Paul- I've used the TA handle bar cages since the mid 1970s. Currently 4 of my bikes are so fitted. Some changes make them work better then when stock. First I use hose clamps to attach them to the bars. This allows any bar diameter (the 26.4mm that my bars typically have are a bit too large for the original clamps). Second I manipulate the bottle cage shape. I tweak the upper surrounding loop to better match the bottles diameter. the lengthwise cage sections also gets shaped to secure the lower section of the bottle better. lastly the little loop that extends up over the bottle's curving top gets a bend inwards, enough to better catch the bottle and prevent pop out over bumps. Because the cage has very little compliance in it's shape I find that keeping the bottles for it's use the same helps. Dedicate a couple of same shaped bottles, manipulate the cage to fit and you're good to go. Andy
> Amigos,
>
> I was lucky enough to stumble upon an NOS TA handlebar-mount water bottle
> cage
> recently, model 213 as shown on this web site:
>
> http://www.blackbirdsf.org/
>
> Its destined for my '74/'75 Motobecane Grand Jubile, which has some
> attractive
> and well preserved Pivo handlebars with the winged engravings.
>
> I'm apprehensive to mount the NOS cage, though, and not because it's NOS,
> but
> because it doesn't seem to have any support beyond the two tabs you lash
> to the
> handlebars, unlike the REG "erector set" style handlebar cages with the
> reinforcement on the bottom of the cage that clamps to the stem quill to
> stabilize things.
>
>
> The TA cage seems to put a lot of reliance on just those two tabs, while I
> suspect the weight of a full water bottle and the bumps and bounces of a
> long
> ride will eventually force the cage to slip down, with unfortunate
> consequences
> for the handlebar finish. Unless, of course, I tighten it to the extent
> that it
> is well dug into the decorative sleeve on the Pivo bars, which I'd rather
> not
> do, and even then, I'm dubious that it could handle the awkward weight
> distribution.
>
> Also possible is that my bar/stem configuration is too "new" and that
> older
> stems were more compatible in providing support and possibly running the
> handlebar clamp bolt through the cage itself (though I'd have to really
> re-shape
> this one to do that, and it probably wouldn't work with the keyed bolt on
> the
> Belleri stem).
>
> Any thoughts or advice would be much appreciated.
>
> And here's a link to the Grand Jubile, for, ahem, reference:
>
> http://s176.photobucket.com/
>
> and in tiny form: http://tinyurl.com/
>
> Cheers,
>
> Paul Grens
> Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
Andrew R Stewart
Rochester, NY