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I mean, I geddit that companies say they do it because their suspension design requires it etc etc... but I guess to me, having a bottle on a bike is SUCH an important feature (bar, perhaps, a DH bike..) that I'd discredit frames without one (or even, with it on the underside of the downtube..)
Even riding local trails and bike parks, I like to have a drink on the bike..
Am I an oddity in this practice, or would YOU avoid a frame design that didn't have a bottle on it?
DrP
Its the one thing that really narks me about my Rallon frame, next bike will have bottle mount
Haven’t had a bottle on a mountain bike since I got my first camelbak. Back in the day had cages fitted for light batteries but since then hasn’t been an issue.
If it really, really won't fit, which is very rare, then fair enough, but otherwise I agree, it's just silly.
That was only thing wrong with my Solaris, just had one on the downtube, nothing on the seattube, so I had one put in, little detail but very important. My Stinky doesn't have one, there is (just) enough room on the downtube, even on a DH bike I want one. Yes, you won't need one in a race but for messing about at the Golfie all day it's important and having one in a pocket or backpack isnt always an option.
If there's room, put one in!
Even my TT bike has two. I never use them in 10 or 25, rarely in a 50. In a 24hr they are indespensible. Just because the mount is there doesn't mean you have to use it.
I'd rather have a little less standover and for a bottle in, it amazes me how daft manufacturers are.
Orange<span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">, under the down tube? Just lift the top tube slightly and put one in.</span>
Nukeproof mega, make a bit more from for the shock and you can get one in.
Jeffsy....a really really expensive yet nigh on. Pointless bottle, no ta
Currently thinking norco for next bike, tons of room in the front triangle
Haven’t had a bottle on a mountain bike since I got my first camelbak
Pretty much this for me too although current bike has lots of mounts that I don’t use.
For me, if the ride is long enough to need a drink, it also needs a backpack (with water, snacks and emergency bits).
My current frame has bottle mounts, but I've never used them.
Even riding local trails and bike parks, I like to have a drink on the bike..
That's what hydration packs are for.
Never really used a bottle - on the rare occasions I have it ends up covered in mud or falls out - pointless (for me anyway)..
Haven't used a bottle on anything but an xc race bike for the past 17years.
Even on bikes that can have one.
Quite happy with a bag
That’s what hydration packs are for.
Once you go bareback, you lurrrve it!!
One of the reasons I like my stumpjumper - bottle in cage, tool ON cage, tube and CO2 in frame... boom...and you're away!
DrP
Well to offer a contrary view, I wish my bike (Yeti SB150) didn't have a cage mount. To get one in with the Switch Infinity link Yeti have just extended the downtube horizontally from the bottom bracket, it is pretty much as far forward as the front pedal when the cranks are horizontal. This means it is in direct line of fire for any large rock sticking up from the trail. The rubber protector that Yeti supply is not up to the job and I have cracked the paint under the protector. I now use a cut-up bit of tyre zip-tied around the downtube like we used to do. And I never use a bottle.
Once you go bareback, you lurrrve it!!
Done it many times, gone back to camelbacks every time. Last time was when I rode through a puddle and got loads of cold water dribbling down my back.
bottle in cage, tool ON cage, tube and CO2 in frame… boom…and you’re away!
Dunno why it's any easier than camelback. I just fill the bladder then I'm done. Takes me no longer than bottles.
I'm with the OP on this, won't consider a frame with no mounts. I don't want to ride with a back pack on. I used to be bottle for energy drink back pack for water. Now back pack is just for peak rides.
Had bikes with bottle cages on in the past, used a bum bag to carry stuff on anything but local rides. Current bike doesn’t hold a decent bottle so use a bum bag with bottle in on every ride.
Surely how a bike rides is more important than its ability to carry a drink? If a company move a pivot to fit a bottle in won’t the suspension behave completely differently?!
Surely how a bike rides is more important than its ability to carry a drink?
Probably...
But it's not like bikes with bottles ride terribly, and those without hit the sweet-spot of trail nirvana....
I guess the point was to see IF people find the lack of bottle of devastating importance... some do, some don't!
DrP
That’s what hydration packs are for.
Luggage on the bike or one’s back is a thing of preference. For me I much prefer the weight to be on the bike, especially in summertime.
That said, I do carry a Lobo backpack with a few essentials in it. I find that a multitool is weighty enough so the rest gets filled with waterproof shell, buff, sarnie and puncture kit. Can’t remember the last time it held a hydration bladder 🤔
Not high on my list of buying criteria. Geometry and ride feel above all else. Then threaded BB and external cable routing.
As mentioned in another thread, my Stage 6 can't take one but it's such a great bike that I happily tolerate wearing a backpack.
I wouldn't buy a bike without a bottle mount now - having gone packless for the last couple of years I absolutely hate wearing one. Other half is exactly the same. She wears a small hip bag to carry phones in, I have a frame bag with tools, tubeless repair kit, Co2/pump and a snack bar if I need it. 625ml bottle on each bike. Very few of our rides are longer than 2hrs so have never needed more than that.
How different we all are! I thought the same until a demo ride on a bike without proper bottle holding capabilities. Bike was so good I just got used to carrying a small bum bag
For me, if the ride is long enough to need a drink, it also needs a backpack (with water, snacks and emergency bits).
My current frame has bottle mounts, but I’ve never used them.
This.
My bike has bottle mounts, and I have used them occasionally for water carrying, but don't tend to bother unless I'm doing an epic ride over 3 hours, and even then I tend to stop for a pint at some point.
I just don't think bottles or bladders are nessesary unless you're in the wilderness of the Surrey Hills, or maybeyif you're seriously racing and can't stop.
I'm with you DrP, I wouldn't buy a bike that couldn't take a bottle, not a chance! In fact I nearly didn't buy my FlareMAX as I can't get a 750ml bottle in, can just squeeze a 600ml in.
I mean, I geddit that companies say they do it because their suspension design requires it etc etc… but I guess to me, having a bottle on a bike is SUCH an important feature (bar, perhaps, a DH bike..) that I’d discredit frames without one (or even, with it on the underside of the downtube..)
Are you not being a bit absolutist here- the return to using bottles on day rides is pretty recent and largely fashion led- for the last couple of decades most of us have left our cage bolts untouched, except for racing. Surely you must have noticed that- are you really saying that the whole Camelbak thing totally passed you by?
I remember a long time ago, reading a review for the Nishiki Alien, where the mag concerned suggested that three sets of cage mounts was the ideal for a days riding.
One of the reasons I like my stumpjumper – bottle in cage, tool ON cage, tube and CO2 in frame… boom…and you’re away!
And later on, bottle rolling down trail and rusty tool not working well for repair. 😁
the return to using bottles on day rides is pretty recent and largely fashion led- for the last couple of decades most of us have left our cage bolts untouched, except for racing.
Having ridden for exactly four decades now, I must really have missed out on some fashions. Bottle and water has always been a feature for any of my rides over 3 hrs, esp in summer. I do tend to go hilly places and lots of climbing. Mountain touring?
Not just a modern issue.
Cyclo cross bikes never used to have bottle cage mounts as you don't have time to drink in a race and a cage would get in the way of shouldering the bike. For training just put a bottle in your back pocket.
Hmm.. For really long rides I've tended to carry 2 or 3 litres in a big pop bottle in my backpack, I've an XL frame and would struggle to carry more than 2 large bottles (750ml?) on the frame even though there's 2 seperate mounts.
I'm also too tight fisted to buy a big bladder/overpriced back pack.
For me, if the ride is long enough to need a drink, it also needs a backpack (with water, snacks and emergency bits).
Nah. You don’t need food for rides less than 2 hours and less than 3 your just need a bar/gel/flap-Jack that you can throw in a pocket. It having some water is a very good thing. Not sure what you mean by “emergency bits” but a tube, some lever, a multi-tool and a Co2 cartridge all fit in a small saddle bag.
Free the back.
Not bothered with a bottle on an mtb in the 15 years since I stopped xc racing. I don't think wearing a pack really registers in my head, only if it has a lot in. Oddly I'm as happy putting a bottle in my pack, unless I'm on a road bike I'm not really drinking and riding nowadays, equally if I'm only riding for 1-2 hours I rarely bother taking a drink.
I bought an Orange 4 new in 2017 , thought I wouldn’t miss a bottle cage, how wrong was I ! Done my head in big time. Never again. Think Specialized have it spot on with their swat system too.
One thing worse.
Bottle mounts on a frame that by other elements of the design renders them flipping useless (like on my Camber).
In the summer I ride with a pack as I'm a bit of a thirsty animal but for 2 hour rides from autumn to spring a 750ml bottle is spot on.
A bottle mount is nice, but not a deal breaker.
A couple of hours around the local woods: Water bottle and a One Up pump with tools inside. Anything more and it's the trusty Camelbak.
Personally I hate luggage strapped all over the frame. Ugly AF.
For me, if the ride is long enough to need a drink, it also needs a backpack (with water, snacks and emergency bits).
Depends how fast or hard you are pushing. No way I can do a hard 1 hour ride in the summer without a drink. I can get by without snacks and emergency bits (I'll bring a tube and co2 and that's it) for an hrs blast but not water. I'll wear a pack when I'm going for a 3 hr mince with my mates, but not for anything shorter. I always wonder what folks bring with them for a 2 hr cycle that requires a pack.
I've ridden Orange full sussers for years its never bothered me, even on my various hardtails I've not used them as I prefer the Camelbac for liquid/spares/the kitchen sink.
I prefer riding without a back pack if possible, so I'll only use a bottle cage on long rides where there's no option of stopping mid-ride. Otherwise for shorter rides I drink plenty before leaving and don't take any water. I like having the option to use a bottle cage though. There are also options for mounting bottles on frames without cage mounts (I think Topeak sell one that's strap based, but I might be wrong).
20 years ago and less, if you put your bottle and other equipment on your bike you were regarded as a dork. Same with cycle computers and brackets on ones bars.
How times have changed.
My Trailstar doesn't have a bottle mount but does have the retrofit ones available. It used to bother me but since getting a smaller pack I'm not too fussed these days.
You need a Zippomatic 3000.
“20 years ago and less, if you put your bottle and other equipment on your bike you were regarded as a dork. Same with cycle computers and brackets on ones bars.”
Probably about 2000ish right until the rise of the EWS little more than five years ago. That’s when bottles started reappearing on non-XC bikes and since then more and more bikes have had bottle mounts added and frames redesigned to take bottles.
Not used a bottle for over 20yrs offroad, dont miss putting a cowpat smeared bit of plastic in my mouth one little bit 🤢. I find a camelbak perfect for a drink and carrying all my bits and pieces, everything is all there in one place. Also adds a bit of crash protection, saved me a sore back on more than one occasion.
I wont consider a bike without a sensible mount for bottle. Ideally a 750ml bottle. Really useful to be able to add some tools, pump, bottle to the bike for a quick spin. Then a camelbak for anything bigger/longer.
My "big bike" doesn't have one. Annoys the shit out of me.
All my bikes have kits on them so that I always have the right stuff- since they all needed different things and you either end up lugging it all round in your overstuffed pack or not having the version of bits you need.
Often I end up with a soft bottle in my back pocket on the big bike but I'd rather have a bottle in a cage like every other bike I have.
I don't use one on my mountain bike (or cross bike on certain rides). Too much riding through sheep and other poo that gets flung up onto the bottle mouth.
2 bikes here.
One is ONLY used for commuting, so spares n stuff is in work bag, and commute is 35 mins tops, no drink required.
MTB has a bottle mount that's never used, bumbag sits packed ready to ride. I only ever take water if it's over 2 or 3 hours though.