I debated the solution you speak of: a zip tie on each side through a couple of drilled holes. Since I thought this through......
Make sure you drill the top holes only large enough for the thin portion of the zip ties to just barely fit through. On the bottom, make the holes just large enough for the head of the zip tie to squeak through. Then put the zip ties on, tighten them down and once tight, rotate the head of the zip tie up through the bottom hole so it is out of sight and out of the wind.
On my bike (picture above), I actually put black electrical tape on the mating face of the PVC. I used an Exacto knife to cut the excess away. What this does it make the surface that contacts the carbon aero bars rubbery so they get more friction. You can not see this in the picture at all because I cut the excess away very accurately. This makes the friction fit so good that there was no need for the zip tie.
On your installation: Since you are placing it out near the end where your hands are, the bars will be flexing and therefore this friction fit may slip. Where I mounted mine there is very little flex, so the friction fit works perfectly. The electrical tape just gave me that much more confidence it will not slip.
One other thing you may consider is using no zip ties and using handle bar tape instead. This is what I did for a team mate's setup. The picture will explain it all. There is nothing holding this one in place except the same friction fit and the handle bar tape. Just like you, I needed to clear her front bottle and put the mount where it could be seen easily without major strain on the neck.
Good Luck and make sure you post your results. Would love to see a picture of your final solution.
Todd Gould
http://www.romevelo.net
Go Harder!
Make sure you drill the top holes only large enough for the thin portion of the zip ties to just barely fit through. On the bottom, make the holes just large enough for the head of the zip tie to squeak through. Then put the zip ties on, tighten them down and once tight, rotate the head of the zip tie up through the bottom hole so it is out of sight and out of the wind.
On my bike (picture above), I actually put black electrical tape on the mating face of the PVC. I used an Exacto knife to cut the excess away. What this does it make the surface that contacts the carbon aero bars rubbery so they get more friction. You can not see this in the picture at all because I cut the excess away very accurately. This makes the friction fit so good that there was no need for the zip tie.
On your installation: Since you are placing it out near the end where your hands are, the bars will be flexing and therefore this friction fit may slip. Where I mounted mine there is very little flex, so the friction fit works perfectly. The electrical tape just gave me that much more confidence it will not slip.
One other thing you may consider is using no zip ties and using handle bar tape instead. This is what I did for a team mate's setup. The picture will explain it all. There is nothing holding this one in place except the same friction fit and the handle bar tape. Just like you, I needed to clear her front bottle and put the mount where it could be seen easily without major strain on the neck.
Good Luck and make sure you post your results. Would love to see a picture of your final solution.
Todd Gould
http://www.romevelo.net
Go Harder!
Last edited by:
steepcreek: Mar 7, 12 6:06