Bayonette Forks and Bento Boxes
You wouldn't believe the number of sushi restaurants that pop up when you google that phrase.
Anyway- The Felt B2 is just one example of TT bikes with the Bayonette Fork. Totally cool, really aero, but nearly impossible to attach a bento box to. So I'm trying to see if anyone out there has found a solution. I've tried putting it on my seat post backwards, but that rubs my legs, is hard to reach, and, well, if I ever DO learn how to pee on the bike it sorta becomes a far less favorable option!!
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Nemo, what are you looking to put in a Bento box?
I too have the bayonette on a B2, and agree, there's really no good way to put a bento on there. Couple of options include
Mike
Actually, based on the description, I think that this one should be renamed the Steve Ford!
Is the issue the length of the velcro straps of the internal routing entrance? Have you considered going out and buying some velcro straps to give the BB more reach?
As long as the stem is horiztonal or at a positive angle it looks like there should be a way to attach it. Of course I'm looking at the stock felt pictures and your size frame might be different.
biggest challenge is where the internal cable routing goes into the top tube. There's a pretty healthy gap between that and the stem, which probably isn't the best thing, aerodynamically (bento box only helps when it fills that void behind the stem).
the other difficulty is that the bottom of the stem is (roughly speaking) flush with the top of the top tube, which makes wrapping anything around it difficult.
It can be done, but it ends up looking very non-pro.
Mike
I usually put my spare tube/tool/CO2 in the bento along with my pills & 2 gels. That keeps the area behind my seat completely clean. I might have to get a lot more creative this time around! I think my pockets are gonna be overflowing at IMWI! Might need a fanny pack [insert EN 3.0 smiley hiding behind a wall here]
Have to admit, I bought one of those things Mike pointed to about 5-6 years ago, shopping online @ TriSPorts for other stuff and said, "Hmm, that looks useful." I never used it after trying to attach it to my bike. Not only does it look bad, it does make for suspect air flow at the front and most of all, it has *TEN* velcro attachments, that is, 20 velcro straps. I hate velcro. Anybody want one, gratis?
That's a lot of velcro Al!!!
OK- here are some pics to help folks visualize the issue.
Side view without anything mounted:
Same side view, attempting to mount the Bento Box:
Top view, Bento & Aerobottle mounted (or attempts at it anyway)
And finally, a video just in case these pics are hard to see:
Just to add, part of the issue is that, even with longer velcro, that front part moves in an arc, which means that it's not particularly sturdy.
Nemo, the other thing I tried when I first got the bike is to wrap the velcro around the cables. It can work that way, though it's definitely not what I was hoping for.
How about zip ties or electrical tape holding it sturdier to the top tube? Maybe cut off one of the front straps and use the other pieces to make it around the front. While not totally secure that might work. FWIW my new QR is gonna have the same issue so I am going to be working on it over the next few weeks. I promise we will have an awesome solution way before September
How about rigging it under the top tube? Anyone try that? That obviously wont be good for stashing food or something you need but for tire change stuff it may work. Oh and to hold pills have you tried a salt stick thing shoved in one of the extensions?
I may see if I can do something with longer velcro. Glad to know I'm not alone in trying to figger this out!
I also have a Felt. Wanting to move my "repair kit" from behind my seat, after looking around, I went with a medium Fuel Belt bag because it has a zipper. (I am only using the bag for repair items and not to store gels but this is room for it if needed.) For the bottom velcro (top tube side) pieces, I cut them shorter so that I could make it really tight and not have any extra velcro that was not secured so that it would not flap in the wind or hit my legs. For the front velcro (stem side), I again cut them shorter (the pieces are now shorter than the width of the bag) and made it so that it only went around the first cable (looking at Nemo's first side view picture, the cable on the left, farthest from the stem). By making it shorter, it allowed me to make it really tight. By not including the front cables, the bag does not move when you turn.
FYI - I rode my bike in a sprint this weekend that required a long bumpy run across a grass field that was between the transition area and mount/dismount line and I had no problems with the bag moving. Hopefully this makes sense but if not, let me know and I will take some pictures and post them.
Nemo - I took some pictures but am having trouble downloading. Will try tomorrow from a different computer.
You could also give this guy a try:
http://www.nathansports.com/our-products/hydrationnutrition/multi-sportrace-essentials/feed-bag
You can see it on the Bontrager site here: http://bontrager.com/model/07571.
Re: the video - cool to be able to associate the famous Nemo with a voice.
Nemo,
This doesn't resolve your bento install but resolves applications of salt capsules and Gu shots.
I have a hydrotail and just put all my repair stuff (tube, lever, chamois butter, etc) in a waterbottle that has a larger than normal top (found it in a garage sale...think it is from a spinbike seminar) and use the left rear hydrotail spot for that.
For salt tabs I individually tape (using electrical tape) each salt capsule to the top tube (I used SCaps as they are much more potent than Hammer's version...thus requiring fewer). I just cut 1" electrical strips and wrapped the tab 1x and stuck it to the frame so it is easy to "unroll" the capsule out of the tape with a single motion of the index finger.
I also tape Gu shots down individually and layer them. No bento necessary.
I use a speedfil for water and Profile bottle for concentrated Carbopro/infinit with a plastic baggie covering the top of the bottle/yellow sponge with the straw poked thru the baggie for ZERO fluid mess.
Vince
Dave- I think that's gonna have about the same issue as the other Bento Box unless I'm misunderstanding how it attaches and stays secure.
Eric- that Bontrager box looks cool, but I think the cable routing is still gonna get in the way and make the box less stable.
Vince- That's been my thoughts on a fallback plan, but I couldn't figure out the pills. Good idea.
Rob- looking forward to seeing your pic/vid. I did a test run of what I think your doing there with my current BB and it seems to be a pretty good option. If it works, I think I'd get one of the Fuelbelt boxes like Mancona has because that position hits my legs a little more easily and the zipper vs velcro top will help eliminate unnecessary chaffing.
Nemo - Here are two photos that should help. Hope it helps.
FYI - This is Fuel Belt bag but I cut the logos off. I went with the Fuel Belt due to the zipper and not wanting to rub against the velcro and net top. Also, I have the zipper tag tucked in but you could leave it out to make it easy to open and close.
Ok, after looking at Robs pics, I went to my Jandd bento box that I used on my old tri-bike that has really wide straps and attempted to use that by only wraping the straps around the cables.
It worked, great, I took it out for a bumpy ride around my neighborhood and it did not move or interfere with steering.
This is a Jandd bento box, I believe Xlab also puts out the same one with their name of it (for about $2 more), the Xlab branded one may be easier to find.