This is a
non-commercial site, I do not sell anything.
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.
Join the Coffee Party Movement and
Tell the Commie Tea-Baggers Where to Go!
Coffee Picture of the Month
|
 |
|
The
state of Alabama has banned Cycles Gladiator wine because of the
label. At first it was mistakenly reported that the reason for the
ban was the image of a naked woman on the label, but the real reason
is that the woman is not wearing a bicycle helmet.
Buy Clothing With
this Image at CafePress |
New Equipment
|
Bell Cruisin joe to go cup
holder |
Origin-8 Joe-2-Go Drink Holders |
Liquid Caddy |
Nirve Drink Holder Caddy |
Thermos Vacuum Mug orTumbler |
Alfi Iso Bottle |
Contigo
AUTOSEAL® Tumbler |
ThinkSport 750ml Vacuum
Sports Bottle |
Thermos-Nissan HS4040/HS4080 |
Bubba |
SV42SS
SV43SS
SV44SS |
Innate Kaze Tumbler |
Innate Kaze Flip |
Well-made,
handlebar mount cup holder. $5.99 at Target. Not available
online.
May be available at
K Mart, Sears, and Toys R Us.
UPC: 035011894485
 |
Well-made, handlebar
mount cup holder. Available in two cup sizes, each of which is available
with either a 25.4 mm or 31.8 mm clamp. $13-15 each. |
 |
 |
$22 at Target |
 |
 |
One of the few currently
available double-wall stainless-steel vacuum sports bottles with a spout that actually encourages
its use with hot liquids. |
Specified for cold
beverages only because of the spout, but also fine for hot liquids if
you're careful.
HS4080 sold only at Target,
and is not on Thermos web site. |
 |
 |
Removable handle and sip
through lid. Unclear about the capacity. 425 ml (14.4 ounces) or 13.5
ounces (400ml) .
Sold at REI.
Flip top lid
theoretically available.
 |
While the web site says that
the lid isn't for hot beverages, that's just a liability thing.
Not sold anywhere.
440ml (15 ounces) |
| |
Details |
Details |
Details |
Details |
Details |
Details |
Details |
Details |
Details
Details |
|
Details |
Details |
New Books,
Photograph, & Coffee Roasting Company
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)
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
Coffee Compatible Bicycles
"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.
 |
 |
| 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.
|
 |
| 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
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).
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!
|
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. |
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.
One advantage of Thermos brand products is that you can buy
replacement lids and caps
from Thermos by calling 1-800-831-9242. Generally the cost is around $5 plus $3
shipping.
This is not the case when any of the other products, as far as I know.
Alfi Iso Bottle
This bottle showed up at my house because my wife's co-worker was selling
them for $12 each, which was a heck of a deal for a high-quality German made
bottle of this quality. I think that they are being discontinued because the
Alfi site has them for $8 in limited colors. Extremely complex, two-piece,
leak-proof sipping valve. They used to sell replacement valves, but they cost
more than $8. This bottle is a good replacement for the JSB-500.
Bubba 24 Ounce and 16 Ounce
Simple, inexpensive, vacuum bottles that are easy to clean. There are two
versions, one with a spout and a plastic tube inside, for cold beverages only,
and one with a flip top lid for hot or cold beverages. The reality is that the
"cold only" is fine for hot beverages (without using the plastic tube) but the
usual warning about burning your mouth, by sipping scalding hot liquids through
a spout, applies. The 24 ounce version needs an adjustable cage because the
diameter is much larger than that of standard water bottle. These bottles are
widely sold in stores like Target, Walmart and K-Mart. I bought a Bubba 24 spout
lid bottle at the K Mart in Scotts Valley, CA. The 24 ounce bottle is about $17.
The 16 ounce bottle is about $10. 12 ounce also available.
The fact that these bottles do not have an overly complicated lid means that
they are easy to clean.
 |
 |
 |
| Bubba 24
Ounce, Flip-Top Lid |
Bubba 24 Ounce, Spout Lid |
Bubba 16 Ounce, Flip-Top
Lid |
|
|
|
|
Innate Kaze Tumbler and Kaze
Flip
The Tumbler and the Flip may be the same bottle with different tops, but it's
unclear because the capacities are slightly different. The Kaze Tumbler page has
conflicting capacities since 425ml does not equal 13.5 ounces. According to the
manufacturer's web site the lids are interchangeable. They say that with the
flip lid the bottle is for cold beverages only, but that's the usual weaseling
to prevent lawsuits from someone burning their mouth by taking a swig of
extremely hot coffee or tea. Unfortunately, it does not appear to be possible to
buy the Kaze Flip or the lid anywhere. When you click on "buy online" on their
web site it does not take you to a place to buy online.
ThinkSport 750ml Vacuum
Sports Bottle
Widely sold, these are one of the few sports bottles where they openly admit and
encourage use with hot liquids. It even has an internal mesh filter to stop tea
leaves or ice during drinking. Available in four colors. Colors cost more than
plain silver. The cap screws off so while you can drink while riding it's not as
convenient as the bottles with the flip lid. Use
with a non-metal expandable short cage.
Thermos-Nissan Sipp
and Thermos Nissan Vacuum Mug
I saw these at my local Target
store on 1 April 2010. All are double wall stainless steel with vacuum
insulation. $22 each. The are advertised to keep beverages hot for 5 hours and
cold for 9 hours. These would be good units to use with the Bell handlebar mount
cup holder (or other handlebar mount cup holders. Maybe not so great in a water
bottle cage. All are 470ml (16 ounces).
 |
 |
|
|
| Sipp Mug |
Sipp
Tumbler |
Vacuum
Mug |
Vacuum
Tumbler |
 |
|
|
|
Note: Thermos
replacement parts (in this case lids) can be purchased by calling Thermos at
1-800-831-9242. Generally the cost is $5 plus $3 shipping.
Contigo
AUTOSEAL®Tumbler
These are widely available. I
bought some at Costco for around $10 each in a two pack. At Amazon they are $20
for one.They are mostly leak proof, and they keep the coffee hot for about two
hours. The down side is that they are difficult to clean.
These are good units to use with the
Bell handlebar mount cup holder
Thermos-Nissan HS4030
There are very few bottles with sip through caps anymore. This is
because of a fear that consumers will burn themselves by drinking scalding hot
beverages through the nipple. But there's no other reason why you could not use
a double wall, vacuum insulated, bottle for hot beverages if you're careful.
Use with a non-metal expandable short cage.
Note: Thermos replacement parts
(in this case lids) can be purchased by calling Thermos at 1-800-831-9242.
Generally the cost is $5 plus $3 shipping.
SV44SS, SV43SS, SV42SS
These bottles are double wall stainless
steel vacuum bottles with flip top lids and spouts that are sold by promotional
products companies. The 25 ounce model is 1/4" wider in diameter than a standard
water bottle and can be used in short cages that expand slightly. The SV43SS and
SV42SS are smaller in diameter than a standard water bottle, and would flop
around in a standard cage, but could be used in a Topeak adjustable cage.
|
739 ml |
444 ml |
444 ml with Rubber Grip |
|
SV44SS |
SV43SS |
SV42SS |
Note: Thermos replacement
parts (in this case lids) can be purchased by calling Thermos at
1-800-831-9242. Generally the cost is $5 plus $3 shipping.
Thermos-Nissan HS4040 & HS4080
These bottles are labeled for cold use
only, but there is no reason they could not be used for hot liquids. They are
both stainless-steel, double-wall, vacuum bottles with flip top lids and
drinking spouts. The HS4080 is not on the Thermos-Nissan web site, and it is
sold only at Target for $25. The HS4040 looks like it would fit a standard short cage,
while the HS4080 may need an expandable cage. Rather pricey, but about the only
easily available double-wall vacuum bottles with a spout. The lid doesn't look
all that sturdy, but you can probably buy spares. This is probably the best
choice in flip top bottles with a spout now that some of the others are no
longer available.
Note: Thermos replacement parts
(in this case lids) can be purchased by calling Thermos at 1-800-831-9242.
Generally the cost is $5 plus $3 shipping.
Thermos-Nissan JMW-500
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.
I found out the hard way that cleaning the top by putting it
into boiling water is not a good idea. The plastic release on the cap has broken
on all the ones I own. The cap still stays closes with the metal latch.
Thermos-Nissan FDI-1000
The FDI-1000 uses the same style cap as the JMW-500. It's larger in diameter
(3.8") however not as much as you'd expect, as they've decreased the distance
between the inner and outer walls. It will not fit an automotive cup holder. It
includes a cup that fits over the cap. I have
not tested this bottle.
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.
|
|
|
|
Zefal Isotherm Alloy
"Combines the extra
robustness of an aluminum bottle with the temperature control of an
insulated bottle. Never again need you have too warm a drink in summer or
too icy a drink in winter." 500 ml. $25 (I bought one for $10 in Taipei in
December 2000). |
Zefal Isotherm Plastic
"It takes hours for
this insulated bottle to do what every uninsulated bottle does in minutes
- allow cold drinks to warm up and hot drinks to cool down." 500 ml. $10.
|
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. My sister-in-law is Korean, and I may have her give
them a call.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Oxo Liquiseal
This bottle is widely available. It comes in several different
colors to match your frame. The chrome is the only one that is vacuum insulated.
I haven't tried this, but someone told me that it's very difficult to clean.
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:
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.
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 Pulse Cage |
Profile Bottle Kage-Old |
Profile Bottle Kage-New |
Tacx Tao |
Zipp Carbon 2004 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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 Pulse
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 $8 at Wal-Mart.
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. Since
this cage has a slim profile when there is no bottle inserted, it may be good
for some folding bicycles that have problems folding when a larger profile cage
is used.
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!).
Bell has been doing a great deal to promote
practical cycling with a lot of new products aimed directly at commuters and
casual cyclists. It's a great company that wants to expand bicycling to the
masses.
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
.
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.
Bell Cruisin joe to go
cup holder
Sold at Target for $5.99. Not available
on-line.
Very nice aluminum cup and bottle holder. Clamp is also solid metal, unlike many
of these devices that have plastic or flexible steel clamps. These sell out very
fast at Target. I've bought twelve so far. In the right two photos below I
show it installed on my commute bike. By not using the rubber shim I installed
it over the handlebar tape. I have not seen these at any other store, including
other stores that sell Bell bicycle accessories (Wal-Mart, RiteAid), but one
review I read said that they had them at Toys R Us (not at the one I checked)
for $7.99. This is a very good deal compared to the ridiculous prices of less
capable cup holders. Requires a tapered cup, you can't use it with a straight
thermos.
Bell has been doing a great
deal to promote practical cycling with a lot of new products aimed directly at
commuters and casual cyclists. It's a great company that wants to expand
bicycling to the masses.
Origin-8 Joe-2-Go Drink
Holder
Model 96025 appears identical to the Bell
Cruisn joe to go cup holder but with a different color finish. The other
models are for different size cups and/or different diameter handlebars. I
have never seen these for sale in any store, but you can find some of
them at Amazon for $13 to $15. Requires
a tapered cup.
|
Origin-8 Joe-2-Go Drink Holder
|
|
|
|
96026 (small cups, 25.4 mm clamp)
96302 (small cups, 31.8 mm clamp) |
96025 (large cups,
25.4 mm clamp)
96301 (large cups,
31.8 mm clamp) |
Chariot Cup Holder
Better mounting than the Soma Morning Rush, this sells for
$15 at REI. Also fits bicycle handlebars, not just Chariot trailer bars.
Requires a tapered
cup.
Liquid Caddy
This is a rather unique cup and bottle holder. It adjusts to
different diameters and different depths. The cup-holder part swivels to
stay level. It comes with four different attachment mechanisms. I have not
seen it for sale in any store and I have not tried it, so I don't know how
well it works.
Nirve Drink Holder Caddy
It's not clear how this mounts to the handlebars from the picture. Around
$13 Black or silver color.
Motorcycle Beverage Holder
You can buy them
from
JC Whitney for $7.
You may need to glue a piece of foam rubber into the beverage holder to prevent
rattling and to hold the cup more firmly. If you hit a bump or pothole the cup
may eject and hit the ground then the lid will pop off and splash hot coffee all
over you (don't ask how I know this!). There is a good selection of cups, steel
and plastic, at Target that may work, but be sure that whatever you get has a
top that seals, not just a hole in the lid. The Aladdin Traveler and Aladdin
Traveler steel, are available with locking lids (called 'Closer' lid). See them
at
http://www.logoclick.com/BTM16.htm (not for
sale here, look at places like Target, K-Mart, or auto parts stores). They are
also sold with slider lids (difficult to clean) and drink-thru lids (coffee
splashes out on bumps). This holder may also be a good match with a Nissan
JMQ-400. Also sold at
Cambria Bicycle Outfitter.
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.
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. Requires a tapered cup, you can't use it
with a straight thermos. Not the most durable clamping system.
Requires a tapered
cup.
|
Mug Holder |
 |
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). Not the most durable
clamping system.
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.
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
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 Santoprene® 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.
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.
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
|
 |
|
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! |
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.
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.
Some of My Other
Web Sites that you Might Be Interested In
icycle
Lighting:
Riding at Night and Looking
for High Quality Bicycle Lighting? Visit
Luggage Racks: Earth's Premier Site for Unbiased Information about
Bicycle Luggage Racks
Helmet
Myths and Facts:
While I'm very much against mandatory helmet laws, I got tired of all the
junk science and junk statistics regarding helmets from the "anti-helmet"
zealots that seem to have made "pathological liar" their career choice. So I
compiled a list of the myths that these people love to promulgate.
These are
all non-commercial sites
Help Support My
Web Site By Entering the following Merchants Via My Site
Addendum by Pawel Danielewicz
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.
