Putting Bosses Where They Don't Belong

[ridethecliche]

.... or weren't there to begin with because the bike is old.


I thought it would be fun to start a thread documenting some of the ways to add bosses to bikes on frames that don't already have them. Of the many that I'd see, this one strikes me as pretty interesting because of the low profile and way that it mounts.

Has anyone used this? El Jefe by Arundel?

https://www.arundelbike.com/product/ell-jefe/

[NHAero]

I'm following this one. My '72 Bob Jackson has only one cage. My 2022 Bingham has 3. So I learned something in 50 years!

[teeveecasualty]

I have used the King Cage Universal Support Bolts on a few bikes. A loop of newbaum's tape underneath each clamp works great to protect the frame. The one drawback I have noticed is the threaded post and jam nut to fasten a bottle cage can sit too proud and both interfere with a smooth bottle sliding action and scratch the bottle. Some steel cages are easy enough to adjust but that also seems like it should be unnecessary.

[rooney]

Lower Mounts by Wildwood Cycles. I haven't tried these yet (or seen reviews), but I'm intrigued by their modularity. It seems like they've built out a little bit of a system with cages, platforms, and butterfly mounts.

[Alistair]

https://www.tailfin.cc/product/cargo...v=7516fd43adaa

Tailfin fork mounts (for suspension forks) work nicely for cargo cages or bottles.

[lucieli]

I've been puzzling over this for a while too. I had not seen the system that the OP posted but it looks cleaner than some of the other systems that I've found:

https://www.topeak.com/global/en/pro...093-VERSAMOUNT

https://bikase.com/products/anywhere-cage-strap-adapter

https://www.twofish.biz/store-2/p/quick-cage-adapter

[ridethecliche]

Originally Posted by lucieli

I've been puzzling over this for a while too. I had not seen the system that the OP posted but it looks cleaner than some of the other systems that I've found:

https://www.topeak.com/global/en/pro...093-VERSAMOUNT

https://bikase.com/products/anywhere-cage-strap-adapter

https://www.twofish.biz/store-2/p/quick-cage-adapter

I haven't ever used it but agree that it looks clean. I'm just worried about how it sticks on. Ie will it damage the paint? Or is it one of those 3M pads that stretches apart for removal without paint damage.

[weisan]

Uh-oh, looks like my Nagasawa needs one of these.

[tellyho]

Rivnuts ftw. Added a full water bottle set to a 60s era Lenton Gran Prix.

[ridethecliche]

Originally Posted by weisan

Uh-oh, looks like my Nagasawa kerin bike needs one of these.

Right? Don't they look frikkin great!?

I might be able to get a bunch more life out of my gravel bike because of them since I want to do some bike packing and wish I had mounts under the downtube and on the fork legs... And maybe this would work for the top tube for bags as well!

[ldamelio]

Just ordered a set of the Arundel El Jefes after reviewing this thread. I have an RSCX with no bottle bosses that has become my gravel rig since ending my racing days. I considered getting bosses brazed on but this would have also required a repaint and been pretty costly. I'll jump back in the thread with a review after I use them a while.

[Alistair]

Originally Posted by ridethecliche

I haven't ever used it but agree that it looks clean. I'm just worried about how it sticks on. Ie will it damage the paint? Or is it one of those 3M pads that stretches apart for removal without paint damage.

Any of the straps or clamps could damage the paint. I'd put some clear paint protection tape underneath.

[ridethecliche]

Originally Posted by ldamelio

Just ordered a set of the Arundel El Jefes after reviewing this thread. I have an RSCX with no bottle bosses that has become my gravel rig since ending my racing days. I considered getting bosses brazed on but this would have also required a repaint and been pretty costly. I'll jump back in the thread with a review after I use them a while.

Awesome! Looking forward to that review.

[MikeD]

Hmm... When I read the title of this thread, I thought this was about the Peter principle. :-)

[ridethecliche]

Originally Posted by MikeD

Hmm... When I read the title of this thread, I thought this was about the Peter principle. :-)

I feel like i might be too young for that reference lol!