Bottle holder broken during downhill
 

Has anyone seen something like this ?

Yesterday evening, I was riding downhill at about 50 km/h on a bumpy
road, with a stiff road bike with skinny tires (all these details to
tell you that it _was_ bumpy). Suddenly, I heard a big noise and
looking down I saw that my bottle holder was gone, together with a
nearly full aluminum bottle. The guy who was following 50 cm behind me
on a mountain bike (which I found foolish in the first place on such a
road) probably had the fear of his lifetime but did not crash. I don't
even know whether he was hit or not. But it happened so fast that if
he was not then it was just pure luck.
The bottle holder broke at the weld between the cage tubing and the
plate which is screwed to the frame.

I wouldn't like this to happen with me in the pack at the Sunday
morning club ride.

Turtle

29 Apr 2005 08:10:33 -0700,
,
(Fast Turtle) wrote:

Has anyone seen something like this ?

\snip
The bottle holder broke at the weld between the cage tubing and the
plate which is screwed to the frame.

Yes, it's happened to two cages in which I've use metal bottles.
I'd be surprised if it happened with plastic bottles.
--
zk

Zoot Katz wrote:
29 Apr 2005 08:10:33 -0700,
,
(Fast Turtle) wrote:

Has anyone seen something like this ?

\snip
The bottle holder broke at the weld between the cage tubing and the
plate which is screwed to the frame.

Yes, it's happened to two cages in which I've use metal bottles.
I'd be surprised if it happened with plastic bottles.


This has happened to me about 3-4 times, always with
oversize plastic bottles. I don't think the type of bottle is
that important, just the weight of the water. I should probably
use a beefier cage.

R




h

29 Apr 2005 10:18:54 -0700,
. com,
wrote:

The bottle holder broke at the weld between the cage tubing and the
plate which is screwed to the frame.

Yes, it's happened to two cages in which I've use metal bottles.
I'd be surprised if it happened with plastic bottles.


This has happened to me about 3-4 times, always with
oversize plastic bottles. I don't think the type of bottle is
that important, just the weight of the water. I should probably
use a beefier cage.

Then I suspect it's the fact the bottles are oversize. The metal
bottle I use is larger in diameter than the plastic bottles. The cage
deforms to accommodate it.

I was guessing the plastic bottle would just compress if it wasn't
full or frozen.
--
zk

On Fri, 29 Apr 2005 08:10:33 -0700, Fast Turtle wrote:

Has anyone seen something like this ?

metal fatigue, especially along welds? Sure. Must have been scary for the
guy behind you.

I once had two 1.5L bottles of Polish sparkling mineral water fly off the
back of my m/c at 50mph on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago. I had the pleasure
of watching them explode on the roadway and the look of horror on the
driver behind me. Needless to say, I got a "bungee net" the next day...


I've been hating my old plastic Specialized cages from the eighties, but
now they're starting to look good. :P

maxo wrote:
On Fri, 29 Apr 2005 08:10:33 -0700, Fast Turtle wrote:


Has anyone seen something like this ?


metal fatigue, especially along welds? Sure. Must have been scary for the
guy behind you.

I once had two 1.5L bottles of Polish sparkling mineral water fly off the
back of my m/c at 50mph on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago. I had the pleasure
of watching them explode on the roadway and the look of horror on the
driver behind me. Needless to say, I got a "bungee net" the next day...


I've been hating my old plastic Specialized cages from the eighties, but
now they're starting to look good. :P

I have had two incidents with water bottles and holders. One holder, a
cheap one with thin wire was killed when my grandson stepped on it
trying to get onto the center bar for a ride. Now I buy only LBS welded
thick steel holders and they don't break, they don't even give when I
stuff in an oversize plastic bottle. The other incident was similar last
Monday when I went from pavement to dirt at maybe 25 or 30 MPH and the
bottle bounced out just before I hit the 'Emergency' brakes. Washboard
roads and high speeds with no suspension make for some really nasty
rides. After I went back and got the bottle I drove the gravel and
potholes much more carefully and had no more incidents. I have seen some
Chinese holders at Wal-mart that appear to have rubber bungie cords to
hold the bottles in place but since I am not trying to support China or
Wal-mart I have not tried one yet.
The best bottles I have are on the fat side and have to be squeezed into
the non forgiving metal cages, and don't fly out on big bumps. I may fly
off the bike but I am reasonably sure the bottle would still be there
after I picked myself up.
If you are going for seriously bumpy off road stuff you might want to
try some rubber bungie cord tricks to secure the bottles, kind of
Fred-ish, but it might work.
Bill (Semi-Fred) Baka

bbaka wrote:

The other incident was similar last
Monday when I went from pavement to dirt at maybe 25 or 30 MPH

Or maybe 10 or 11 MPH.

Rich wrote:
bbaka wrote:

The other incident was similar last Monday when I went from pavement
to dirt at maybe 25 or 30 MPH


Or maybe 10 or 11 MPH.

Definitely faster. Fast enough on pavement but my mind did not switch to
dirt mode fast enough. I was coming down a maybe 10% downhill on the
pavement and it just did a sudden break into the dirt/gravel mix. Damn
near knocked my fillings out.
If you ever get a capable bike I will post the exact route and you can
try riding it and get a little humility going.
I have had serious motorcycle road rash at 80 MPH so a little 25 MPH
road rash is not going to slow me down except for those damn jagged rocks.
Bill Baka

Twice I have had the top screw come out of a water bottle cage, then it
tips over into the path of the cranks. When they meet, the cage
became a twisted maze of junk wires.

On Sat, 30 Apr 2005 00:07:54 -0700, wrote:

Twice I have had the top screw come out of a water bottle cage, then it
tips over into the path of the cranks. When they meet, the cage
became a twisted maze of junk wires.

loc-tite or similar schtoff are your friend--especially on buzzy stuff
with engines like motorsicles.