Fixing a bottle cage to a carbon frame

Domane

Hi all.

While I'm loving my outings on my carbon Trek Domane (so comfortable, lightweight and fast compared to my old steel MTB), I'm getting to the point that I need more than one water bottle on my spins, ie I'm doing 100km and plan to push that to 130 km soon. However the bike shop I bought it in made a big deal about attaching things to the frame in case I cracked it. Do I need to get it back to the shop to fit another bottle cage or can I fit it myself? Would I need a torque wrench to fit it or just hand tighten the screws?

Thanks

Lumen

The bosses are metal, not carbon.

Use an allen key and use the same mechanical sympathy you'd use with a metal frame.

Raam

I presume it has bosses for the second cage. What was the shops concern? Attaching a cage to an existing boss is not a problem.

Domane

Yes there is a second attachment point on the vertical pillar of the frame under the seat post. The guy in the shop said I'd need a torque wrench to fit the bottle cage when I had the current one fitted in the shop. Maybe he was just having a laugh at this newbies ignorance?

Anyways, I'll get the second cage in the morning as I need the extra hydration on those long spins.

Thanks again

Raam

Nah you don't need a torque wrench. They are useful to have but just don't go nuts tightening the bolts and you will be fine.

Domane

Cheers. I spent a couple of grand on this bike and I'm very proud of it. Just didn't want to do anything stupid and damage it. Better to ask the question than make a balls of my pride and joy.

Lusk_Doyle

I had to have the bosses drilled out of mine on two occasions due to over tightening which resulted in the whole fitting spinning around when I attempted to take the cage off so don't overdo it as Raam says!

Dan2912

Tighten until the tips of your fingers under your nails start to go white.

easygoing39

If you have to ask on a public forum about fitting a bottle cage,that suggests you have a lack of mechicanical experience.I'd suggest going into a bike shop,buying a cage and asking the member of shop staff to fit it for you.It wont cost you a penny,plus you know it'll be done right.You'd be amazed at some of the stuff members of the public f up as Lusk Doyle above has pointed out!!

Wishbone Ash

easygoing39 wrote: »

....I'd suggest going into a bike shop,buying a cage and asking the member of shop staff to fit it for you.It wont cost you a penny,plus you know it'll be done right...

I'd beg to differ on that based on personal experience and considering the shop informed the OP that he/she would require a torque wrench to fit a bottle cage on a carbon bike!

Lusk_Doyle

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

I'd beg to differ on that based on personal experience and considering the shop informed the OP that he/she would require a torque wrench to fit a bottle cage on a carbon bike!

And I'm not a member of the public. I never joined that organisation!

full gas

Before people suggest bike shops start doing work for free have a read of thishttp://thesecretbikemechanic.blogspot.ie/2012/10/10-things-people-never-say-in.html

full gas

In relation to your question if you own a domane go get your self a tourque wrench, no harm to use it fitting the cage

letape

I never thought fitting a bottle cage was complex...reading this thread would make you think it is!

Domane

easygoing39 wrote: »

If you have to ask on a public forum about fitting a bottle cage,that suggests you have a lack of mechicanical experience.I'd suggest going into a bike shop,buying a cage and asking the member of shop staff to fit it for you.It wont cost you a penny,plus you know it'll be done right.You'd be amazed at some of the stuff members of the public f up as Lusk Doyle above has pointed out!!

It's not that I have a "lack of mechanical experience", it's just that I'm not the type who thinks he knows it all (perhaps YOU do???). I've stripped down my old MTB into its components and reassembled it several times when I was servicing it but I've never owned a carbon fibre bike before. Plis I never saw the harm in asking a question if I wasn't sure of something, especially when it comes to what for me is new technology, ie carbon fibre bike that I spent close on two thousand euro on. I'd rather ask the question (and run the risk of sneering from a keyboard warrior like you) than mess up my new bike. Have you ever heard the expression "if you have nothing good to say, then say nothing"?. That one pass you by??

As for the bike shop, they were the one saying I should buy a torque wrench to put the cage on. I see from their website that they just so happen to sell them too. Mmmmm.. I wonder???