and around the fork) should do the trick. This is a common way to haul extra water though more effective with a rigid fork. But you will be ok if you use straps.

[Adam Alphabet]

The key issue with bottle cages on a suspension fork is you must secure the bottles to the fork with a Velcro strap or something similar. Being unsprung weight the potential for ejection is very high. But a good secure strap (I put it tight around the neck of the bottle and around the fork) should do the trick. This is a common way to haul extra water though more effective with a rigid fork. But you will be ok if you use straps.

I did all this and still didn't have much luck on the single track with the suspension fork, roads and dirt roads were ok. Works for some, not for others I guess.  When I had my rigid fork built I had the builder put bottle bosses on specifically to carry bottles on the fork legs, never an issue with these.