A few comments on my experience with modern bottles and cages mounted on handlebars.
The older bottles were aluminium, the cages had a sprung closure to hold the bottle from rattling as the bottle didn't compress. You opened the cage and the bottle cage out easily. The plastic bottles came about and the bottle could fit snugly into a cage and the need for sprung closures ceased, but the need to apply more force to insert and remove the bottle came about.
Pulling a snug fitting (modern) bottle from a snug fitting (modern) cage mounted to the handlebar has in my experience meant an odd torque was applied to the bars that adversely affects handling, I have this arrangement on my '72 Peugeot because I didn't want to mess up the paint on my down tube, but on future builds I will clamp a bottle cage on the DT when I need one.
Personally I think the cage up top looks neat and all, but I'd only do it again with a sprung closure type cage.
David Bilenkey Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
> -----Original Message-----
> From: classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org
> [mailto:classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org]On Behalf Of jerrymoos
> Sent: June 15, 2004 10:59 AM
> To: BobHoveyGa@aol.com; classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> Subject: Re: [CR]Vintage water bottle question
>
>
> You can still buy handlebar mounts for water bottle cages, made
> by Minoura.
> A different design from the old HB cage mounts, but I think they
> look pretty
> classic and at home on a classic bike, especially if you use a
> chromed steel
> cage. I have several of these, and almost always use them on any bike
> without water bottle cage brazeons, so as to avoid damaging the paint with
> cage clamps. They come in single cage or double cage versions.
> Sheldon and
> others sell them.
>
> The only disavantages I see to HB cages is that the bars get a
> bit cluttered
> if you also have a computer mounted and perhaps a separate HRM. Also, the
> mounts obscure and might scratch the engravings on fancy engraved bars.
>
> Regards,
>
> Jerry Moos
> Houston, TX
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <BobHoveyGa@aol.com>
> To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, June 15, 2004 8:36 AM
> Subject: Re: [CR]Vintage water bottle question
>
>
> > >In a message dated 6/14/2004 1:13:25 PM PST, wheelman@nac.net writes:
> > Why did handlebar mount water bottles fall out of favor. I do
> my share of
> > riding and find it a bit more difficult to reach down and retrieve my wb
> > from the down or seat tube and then put it back. I would think the hb
> > mount to be safer and easier to access. Is it a matter of the additional
> > weight over the front wheel? Most people drop their water bottles on a
> > ride from trying to remove or replace it without looking. Is it possible
> > that it is asthetics?
> >
> > Ray Homiski
> >
> > >Perhaps handling? I have a water bottle mounted on the bars on my 1970
> bike.
> > Sure it is pushing the envelope, but I think it looks cool...
> >
> > Stephan Andranian
> >
> >
> >
> > I don't think you're pushiing the envelope at all...
> >
> > Looking at race photos, handlebar-mounted water bottles seem to
> disappear
> > after the mid to late 60's, but they were fairly popular items in bike
> shops for
> > at least a few years after that. My '72 Peugeot PX-10 came
> with one and
> I
> > loved it. I had it for a few years until the bike needed a
> repaint and I
> fell
> > victim to the siren song of DT braze-on bottle bosses.
> >
> > I remember seeing quite a few photos of handlebar-mounted bottles with
> straws
> > in them... one did not even have to remove the bottle, just lean over a
> bit
> > and sip. Now that beats even a Camelbak for ease of use, doesn't it...
> as
> > long as you don't poke yourself in the eye.
> >
> > Bob Hovey
> > Columbus, GA