Obviously it isn't loaded in this pic, but for a multi day tour I would ordinarily have the following kit:

Bar Harness:
Sleeping System
WP Jacket

Frame Bag:
Tarp & Poles
Pump
Spare Parts
Warm Gloves
Small Bladder ?

Small Seat Pack (limited clearance):
Spare Clothes
Health Kit

Stem/Top Tube:
Tools/Lube, etc
Snack Food
Electrics (esp if running a dynamo)

The issue is hydration: I think around 1.5 L of water is adequate for UK summer riding, and have previously used a bladder in the frame bag. However, I would prefer to have at least one piss bottle to drink from - it's just easier to see how much water is left, easier to refill, and easier to have next to me in the bivi/bothy for hydrating during the night. But where can I put it that presents least problems? A small back-pack resolves this issue, but I really prefer not to, especially in summer where it creates a permanently sweaty back.

Frame cage - obvious place, but would mean ditching my frame bag and using a backpack - yuk!

Behind the saddle - would mean ditching the small saddle bag, gets covered in crap, and prone to ejecting on rough descents.

In a Stem Cell - promising option, but reduces capacity for snacks and I prefer to minimise weight on the bars as I feel it compromises handling on techy stuff.

In a jersey rear pocket or 'Fanny Pack' - Not convinced this would be comfortable or secure.

What would you do?

Front of seat post ... shouldn't effect anything living there and easy enough to reach while riding.

Would a BearBones monkey clip on Toptube with the bottle horizontal work? Or seatpost. Vertically sounds a good idea.

I had Beth make me a custom framebag. Used mount skidmore adapters to move the cage down as low as possible.

Slight variation on Stu's idea, depending on how much stand over space you've got. My setup involves having an 800ml bottle on the top tube behind the gas tank, I've got a magnetic bottle holder from Vincero designs which avoids the threat of disembowelling myself on a conventional cage if I have to get off the saddle in a hurry. It's very easy to use and the magnetic attachment is very secure, never lost a bottle.

What about one of them weird strap thingies* that Stuart reviewed a while ago? Velcro onto the top tube then use the straps to hold the bottle.

*can't remember what the hell they were called and the review doesn't mention them in the title from what I do recall.

I hope you have a different meaning for piss bottle than I do when camping!

Si wrote:I hope you have a different meaning for piss bottle than I do when camping!

It's a result of Stu's swear filter - five letters, french for water bottle, begins with 'b' and ends with 'n'

Oh thanks for that, I thought it had all just got a bit more weight weenie than I was prepared for.

When i reconfigured my setup least summer i opted for two fuel cells on either end of the top tube (one for snacks and the other for tools, batteries etc...) and two bottles of water in two stem cells.

Worked pretty well and left my main triangle free for shouldering the bike when necessary*.

*Sleeping gear in bar bag and clothes/everything else in seat bag

gairym wrote:When i reconfigured my setup least summer i opted for two fuel cells on either end of the top tube (one for snacks and the other for tools, batteries etc...) and two bottles of water in two stem cells.

That sounds interesting - no problems with interference with the front wheel? Was that with a rigid fork?

whitestone wrote:What about one of them weird strap thingies* that Stuart reviewed a while ago? Velcro onto the top tube then use the straps to hold the bottle.

Tried that but not practical - bungees too tight and a PITA accessing the bottle on the fly.

ianfitz wrote:I had Beth make me a custom framebag. Used mount skidmore adapters to move the cage down as low as possible.

The problem is short legs and small frames (esp FS), leaves so little room for anything, either in the frame (it's either bottle or bag - no room for a combo) or under the saddle, and I'm just not keen on the idea of cages on a suspension fork; maybe it's a practical solution, but in my mind it looks so wrong!

Bearbonesnorm wrote:Front of seat post ... shouldn't effect anything living there and easy enough to reach while riding.

I think this has potential, but attaching the cage may be a bit of a bitch, and clearance is still very tight: this is a 700ml piss bottle:

pistonbroke wrote:Slight variation on Stu's idea, depending on how much stand over space you've got. My setup involves having an 800ml bottle on the top tube behind the gas tank, I've got a magnetic bottle holder from Vincero designs which avoids the threat of disembowelling myself on a conventional cage if I have to get off the saddle in a hurry. It's very easy to use and the magnetic attachment is very secure, never lost a bottle.

Did you use the edge pro or edge 16 mount? Just had a look one their website, but hard to tell how it works.

Stand-over is limited, as is space for a bottle, even a 700ml:

I'd just remove that odd bottle shaped black thing below the top tube and fit a bottle their.

Bearbonesnorm wrote:I'd just remove that odd bottle shaped black thing below the top tube and fit a bottle their.

ZeroDarkBivi wrote:

gairym wrote:When i reconfigured my setup least summer i opted for two fuel cells on either end of the top tube (one for snacks and the other for tools, batteries etc...) and two bottles of water in two stem cells.

That sounds interesting - no problems with interference with the front wheel? Was that with a rigid fork?

Yep, fully rigid On-one 'Lurcher'.

Might not work as well with a bouncy fork.

Bottle cages zip tied to the fork sliders? Means they are unsprung but I've seen a few folk doing this without the bottles going awol.

Water bottle in frame bag and then attach* an equipment water bottle to the downtube, doesn't matter if you're tool bottle gets muddy

*picking a sensible option for this part!

voodoo_simon wrote:Water bottle in frame bag and then attach* an equipment water bottle to the downtube, doesn't matter if you're tool bottle gets muddy

I do like the idea of using the space under the down tube for attaching stuff that is not required routinely, perhaps using a suitable bag plus bungees or Velcro - a bit simpler than trying to attach a bottle.

ZeroDarkBivi wrote:

voodoo_simon wrote:Water bottle in frame bag and then attach* an equipment water bottle to the downtube, doesn't matter if you're tool bottle gets muddy

I do like the idea of using the space under the down tube for attaching stuff that is not required routinely, perhaps using a suitable bag plus bungees or Velcro - a bit simpler than trying to attach a bottle.

I've just bought a Gorilla Cage to fit there. I had the frame built with the suitable 3-point mountings.

This will give you an idea even if it's out of stock
http://www.charliethebikemonger.com/bec ... 0553-p.asp

Had a look at the Becker bag a while ago, but it was way too big, and I expect a Gorilla cage might be too; every potential space on this frame has very limited clearance/volume. Lots of small bags can be quite good for organising kit, but it doesn't take long before you have 2kg of empty lugggage strapped to the bike...

I'd go for a Wildcat Cheetah on the top tube/ seat tube junction, then a second feed bag with a bottle in it. That should balance the weight out, give you an easily accessible bottle without it being in the way, and you've still got room for snacks/ electrical stuff in the Cheetah (in place of the gas tank).

I'd invest in a 500ml bottle; only 200ml less fluid but would fit into a lot more places! Or possibly a 600ml bottle.