How to Mount a Water Bottle Cage on a Mountain Bike

Mountain biking is undertaken for a wide variety of reasons. You may do it solely for exercise. Maybe you do it for a hobby, or perhaps it's your means to commute. For any reason you have to bike, you likely will need water. Carrying water with you can be awkward when biking, even if you have a spot for it on a backpack. To have the easiest access to water, it is important to install a water bottle cage. This cage will give you easiest access to the water that you need to keep pedaling.

Things You'll Need

  • Allen wrench
  • Drill
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Instructions

  1. Down or Top Tube

    • 1

      Find the universal bottle holder placement holes that are on virtually every bicycle. These are located on the down or top tube, which is the area of your bike frame that runs vertically down from the seat. You will need to drill two small holes into the frame to secure the cage with if the holes aren't already drilled.

    • 2

      Place the cage so that the holes on the cage line up with the holes on the bike frame.

    • 3

      Screw two Allen screws through the holes on the cage and into the the bike holes with an Allen wrench. The Allen screws likely will come with your cage.

    Handlebars

    • 4

      Use a universal bottle mounting adapter to install the bottle onto the handle bars, horizontal seat tube or rear seat post.

    • 5

      Install the adapter by wrapping it around the part of the frame where you want to install the holder. Screw each hole together at the location where you want your water bottle.

    • 6

      Attach the water bottle as described in Section 1. There are holes on the adapter to insert the Allen wrench screws.

    Steering Tube

    • 7

      Locate your steering tube, which runs down from your handlebars to your front wheel frame.

    • 8

      Install a Gizmo clamp, which has two Allen wrench screws that line up with holes after you wrap the clamp around the tube.

    • 9

      Tighten with an Allen wrench. Install the holder the same way as in Section 1.