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Steven M. Scharf's World Famous
The Earth's Leading Authority on Conveying Coffee by Bicycle—Since 1996 |
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Send Comments, Broken Links, etc. to: webmaster Last Update: 2009 May 24 Experts Agree, Coffee Is Good Food—Drink LotsTM |
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Riding at Night? Visit the World's Top Rated Bicycle Lighting Site: http://bicyclelighting.com
This is a
non-commercial site, I do not sell anything (but I am planning to sell the
Webb ST630 with the logo at the top of this page).
Most of the
links go to sellers of the item in question.
For the few products where
Amazon.com is the
best source, I have included my affiliate ID in the
link and
would
appreciate your support by the
use of these links.
If You found
this Non-Commercial, Informational Web
Site Helpful, Please Support Us with a Small Donation
by Clicking the Amazon Honor System Logo Above.
Coffee Pictures of the Month
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| Top: A
woman gives the finger to 7-11 after tasting a cup of their horrible
coffee. Bottom: The same woman hides her face in shame after being caught with a cup of swill from 7-11. Had this sad person learned how to brew and carry coffee in a double-wall stainless steel, vacuum bottle with sip-through cap she would not have found herself in this predicament. What was especially amusing is that she left 7-11 in an expensive European vehicle, and drove to a house in an exclusive and wealthy area of San Jose. |
Kate Hudson holds onto some Starbucks Coffee while riding her bicycle. She reminds me of Goldie Hawn. |
Going Commercial?
I'm still looking into importing some double-wall stainless steel vacuum "sports bottles" but it seems as if the ones that used to be available have all been discontinued. I've contacted a factory in China and I'm awaiting a response. I did find a 500ml model that might be okay, and I've got a sample on order.
As mentioned further down, you'll want to use a non-metal cage that grips the bottom part of the bottle, and that can expand slightly. No need for a $25 carbon fiber cage, something like the old Profile Kage works fine and I've seen these for $2.98 each here.
New Equipment
| Stanley Outdoor 16oz. Vacuum Drink Bottle | Coffee Bell | Topeak Modula EX Adjustable Diameter Cage | Drink Holder Liquid Caddy | Drink Holder, Handlebar Mount | Thermos-Nissan RSVP6066 Cone | Soma Crystal Polypropylene Bottle |
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 This cage is perfect for stainless steel bottles that are slightly larger or smaller in diameter than a standard water bottle. Fits a JSB-500/700 or Webb ST-630, but not a Nissan FDI-1000. |
Looks like a padded, self-leveling drink holder for soda can diameter bottles or cups. $14 from Amazon Not tested. |
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 This is the best cone for brewing directly into narrow mouth bottles. |
Okay, maybe this is for
iced coffee. It's one of the only water bottles not made from LDPE (Low
density polyethylene) which imparts a plastic taste to your beverage. $5
in stores (I bought some at Sports Basement in Sunnyvale, CA). |
| Details | Details | Details | Details | Details | Details | Details |
New Books, Photograph, & Coffee Roasting Company
|
The Handsomest Man in Cuba by Lynette Chiang |
Coffee Delivery Bicycle, Town of Cobh, Cork County Ireland | Moksha Coffee Roasting Company | Jack's Stir Brewed Coffee |
 Click Cover Photo to Order on Amazon.com |
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 Moksha Coffee Roasting Company is one of the only premium coffee roasters in the San Francisco Bay Area. A small operation that produces only very high quality roasted beans. |
 I've never had coffee this good before. I'd read about Jack's Stir Brew, and on a recent trip to NYC (April 2009) I was pleased to see a store right by my hotel in the South Seaport Area (it must be very new since it's not even on his website yet). Dark, very strong, but no bitterness. Very different from the dark roasts from Starbucks or Peet's. I'm going to try doing stir brewing at home with some of his coffee. |
| Lynette Chiang bicycled all over Cuba on her Bike Friday folding bicycle. An excellent travel journal. | Click for Prints | Click to Shop | Click to Shop |
Coffee—The World's Most Perfect Beverage
Recent Health News
Coffee Drinkers Have Lower Type 2 Diabetes Risk
Dutch National Institute for Public Health and Environment
Releases Study
and
Report of Study in Annals of Internal Medicine Confirms
Results
Coffee Lowers Risk of Liver Cancer
Japanese Scientists Credit Antioxidants
Table of Contents
(Click on Topic to Jump Directly to It)
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Introduction
I created this web site to share
the joys of bicycling and drinking good coffee, at the same time.
I also wanted to dispel some of the misconceptions about coffee being a harmful beverage or a cause of dehydration, and to provide a well-referenced compendium of coffee's health benefits.
I don't get any compensation for this site. All I've ever received is a load of equipment to evaluate, and a few bucks in referral fees from Amazon. If you shop at Amazon then please enter their site using my affiliate code, click Amazon. If you're a Mac user, please visit http://www.bigelowtea.com/shop/shop.cfm?si=1&sc=5.
History
I'd been into bicycle touring since moving
to California in 1979. Until someone showed up for one of my tours in 1982 with
a Melitta cone filter bungee-corded to her panniers I didn't realize how
important coffee was to some cyclists (probably because I had rarely drunk good
coffee). It wasn't until 1985, when a girlfriend in
Palo Alto
started feeding me freshly ground Peet's coffee, that I was hooked. When I got
married, I ended up with a long commute, and I often rode my bicycle down to the
Cal Train station and took it on the train. I found a need for a good way to
transport coffee by bicycle.
Coffee, Sex, Health, & Religion
This section examines the following topics:
Coffee and Dehydration—Urban Myth, perpetuated by persons that want to appear intelligent by using the word 'diuretic'
Health Benefits of Coffee—Coffee helps prevent or treat a variety of ailments, including Alzheimer's, Angina, Anxiety, Apnea, Asthma, Cancer (bladder, colon, skin), Dental Caries (Cavities), Depression, Dermatitis, Diabetes, Gallstones, Impotence, Headache Kidney Stones, Obesity, Parkinson's, Postprandial hypo tension, and Radiation Poisoning.
Coffee, Sex, & Religion
Problems with Coffee—There is no evidence that coffee has any effect on miscarriage rates. It may be a trigger of migraine headaches, and it may cause cardiac arrhythmias in persons with a history of this problem.
This section became very large, and while it is valuable, it was interfering with the primary mission of this site. It has been moved to a separate page.
Click For Coffee, Sex, Health, & Religion
"If you find something you really, really like, buy a lifetime supply; because it'll either be changed for the worse or go out of production."
This quote from Rivendell Bicycles is painfully true as it relates to the dismal state of the U.S. bicycle industry. Be very careful when buying a new bicycle. Ensure that the water bottle cage will have sufficient clearance for the coffee bottle (or water bottle) you plan to use, especially if you want to use one of the larger bottles such as the JSB-700 (but there are large water bottles as well that need to be considered).
The Curse of Compact
Frames
The bicycle manufacturers have come up with yet another way
to cut production costs. As if threadless headsets and soda can aluminum frames
were not bad enough, now the latest trend is "compact frames." The top tube on a
compact frame is slanted down. This will usually eliminate the ability to use a
bottle cage on the seat tube, limiting you to a single set of bottle cage mounts
located on the down tube. Even this set of mounts may be unusable due the very
limited space between the down tube and the top tube. Look at the women's
Specialized Expedition shown below, but understand that this phenomena is not
limited to so-called "women's" frames. You get a single set of cage mounts on
the down tube, but they are virtually unusable. The cage shown below was
designed as a work-around to this issue, and may help slightly, but it's still a
bad situation. Most road bikes from Trek and Specialized now use compact frames.
What to Buy?
If at all possible, buy non-compact frame, "men's frame"
bicycles, made out of chromolloy steel, with a threaded headset. Ensure that
there is at least one set of bottle cage mounts that are usable even with tall
bottles. It is preferable to have at least two sets of bottle mounts, not just
for coffee or water, but for the plethora of accessories that require a bottle
cage. These bicycles are still available, but they've gone from being the mass market
bikes to being a specialty item for discerning buyers, with prices that match.
Actually the Specialized Expedition, though welded aluminum, isn't bad for a
hybrid (in the men's model) since it still uses a threaded headset, and there is
room for a bottle. There are very,
very few decent bicycles still being sold. I was in my local pro bike shop on
December 6, 2003 and was quite distressed to see the crap that's being sold to
the mass market. No wonder people buy bikes at Wal-Mart, when the bikes from
bikes shops are so poor.
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| This "women's" frame bicycle has a useless set of water bottle braze-ons unless you buy one of the new rotating bottle cages (the braze-ons are right above the "S" and the "E" in "Specialized" on the lower down tube). | This unique bottle cage solves the problem of being able to use a water bottle on some "women's" bicycle frames. $16. |
Again, when buying a bicycle look for:
A threaded headset. A threadless headset is not height-adjustable except by using funky extender clamps that look terrible and add weight. There are still some bicycles available with threaded headsets. The manufacturers like threadless headsets as they can make fewer sizes of forks.
A chromolloy steel frame. An aluminum frame is not as strong and will not last as long as a chromolloy steel frame. Unfortunately you're pretty much stuck with aluminum on the lower cost bicycles. The manufacturers like aluminum because you can make a lightweight bicycle much more cheaply with aluminum than with steel. A lugged steel frame is best.
A classic geometry frame. A compact frame is less stiff, less comfortable, and has less space for bottles. The manufacturers like compact frames because they are smaller and use less metal, so they are cheaper to build, and smaller and lighter to ship. Also they can have fewer sizes and compensate with longer seat posts and steering extenders.
You can always buy a well cared for used bike in order to get a quality bicycle at a reasonable price.
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| My commute bicycle with a JSB-700 inserted into a Profile Cage. Note the chromolloy steel, lugged frame, two sets of cage mounts, threaded headset, Zefal frame pump, and the Rhode Gear Flickstand. This is a good coffee compatible bicycle. It's expensive to buy a bike like this now since most manufacturers have decontented their products with welded aluminum frames, threadless non-adjustable headsets, and compact frames. |
Accessories that Use
Bottle Cages or Bottle Cage Mounts
A lot of accessories need a bottle cage, or bottle cage
mounts, so it is a good idea to buy a bicycle that has at least two sets of
mounts, or add additional mounts by the use of various cage mounting
accessories. The Topeak Modula EX cage is the best option for many of the items
below, especially the ones that aren't shaped exactly like a bicycle water
bottle.. You can add bottle cages behind the seat, on the handlebars, or to the
frame. The
Topeak X-15
Adapter helps utilize tight spaces on the frame. Don't fill your bottle
cages with all this other junk and forget to carry some water or other
hydration!
Click Picture to Go to a Web Site that Sells or Describes Each of These Items
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Jacket Bag Use Modula EX cage for best fit. |
Airzound II Use Modula EX Cage for best fit |
Cell Safe DX4 Use Profile Cage for best fit |
Tool Bag Use Modula EX Cage for best fit |
29pc Water Bottle Bicycle Tool Set | Master Lock Street Cuff Bracket |
Fuel Bottles (for bicycle
camping) Use Modula EX Cage for best fit |
MP3 Player |
Adding Additional
Cages to Bicycles that Lack Bottle Cage Mounts
There are ways to add additional cages to your bicycle, even
if the bicycle lacks the bottle cage mounts. See
http://nordicgroup.us/cageboss
for details.
Coffee and
Bicycling
There are many bike-compatible methods to
keep coffee steaming hot or icy cold. I used to lead two well-attended rides for
local bicycle clubs (Western
Wheelers,
Almaden Cycle Touring
Club, and
Sierra Club).
The Tour 'de Caffeine and the All Night Bike Ride
both combined coffee and bicycling and hence I gained some expertise in this
rather obscure area. I recently started commuting by bicycle occasionally, and
re-discovered how important it is to be properly caffeineated at all times.
While there are probably twenty coffee houses on the route of my nine mile
commute, both time and money preclude stopping. If you're a
Macintosh
user you can use these methods for carrying
herbal tea instead of
coffee, but you'll forego all the health benefits.
I've included links throughout the site that enable you to surf to manufacturers' web sites for technical information, as well as retailers' web sites to quickly purchase these items. I don't receive anything from any of these manufacturers or retailers (though if they want to send me a complimentary product it would help their ratings—just kidding).
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Bottles & Cups
The ideal bottle will fit
securely into a standard water bottle holder, allow drinking without stopping,
have a cover for the nipple, and keep the coffee hot for sufficient duration.
The best container for this is the Jung-Won JSB-500, and JSB-700. The flip-top
lid on the JSB-500/700 keeps the nipple clean and also covers a small valve that
allows air into the bottle while drinking (the lid is fragile, and will break if
it hits the pavement or tile floor) The
Zefal Isotherms are
not vacuum bottles (they are only insulated), and they don't have a cover for
the nipple; they also don't have a valve to allow air in, which makes it hard to
drink (I drilled a tiny hole for air in the lid). I received an e-mail from a
web-site visitor in Germany about three more thermal bottles, one is from the
fuel bottle manufacturer
Sigg,
the other two are from a Taiwanese company and are marketed under the Elite
name. The Thermos JMQ400 is a travel mug that seals tightly; I'm not sure if it
will fit any kind of cage. The new
Megaslim 2-in-1 Sportpak
appears to be a good choice as well. The Thermos JMW-500
is excellent, though it is a tad slimmer than what is
needed for the Profile Cage (a tighter rubber band on the cage solves the
problem).
Be careful when choosing a new bicycle that it can even use a water bottle at all. Some women's frame bicycles have very little clearance between the two tubes and even though there are braze-ons for a cage, there really is not sufficient space for one. The worst possible scenario is to buy a non-coffee compatible bicycle!
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Sucking Scalding Coffee from Bottles with Nipples While Riding Many of the vacuum bottles with nipples now say that they are only for cold beverages. I believe that the reason for this is safety and liability. They are concerned about the danger of someone grabbing a bottle and taking a big swig of scalding liquid. Some of these bottles keep the coffee extremely hot for a long period of time and if someone other than the person that filled the bottle were to use it without being aware how hot the beverage was they could suffer serious burns in their mouth. Just be careful when drinking from a bottle with the nipple. You may want to cool the coffee before you put it into the bottle, or drop in an ice cube. |
Nissan JMW-500 Often Available on eBay for $24.50 (Including Shipping)
jessmicdu (click to search for all items by this seller)
This
seller
often has the stainless-steel finish
Thermos-Nissan JMW-500 for sale on eBay,
using "Buy It Now," for $19
+ $5.50 shipping (additional bottles are $1.50 shipping). She also has good
prices on other Thermos-Nissan products.
The next cheapest seller of the JMW-500 is
Sweet Maria's
at $28 + $5.55 shipping.
Bottle & Mug Comparison Chart (Ratings are 0 to 5 beans)
Some of these Bottles are essentially impossible to buy, but
if the manufacturer still lists them as available,
then I don't delete them. I have removed several bottles that the manufacturers
have apparently discontinued.
| Model and Manufacturer | Material | Vacuum | Insulated |
Standard or Short Cage |
Drink While Riding |
Nipple Cover |
Capacity |
Approx- imate Price ($US) |
Rating | Info | Buy |
| Thermos-Nissan JMW-500 | Stainless Steel |
Yes | Yes | Short | Yes | Yes | 500 | 19-40 |
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| Thermos-Nissan FDI-1000 | Stainless Steel |
Yes | Yes | Short | Yes | Yes | 1000 | 30 |
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| Zefal Isotherm Plastic | Plastic | No | Yes | Standard | Yes | No | 500 | 7-10 |
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| Zefal Isotherm Alloy | Aluminum | No | Yes | Standard | Yes | No | 500 | 25 |
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Jongwon JSB-500 (32205 SM14) |
Stainless Steel |
Yes | Yes | Short | Yes | Yes | 500 | 10-17 |
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Sorry |
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Jongwon JSB-700 (32210 SM15) |
Stainless Steel |
Yes | Yes | Short | Yes | Yes | 700 | $18 |
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Sorry |
| Polisport Thermika | Plastic | No | Yes | Standard | Yes | Yes | 500 | N/A |
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Sorry |
| Elite Cioi | Aluminum | No | Yes | Standard | Yes | Yes | 300,500 | N/A |
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Sorry |
| Elite Pajaro Keratherm | Plastic | No | Yes | Standard | Yes | Yes | 500 | 16 |
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| Elite Getter | Plastic | Yes | Yes | Short | Yes | Yes | 500 | 32 |
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| Elite Clyma Jasa | Plastic | No | Yes | Short | Yes | Yes | 500 | 12 |
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| Elite Cikara | Aluminum | No | Yes | Short | Yes | Yes | 500 |
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| Contigo Extreme | Stainless Steel |
Yes | Yes | Standard | Yes | Yes | 470 | 10-15 |
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| OXO Liguiseal | Stainless Steel |
Yes | Yes | Standard | Yes | Yes | 414 | 10 |
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| Sigg Thermal | Alloy | No | Yes | Standard | Yes | No | 500 | 37 |
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| Megaslim MSB047 | Stainless Steel |
Yes | Yes | Short | Yes | Yes | 470 | 16 |
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| Webb ST630 | Stainless Steel |
Yes | Yes | Short | Yes | Yes | 700 | 23 |
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Maybe | |
| Stanley Outdoor 16oz. Vacuum Drink Bottle |
Stainless Steel |
Yes | Yes | Short | Yes | No | 470 | 28 |
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Thermos-Nissan JMW-500
With the lack of
availability of the JSB-500 and JSB-700, the JMW-500 emerges as the best bottle
option. It fits the
The JSB-500/JSB-700/ST630 have the advantage of a nipple, where-as the JMW-500 is for sipping like from a cup. So for that reason the JSB-500 still has an edge because you can sip without stopping, while this is not advisable with the JMW-500.
This doubles as a commuter mug, and it fits most automobile cup holders (it fits my wife's Camry's cup holders, while the JSB-500 and JSB-700 do not fit). While the JMW-500 appears to have less insulation than the JSB-500, it actually keep liquid hotter than the JSB-500 (10 degrees hotter after two hours, 20 degrees hotter after ten hours). On eBay, this is referred to as a "Backpack" bottle. It sells for $19+$5.50 shipping on eBay (stainless steel finish), $28 from Sweet Maria's (stainless steel finish). There is usually at least one for sale on eBay. Make sure that the auction is for the JMW-500 (500ml) and not the JMW-350 (350ml). The latter may be good for kid's bikes, for kids in the car, and for school backpacks.
This bottle is extremely popular, and is in short supply, at least in the U.S.. It is often available for $19 + 5.50 shipping on eBay from seller jessmicdu (keep trying as she puts up more auctions continuously). There are other finishes besides stainless steel, but I think that the stainless steel is the classiest.
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| Open Top |
JMW-500SBK Stainless Steel |
JMW-500CG Champagne Gold |
JMW-500MO Camouflage |
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Click to Go to eBay Seller of JMW-500
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Thermos-Nissan FDI-1000
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| FDI-1000 (shown without included strap) | FDI-1000 Cap | FDI-1000 Cap & Cup |
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Zefal Isotherm
Zefal manufactures an insulated 16 ounce plastic
thermal bottle called the Isotherm. It works like a standard water bottle, so
you can drink and drive; but it will keep coffee hot for only about 45 minutes.
It's a good choice if you're going to finish your coffee soon after you begin
your ride.
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Zefal Isotherm Alloy |
Zefal Isotherm Plastic |
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22 oz. Stainless steel sports bottle. Double wall vacuum sealed construction. Features screw on pop up lid. Tops available in 5 colors: Black, Red, Grey, Green, Blue.
These bottles are a discontinued item. However I have secured a stock of these, and will soon be offering them for sale. I cannot get extra caps, so you need to be careful. The bottle is still usable without the flip part of the cap. The price will be $18 plus shipping & handling. FedeX ground shipping will be $7 for the one bottle, plus $1 for each additional bottle. I'm not set up for credit card processing yet, but I can do Paypal.
This bottle fits the Topeak Modula EX cage, though I find the old style Profile Designs Cage to be more secure (Nashbar only has Mango and Lime left, however you can get two of the black ones as part of the Profile Design Aqua Rack, also check Cambria Bike for black ones). According to the Profile people at Interbike, this cage has not been discontinued.
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Best Cage for this Bottle is the old style Profile Designs Cage
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Jong Won JSB-500/JSB-700 500ml & 700ml Stainless Steel Sport Bottles
These Korean made unbreakable 18-8 stainless steel bottles, fits
some bike bottle cages (see caveat below) and will maintain coffee at a hot
temperature for many hours. Your coffee will take a while to cool off to a
drinkable temperature since this is a high quality vacuum bottle, so if you want
to drink it right away you should cool the coffee first with an ice-cube. You
can drink it without stopping because it has a nipple like a regular water
bottle. However the nipple does not close, the flip-top cap has a rubber stopper
built into the lid which seals the nipple when closed.
The JSB-500 & JSB-700 have a wide mouth which makes it easy to fill. One strange thing is that they say that it is not for dairy products. I've never seen this warning on any stainless steel vacuum bottle before. I wonder if this includes a small amount of half & half or milk in coffee. The manufacturer appears to be Jung Won Co Ltd, in Korea. They also make a taller, 700ml version of this bottle, the JSB-700. A sample of the JSB-700 arrived on 8 January 2000. It's 11.875" tall so if you use this bottle you need to check the clearance on your frame first (you might need to attach a cage a little lower than the water bottle bosses on the frame allow, you can do this with one of the methods found at: http://www.nordicgroup.us/cageboss.
These bottles fit the Topeak Modula EX cage, as well as the old Profile Kage.
These bottles have a very low wholesale price from Korea (less than $4 each), but there is a 1200 piece (per model) minimum order, plus shipping charges, so I've declined to go into business selling them for the time being. After paying for shipping, I'd have to sell them for about $15, and I'm not sure if I could sell 1200 of them.
These bottles will NOT fit many automobile cup holders. It fits the ones in my Toyota 4 Runner, but doesn't fit the ones in my wife's Camry.
JSB-500:
Not
Available
JSB-700: Not Available
I have repeatedly tried to contact the manufacturer for another price quote, without success. The web site is still up, but the company may no longer sell this product.
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Polisport Thermika
Polisport in
Portugal manufactures the Thermika Sports Bottle. One distributor is a company
called
Synergy in the U.K.
"The Synergy Sports Thermal Bottle is designed to keep hot and cold drinks at
the correct temperature. This is guaranteed by the construction of two layers
with an insulated foam barrier. The Synergy Sports Thermal Bottle has a capacity
of 500ml and will fit all standard bottle cages. The Synergy Sports Thermal
Bottle is provided with a transparent plastic dirt proof cap. The inner section
is completely removable for cleaning purposes."
The trade-off between the Polisport and the JSB-500 is that the JSB-500 will keep the coffee hot longer, but the Polisport is microwavable and easier to clean. If an hour is long enough for you to caffeinate properly then the Polisport is a good choice. The fact that it doesn't keep drinks as hot for as long may be a good thing as well. With the JSB-500 coffee remains too hot to drink for quite a while, with the Polisport Thermika it cools to a drinkable temperature faster.
I have one of these, sent to me by the manufacturer, but as far as I know there is no way to actually buy one.
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Elite
Elite makes six different thermal bottles. Elite does not sell much into the U.S., so if you want some of these, and you live in the U.S., you may have to order the bottles from Europe.
Elite Pajaro Keratherm, Getter, Clyma Jasa
The Getter, Pajaro Keratherm, and Clyma Jasa are essentially the same shell, but with different insulating materials. The Getter uses vacuum panels, the Pajaro uses Keratherm, and the Clyma Jasa uses foam. Don't assume that you necessarily always want the longest performance, sometimes you will be better off with a bottle that doesn't keep the beverage too hot, or too cold.
Pajaro:
Getter:
Clyma Jasa
Elite Cioi and Cioi Keratherm
These two bottles have an aluminum shell. The Cioi Keratherm is insulated with Keratherm, and has a built in thermometer, the Cioi is probably just insulated with foam. You can order these from the Czech Republic, with the link under the picture. They do not appear to be available in the U.S..
Elite Cikara
Apparently this bottle is not sold in the U.S. You can order these from Germany, with the link under the picture. They do not appear to be available in the U.S.. You can see a review of this bottle at: http://www.nscl.msu.edu/~daniel/bicofa.htm.
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Contigo Extreme
This mug fits into the Topeak Modula EX Adjustable Diameter Cage and the old-style Profile Kage., at the largest setting. The rubber area near the middle helps secure the mug in the cage, and avoids rattling. It's leak proof, at least when the seals are new. This mug is sold at many stores, including Target. Some Costco's have this mug in a two pack, one with a handle, one without a handle, for $19 (I bought them a the Mountain View Costco, but the Sunnyvale Costco a few miles away didn't have them). Costco also had them in red and blue metallic. It holds more, and is less hassle than the Thermos-Nissan JMQ-400, plus it's not tapered like many of the commuter mugs (tapered mugs don't work well in water bottle cages). Downside is no cover so it could get dirty.
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Stanley Outdoor 16oz. Vacuum Drink Bottle
This mug fits into the Topeak Modula EX Adjustable Diameter Cage and the old-style Profile Kage. It's leak proof, at least when the seals are new. This mug is sold at many stores, including Amazon and Sports Basement. Downside is no cover so it could get dirty.
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This bottle is widely available. It comes in several different colors to match your frame. The painted ones cost $10 at Linens -N- and Things, while the chrome is $20. The chrome is the only one that is vacuum insulated. Look for 20% coupons for Linens -N- Things in your mail box. I haven't tested this bottle personally, but someone on Usenet vouched for it.
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Sigg Thermal
The Sigg 500ml thermal alloy bottle
can be seen at:
http://www.sjscycles.com/store/cat17.htm. I
also managed to find one source for it in the U.S. at
http://www.yuccadune.com/product429.html.
It is quite expensive at $37 + $4.50 shipping (in the U.S.).
“A lightweight, double walled, unbreakable, and extremely durable insulated drinks bottle. It will keep drinks hot or cold for 4 to 5 hours. The bottles have a hygienic inner coating, resistant to fruit acids, alcohol and isotonic drinks. Distinctively designed in silver gray with a leak proof cap the bottles will fit the 'Snap and Lock' cycle bottle holder.”
I don't like the fact that there is no nipple cover, and the fact that it is not a vacuum bottle, but at least it really is intended for a water bottle cage. Not sure if this bottle is still available from Sigg. Sigg has a horrible web site, and I could not find it on their site anymore. I have not tested this bottle.
US:
UK:
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Megasport MSB047 Vacuum Bottle
This bottle appeared in the Holiday
2001
Campmor
catalog and appears to be a good replacement for the JSB-500 even though it
holds 30ml less. The description reads: "16oz./0.47L vacuum insulated flask.
Unbreakable brushed stainless steel bottle and cup. The original one from
Campmor was the version that included a regular stopper and cup, but this is not
available any more and the current seller has the model with only the
sip-through lid. Keeps drinks
cool for 24 hours and warm for 12 hours. Adjustable, nylon strap. Fits in
bicycle bottle holder. Wt. 11.9 oz. as a sport bottle with strap, 12.7oz. with
regular stopper and cup." The statement about not drinking hot liquids through
the nipple is no doubt because they worry about someone taking a gulp of near-
boiling coffee, there is nothing inherent that stops you from responsibly
sipping hot coffee from it.
No longer available from Campmor, but you can find it at: http://www.avantgardegadgets.com/msb047-s-blk.html
This may be the only bottle still available with a sip-through covered spout. On the plus side, the cover is probably a lot more reliable than the one on the JSB-500/700 and the ST-630, which are pretty fragile. I have not tested this bottle.
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Cages
Most bottle cages are designed only for
standard bicycle water bottles. These are not always suitable for the type of
bottles used for carrying coffee due not only to size but due to materials. A
metal cage will scratch steel or aluminum bottles, so you'll want to look for a
nylon or carbon-fiber cage if you're using a metal bottle. The carbon-fiber
cages are pricey, but they tend to work by gripping the bottle, without
depending on the upper protrusion to hold it in.
If the coffee bottle doesn't have the indentation for the the top protrusion that is present in most cages, and most don't, the fit will not be good. The new Topeak Modula EX, adjustable cage, is probably the best choice, and it's a good deal at only $5.
Cage Summary
| Topeak Modula EX Adjustable Diameter Cage | Zefal S Cage | Profile Bottle Kage-Old | Profile Bottle Kage-New | Tacx Tao | Zipp Carbon 2004 |
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| Forza Carbon Cage | Look Carbon Cage | Bike Buddy Adjustable Cage | Twofish Unlimited 'The Quick Cage | Bell 'Expand-a-Cage' | Topeak X-15 Adapter |
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Cage Descriptions
Topeak
Modula EX Adjustable Diameter Cage
This looks like the ideal cage for stainless steel bottles that are not the
exact same diameter as a standard bicycle water bottle. A plastic knob on the
bottom allows adjustment of the diameter (you could replace the knob with a
fender washer and a cap nut, if desired). I tried it on a Thermos-Nissan
JMW-500, which is slightly smaller than a standard bicycle water bottle, and a
JSB-700, which is slightly larger than a standard bicycle water bottle, and it
worked great. It also works well for when you want to carry some other type or
size of bottle, i.e., a bottle of spring water or mineral water. The other good
thing about this cage is design of the upper tab, which uses three ridges that
press against the body of the bottle, rather than the tab that goes over the top
of smaller plastic bottles (or into the indent of larger plastic bottles). A
very good deal, at only $5. You may even want to consider mounting some of these
in your vehicle, for your kids to use for drinks.
Do not get the aluminum version of this bottle, called the Modula, without the EX suffix.
Zefal S
Cage
This cage is good for a bottle like the JSB-500/JSB-700, but not for smaller
diameter bottles such as the JMW-500. Only $6 at REI.
Profile
Bottle Kage
This cage works well with the JSB-500 and would work with other bottles that are
a bit smaller in diameter than a standard plastic water bottle. The black you
see in the picture it a rubber ring that holds the flexible, split plastic
front, tightly around the bottle. Just be sure you don't crash when you give the
bottle the tug it needs to be removed from the cage. Go to
Bike Nashbar
and do a search on "kage" . The old
version may be being closed out, as only weird colors are still available. The
replacement for this cage would probably also work, but it has a protrusion to
secure notched water bottles, which may be a problem with some bottles, but it
could always be removed.
The good thing about the Profile Kage, at least the old one, is the ability to use slightly oversized or undersized vacuum bottles. Check Cambria Bike for the old style. Their web site doesn't allow color selection, but you could probably call them to see what they have left. Also check PricePoint for black ones.
You can also get the old style as part of the Profile Designs Aqua Rack.
Tacx Tao
This cage is a combination of aluminum and plastic or rubber. Supposedly the
plastic or rubber prevents the bottle from being scratched. I have not tried
this cage yet, but it looks promising. Around $13. There is a carbon-fiber
version that sells for around $80. Unlike the Profile Kages, there is no way to
use slightly oversized or undersized bottles, since it is not a split design.
The Tacx web site sucks, so I can't put a link up to the Tao that works.
Zipp Carbon
2004
I haven't tried this one either, but it looks promising. No top protrusion, and
the carbon-fiber should be flexible enough for a slightly oversized bottle, and
it may be tight enough for slightly undersized bottle. A bit pricey at around
$37. The 2005 version doesn't look like it will be good.
Forza
Carbon Cage
I haven't tried this one either, but it looks promising. No top protrusion, and
the carbon-fiber should be flexible enough for a slightly oversized bottle, and
it may be tight enough for slightly undersized bottle. Around $13.
Look Carbon
Cage
Getting pricey now, at
$50.
Bike Buddy Adjustable Cage
If you want to
carry a steel vacuum bottle that isn't designed for a standard water bottle cage
then check out the
Bike
Buddy, an adjustable cage made in the U.K.
They will ship world-wide. My evaluation unit arrived on June 26, 2000. It's
made of stainless steel. I got the removable MK3 model where the clamps and the
mount stay on the bottle and the entire assembly slides on to special pegs that
are threaded to fit into the water-bottle cage bosses on the frame. Unless your
bike doesn't have water-bottle cage bosses then you definitely should get the
MK3 as it is very convenient to not have to remove the clamps from the bottle in
order to drink. Once the bottle and clamps are assembled it's very sturdy. You
can carry up to a 2 liter bottle. You can get extra pegs for your other
bicycles.
Don't just think coffee, you could get a wide mouth vacuum bottle and carry hot food as well. Just think how jealous everyone else on the club ride will be when you whip out your Pasta Puttanesca and your French roast coffee, while they're gnawing on gritty Power Bars and drinking lukewarm water. The Bike Buddy also will hold a wine bottle.
Twofish
Unlimited 'The Quick Cage'
This is a good plastic bottle
cage for bikes that can't use standard bottles either because they have no
braze-ons for water bottle cages, or because the frame tubes can't use standard
clamps. From the
Twofish Unlimited Web Site:
'Goes on any bike instantly, anywhere room is available on the frame or seat
post. Great for cruiser bikes, BMX bikes, kids' bikes, and the serious commuter.
The most convenient and cost-effective way to put a water bottle cage on a bike
without braze-on lugs. Includes a 23 ounce water bottle with the Twofish
insignia.' Great for the Brompton handle bar tube.
Go to
Bike Nashbar
and do a search on "twofish" or better yet order it from Gaerlan Custom Cycles .
Bell 'Expand-a-Cage'
This adjustable cage is similar in capability to the
Bike Buddy. Rather
than two metal bands, it uses a single rubber strap with holes in four locations
(similar to a belt). The maximum diameter of a bottle appears to be around 4",
which is smaller than the
Bike Buddy
(there appears to be enough space on the strap to punch a fifth hole, which
could increase the capacity slightly).
Note that you really can't remove the bottle while riding, due to the friction of the rubber strap around the bottle. But for carrying a thermos of coffee to work, for later consumption, or a bottle of wine, it would be fine. For wine, note that there are now many higher quality wines that use screw tops; screw tops aren't just for jug wine. So for drinking wine while riding, select a good Merlot or Cabernet with a screw top. If you're a Mac user, then choose a white wine.
Besides Amazon, I have seen them at Sports Authority (around $7), and Wal-Mart (around $4). The Bell SKU is 108210. The UPC code is 3501186150 (but if you try a Google Search on 3501186150 you'll be right back on this web site!).
Topeak X-15
Adapter
Usable with any standard
mount cage, this adapter allows you to rotate the cage to gain access to the
bottle. This may be necessary on small framed bicycles, especially when using a
tall bottle. A very good deal, at only $5.
Creating Water Bottle Cage Bosses on Bicycles without Them
Sure you could
cobble something together using funky hose clamps, but it looks tacky and
unprofessional. See many methods to do the job right at:
http://www.nordicgroup.us/cageboss
.
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Commuter Mug and
Handlebar Mount Beverage Holder
Don't drink and drive...You might hit a bump and spill your drink
A commuter coffee
mug and a handlebar beverage holder is another away to carry coffee. These
beverage holders are very popular in Florida, but you don't see them too much in
California where I live.
Motorcycle Beverage Holder
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RAM-B-132R
The
RAM-B-132R SELF LEVELING DRINK CUP HOLDER
may be the best solution for bicycles (as well as airplanes, boats, and
motorcycles). It is available
in stainless steel and zinc-coated.
A drink holder consists of the following components:
RAM-B-132BU Self Leveling Drink Cup Holder
RAM-B-231U RAM Base w/ Stainless Steel U-Bolt for 3/4"- 1"
Diameter Bar
RAM-B-201U-A 1-3/4 inch Double Socket Arm or RAM-B-201U3 Inch
RAM Double Socket Arm
The total system will cost around $40.
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Drink Holder, Handlebar Mount
No brand name, but it looks the
same as the Morning Rush holder from Soma Fabrications. $20.
I have not tested this device.
| Mug Holder |
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Morning Rush Coffee Mug &
Holder from Soma Fabrications
This device looks pretty
cool. It appears to be the same as the device above, but they include a suitable
vacuum mug for the extra $20.
From the Soma Fabrications web site: "Take away the spills and thrills of riding with coffee. Includes: Stainless steel mug holder ring mounts to mountain bike or road bars. Stainless steel commuter mug holds up to 16 oz. of coffee or tea. Slide button lid means you can open the cap and take a swig with one hand. Mount is from CatEye, so in the evening you can replace it with a Cat Eye HL-500II headlight if you so desire."
Classier than the handlebar-mount plastic can holders, and probably useable with any cup that tapers. Some of you may remember the Ibis Hot Unit, another coffee system from a frame manufacturer (alas, Ibis is out of business).
The cost is $40. I have not tested this device. I requested a sample from Soma Fabrications, and hopefully they will send me one. I can't afford to buy every device on this site, and have been fortunate to receive most of the items free from the manufacturer or from a retailer.
| Soma Fabrications Morning Rush Coffee Mug and Holder |
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| Click for Details |
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Drink Holder Liquid Caddy
| Drink Holder Liquid Caddy |
 This beverage holder attaches to your handlebars. It pivots two ways to keep your drink level as you move or lean. It can be adjusted for length and diameter. Neoprene lined for insulation. Not tested. |
| Details |
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French Press Mugs
These are combination mugs and French presses. The
perfect device for on-bike brewing. There are other models out there, but they
are usually bigger, and not suitable for carrying on a bicycle.
Bodum/Tazo Plastic Travel Press
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Bodum Stainless Steel Travel
Press
From the Starbucks Web Site a while back
(no longer sold by Starbucks.com though): "We’ve combined
the boldness of coffee press brewing with the mobility of the stainless steel
tumbler. Our new Travel Press™ keeps the coffee warm and in its place. It’s
ergonomically savvy with a comfortable gripping-band and SantopreneŽ lid. For
convenience, the lid and the press mechanism are one entity so you can
plunge-and-go. An ideal gift for a busy person who loves the richness of coffee
brewed in the coffee press but only wants one cup for the road (20 fl oz/0.59
L). It fits into most car coffee-cup holders. Dishwasher safe. Made in Taiwan."
$30 from
Amazon.com.
This looks like it would fit one of the short cages.
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Porter Double Shot Commuter French Press Stainless Steel-
Stainless Finish
This mug sells for $25. It may not be as suitable for
carrying on the bicycle, since the narrow base is too short to be secured into a
short cage. Also available in black or pink finish.
Stainless Steel French Press—Non-Mug
Nissan NCI1000 Stainless Steel
French Press
This is a very popular stainless steel
French press. it's a little large in diameter, but you could use the Bell
Expand-A-Cage to hold it. $30 from
Amazon.com.
Not suitable for drinking straight from the press. You can also bid on this on
eBay from the same
seller as the JMW-500, but the "Buy It Now"
price is too high, considering that Amazon includes free shipping.
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| Brewing and Grinding While Riding |
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I received some e-mails noting that for fresh coffee it should be brewed on the bicycle while riding, not stored in a vacuum flask. Probably the best method for on-bike brewing would be to fill a vacuum bottle with boiling water, then use a stainless steel French Press or one of the French Press mugs; but even in a vacuum bottle, the water wouldn't be hot enough for very long. You can carry a small camping stove with you instead. Or if you have an electrical outlet bring an immersion heater along with a Melitta cone filter, or a Zelco Brisk Brew.
The Brewing and Grinding Section has been moved to a separate page because it grew so large.
12 Volt blade grinder hooked to my lighting system battery. Cigarette lighter jack can also be used for a cell phone charger. I'm not sure if this product is still available.
Click for Brewing and Grinding Page
Coffee and Winter Activities
Many of these methods for
carrying coffee are also well-suited for winter activities such as X-C skiing
and snow-shoeing. For day trips I would recommend carrying a lightweight stove
and and brewing up some fresh, hot, nourishing coffee at lunch time. I used to
lead a number of X-C ski trips each year and the few times that someone brought
a stove along on a day trip it was greatly appreciated. Coffee has been proven
to increase the performance of cross-country skiers, see:
http://www.hhp.ufl.edu/keepingfit/ARTICLE/caff.HTM.
Skiers and snowshoers should drink plenty of hot nourishing coffee when engaging in winter recreation
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OMG, while Googling for information on coffee filters and skiing and snow, I got to a web page with a photograph of the woman that got me hooked on Peet's Coffee 23 years ago (1985). She was using coffee filters as part of a scientific experiment while on a winter expedition. Hopefully her team drank lots of hot nourishing coffee while helping to save our planet! |
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Conclusion
Bicycling and coffee drinking can be combined in
a number of ways. Being away from your home or car does not mean that you need
to give up this healthy, nourishing, herbal beverage.
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About the Author
The author is the one of Earth's leading
authorities on coffee,
bicycle lighting, and
folding
bicycles. An electrical engineer by trade,
he enjoys cycling and drinking coffee. He lives in Silicon Valley. He travels frequently to Taiwan where he enjoys
buying folding bicycles and drinking coffee. He has bicycled and drank coffee
all over the world, including Canada, Germany, Korea, Russia, Thailand, Japan,
Taiwan, and China. See a list of his bicycle related web sites at
http://www.nordicgroup.us/hosted.htm.
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Some of My Other Web Sites that you Might Be Interested In
These are all non-commercial sites
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Help Support My Web Site By Entering the following Merchants Via My Site
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Pawel Danielewicz has done some temperature testing on various bottles. See: http://www.nscl.msu.edu/~daniel/bicofa.htm. He uses the Zefal S cage on a JSB-500, with a slight modification.
