I used TA handlebar mount cages for years back in the 70s. In some cases even used 2 cages, one attached on each side of the stem. Still have several NOS TA cages squirreled away in my stash.
I only had a water bottle bounce out a few times that I can remember and that was mostly off road ridding.
Something I found by accident of sorts, the cage would tilt forward from bouncing and vibration. The bottles bounced a little but never bounced out when they were in that position.
As Andrew Stewart mentioned, I used to use stainless steel 1/4" hose hose clamps rather than the standard TA clamps. I put some electrical tape over the bars to prevent marring.
Chas. Colerich Oakland, CA USA
Paul A. Grens wrote:
> 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.