How do you fit two bottle carriers to a Giant Defy?

chrisf70
chrisf70 Posts: 28
edited September 2011 in Workshop
I have a plastic spring type bottle holder on my Defy 3 on the down tube. Today I bought another carrier the same to fit on the seat tube. However even though there are two lugs on the seat tube they are too low, also with the frame geometry there isn't room to fit the second bottle holder, let alone put a bottle in it.

My mate was there with his Trek road bike, and the lugs are higher and the geometry more forgiving and two bottles would fit easily.

How have others gotten around this with a Defy?

Is there a bracket or something that could be fitted to the lugs raising where the bottle holder would be located on the seat tube?

My Defy is below with the orginal bottle holder in place.

You can just see the lugs on the seat tube either side of the front mech attachment.

DSC00102-1.jpg

Comments

  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    My friend has a small SCR1 and the bottle cages go on. So they do go on. Are you using allen keys with the ball end?

    From that photo it looks fine.

    TBH, I'd rather all bikes had their seat tubes cages mounted so low - at the moment I struggle to get 750ml in and out with the bottle cages on my bikes are half way up the seat tube.
    I like bikes...

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  • redvee
    redvee Posts: 11,922
    Is the issue the bottle cage not going flush to the frame cause of the band for the front mech or the other bottle & cage stopping the other bottle & cage from fitting on the seat tube? If the issue is the front mech then you need to space the bottle cage out from the frame, when I had this problem I used an M5 nuts on each bolt and drilled the thread out on them.
    I've added a signature to prove it is still possible.
  • chrisf70
    chrisf70 Posts: 28
    I just fitted the other cage. It fits OK, but as you can see from the picture below once fitted you can't get two bottles in the holders:

    DSC00133.jpg

    The bottle on the down tube no longer sits fully in the cage as it is impeded by the bottle in the seat tube.

    The bottle in the seat tube won't sit fully in the cage as the bottom right hand edge hits the down tube!

    These are regular cages and bottles, do I need a different type?
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    spacers between cage and frame look too thick
    I like bikes...

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  • redvee
    redvee Posts: 11,922
    Just saw that the front mech is a braze-on so forget the spacer thingy.
    I've added a signature to prove it is still possible.
  • richa
    richa Posts: 1,632
    Lose the spacers, and try some different cages (where the bolts closer to the bottom of the cage?)
    Rich
  • chrisf70
    chrisf70 Posts: 28
    I tried it without the spacers, and the cage doesn't fit over the bit that holds the front mech to the frame.

    Do you think different cages would work? I think I see what you mean about getting ones where the bolts are nearer the bottom of the cage.
  • justresting
    justresting Posts: 292
    I removed the spacers on my Defy (small ) and substituted with a couple of washers ( just enough to clear mech ) Then I carefuly elongated the holes on my holder with a small rat tailed file, this enabled me to raise it a couple of mil which was just enough. Does seem to be a slight design flaw as it shouldn't be necesary.
    ' From the sharks in the penthouse,
    to the rats in the basement,
    its not that far '
  • soveda
    soveda Posts: 306
    edited July 2009
    chrisf70 wrote:
    I tried it without the spacers, and the cage doesn't fit over the bit that holds the front mech to the frame.

    Do you think different cages would work? I think I see what you mean about getting ones where the bolts are nearer the bottom of the cage.

    Try different bottles, I use a mixture of the SIS bottles, camelback podium bottles and the vit-zip free bottle and they all fit fine, they do all have a bevelled lower edge so they are able to fit more snuggly.
    Are those aluminium bottles in the cages?

    See here:
    http://www.theroadbike.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/podium.jpg
  • chrisf70
    chrisf70 Posts: 28
    Thanks for advice, Justresting. I'll have a look at it later.
  • chrisf70
    chrisf70 Posts: 28
    soveda wrote:
    chrisf70 wrote:
    I tried it without the spacers, and the cage doesn't fit over the bit that holds the front mech to the frame.

    Do you think different cages would work? I think I see what you mean about getting ones where the bolts are nearer the bottom of the cage.

    Try different bottles, I use a mixture of the SIS bottles, camelback podium bottles and the vit-zip free bottle and they all fit fine, they do all have a bevelled lower edge so they are able to fit more snuggly.
    Are those aluminium bottles in the cages?

    See here:
    http://www.theroadbike.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/podium.jpg

    The front bottle is aluminium as I like to carry a home made orange based energy drink as well as water. I have found in past that the plastic can take on a strange flavour/smell if you put this in it too much. The back bottle is plastic with a more bevelled lower edge.

    I'll have a look around at different bottles, thanks.
  • soveda
    soveda Posts: 306
    chrisf70 wrote:
    soveda wrote:
    chrisf70 wrote:
    I tried it without the spacers, and the cage doesn't fit over the bit that holds the front mech to the frame.

    Do you think different cages would work? I think I see what you mean about getting ones where the bolts are nearer the bottom of the cage.

    Try different bottles, I use a mixture of the SIS bottles, camelback podium bottles and the vit-zip free bottle and they all fit fine, they do all have a bevelled lower edge so they are able to fit more snuggly.
    Are those aluminium bottles in the cages?

    See here:
    http://www.theroadbike.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/podium.jpg

    The front bottle is aluminium as I like to carry a home made orange based energy drink as well as water. I have found in past that the plastic can take on a strange flavour/smell if you put this in it too much. The back bottle is plastic with a more bevelled lower edge.

    I'll have a look around at different bottles, thanks.

    You could just see if the plastic bottle fits better on the downtube rather than the seat tube (sorry if this is too obvious!).
  • topdude
    topdude Posts: 1,557
    How about fixing the vertical bottle cage with the bottom hole in the top bolt, you could then support the top of he cage to the seat tube with a cable tie.This would raise it about 4 inches to clear the down tube bottle :D
    He is not the messiah, he is a very naughty boy !!
  • Ollieda
    Ollieda Posts: 1,010
    Have you tried an attachment that lets you put your cages behind the saddle? wiggle have a few available: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/c/cycle/7/Bottle_Cages/

    Some people comment on bottles bouncing out from this position but using the right fitting bottle for your cage this shouldn't happen.
  • balthazar
    balthazar Posts: 1,565
    Those cages look very bulky. What about something like this?

    bottlecage.jpg
  • amaferanga
    amaferanga Posts: 6,789
    Looks like the problem could be due to the combined effect of the cages, spacers and I can't tell for sure, but it looks like you might have a pump attached. The cages seem to be holding the bottles a long way out from the frame.
    More problems but still living....
  • Ollieda
    Ollieda Posts: 1,010
    if you have a leisure lakes near you they are selling quite nice looking (plastic) specialized bottle cages that fit with the camelback podium bottle really well. £7 in store and come in a range of colours

    http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/product/specializedribcagepro.aspx?&id=11217
  • Underscore
    Underscore Posts: 730
    I had the same problem with the pair of Tacx cages that my LBS fitted to my Defy 1 (Size M). When I took it in for the first service, they swapped them for a pair of Giant own brand cages, where the bottle sits a couple of cm higher, and I can now happily use two bottles. So you just need to find bottle cages that are compatible - they do exist!

    _
  • chrisf70
    chrisf70 Posts: 28
    Thanks for the replies, I might have to hunt down the Giant bottle cages. Or like the picture, a more simple cage.
  • I purchased my Defy a couple of months ago, be it the large frame size, and have fitted two of the Giant own brand bottle cages to - http://www.cyclestore.co.uk/productDeta ... ctID=11682 and have had no problems fitting both bottles on the bike - also been using the Camelback ones mentioned elsewhere in the thread.

    I still just used the spacers that where already on the seat tube without any problems.
  • fossyant
    fossyant Posts: 2,549
    The cages you have fitted have the lower mount rather 'high', so the bottle sit's too close towards the BB - try two matching cages - off to a bike shop with bike to check.
  • Ollieda
    Ollieda Posts: 1,010
    Try these: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Elite_VIP_Bottle_Cage_Clamps/5360035638/

    They basically strap points onto your frame for you to screw the cage into. Means you can put them where you want and don't have to screw into the frame and damage it.
  • Dunedin397
    Dunedin397 Posts: 149
    Those Zefal cages do tend to sit very low. I changed earlier this year from the more traditional cages to the Zefal cages, but I've changed again as the bottle on the down tube didn't sit in 100% correctly.

    Dunedin
  • justresting
    justresting Posts: 292
    did you try Giant cages or did you fettle it??
    ' From the sharks in the penthouse,
    to the rats in the basement,
    its not that far '
  • chrisf70
    chrisf70 Posts: 28
    did you try Giant cages or did you fettle it??

    I haven't gotten around to it yet as the one bottle does the shorter rides at the moment. I'll try my LBS this week for the Giant cages. I'll post on here when I sort it.
  • just acquired a new defy so a bit late but,use a tacx tao bottle cage, it has no back to interfere with front derailleur mount
    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=34008