Not much consideration is given to a water bottle cage purchase by the average cyclist, the greatest importance is that there is at least one mounted to their new bike. It is not until they hit the trails and lose a bottle or have to wrestle with the bottle just to pull it out of the cage to get a drink does the thought of a well made water bottle cage come to mind. King Cage, based in Durango, Colorado, has been making water bottle cages the right way since 1991 and making them in America.
Ron Andrews has worked for a unique list of manufacturers in the bicycle industry including Fat City Cycles, One Off Titanium, Joe Breeze Cycles, Ted Wojack Cycles and Yeti Cycles. It was at One Off Titanium that Ran was asked by a customer if they could have a water bottle cage made from titanium. After he successfully made the titanium cage, he continued to produce them ever since
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cc5wo0a3yxs
In 1996, Ron started producing stainless steel water bottle cages and later introduced a small line-up of products. Three different water bottle cages, the Top Cap Cage Mount, titanium tire levers and the Behold Tool Pouch – a stainless steel cage that holds a small, nylon tool pouch, make up the complete King Cage product line. This may not seem like very many products, but consider this – all of the cages are still being produced in Ron’s garage in Durango by him with the help of a small part time staff.
All of the products sold by King Cage are made in America using U.S.A. sourced materials. The nylon pouches and Top Cap Cage Mount are produced by other companies, but they are still manufactured in the United States.
Recently, while building up a new bike, I purchased two of the stainless steel King Cages. Surprising they were only about $2 more that the house brand stainless steel water bottle cages being sold by the local retail branch of a well known bicycle catalog company. Those cages were made in Taiwan. The welds of the King Cages appeared much stronger and the tubular framework of the cage is welded closed as opposed to the cages made overseas which typically see that step skipped. I had the chance to take the new bike out on two rocky trails for about 50 miles and the King Cages lived up to their name. The 24 ounce bottles never bounced out of the cages and as advertised, the cages were non-marking.
Water bottles cages are a fairly low tech item, but are sure needed during these sweltering summer days in the saddle. If you lose a bottle on the trail, you could be in serious trouble if you are miles away from home. At $60, the titanium cage may be out of reach or need of most cyclists, but at $17, the stainless steel cages fit within the budget of most avid cyclists. King Cages can be found at better bicycle shops or they can be purchased direct from their website. Either way it is a cage fit for a king.