Lozz360
Veteran
- Location
- Oxfordshire
Had a problem with the B'Twin Ultra whereby the bottle cage bosses on the down-tube had both come loose. So despite the bolts being tight, the water bottle would wobble about which is annoying.
I took the bike into the local Decathlon (Oxford), same branch the bike was purchased from in March 2017. I was asked by one of the mechanics if I had tightened the bolts. Well yes, I replied. He then said that the only way to repair this was to replace the frame! Somewhat surprised that a pair of loose bottle cage bolts would mean that the aluminium frame was now junk, I said "OK but there is a lifetime guarantee on the frame". His response was that not in this case as it was obvious I had over-tightened the bolts! This remarkable feat of forensic science was achieved without even attempting to remove the bottle cage to inspect the bolts or the bosses. Mechanic then looked on the computer and said that there were just three frames left in the large size that mine is (discontinued model). The cost would be £259 and to help me out they would transfer all components to the new frame free of charge. I said I would think about it.
On returning home, I went on YouTube and did a search on "bottle cage boss repair" or similar and there was an American chap who showed how to easily tighten these bosses without any special tools. It is literally less than a five minute job. Incidentally, the proper name for the bosses is riv-nuts as they are a cross between a rivet and a nut. I am somewhat annoyed to think that the mechanic must of known it was a simple repair. I know he is not new to the job as he was the same chap that sold me the bike over two years ago.
I took the bike into the local Decathlon (Oxford), same branch the bike was purchased from in March 2017. I was asked by one of the mechanics if I had tightened the bolts. Well yes, I replied. He then said that the only way to repair this was to replace the frame! Somewhat surprised that a pair of loose bottle cage bolts would mean that the aluminium frame was now junk, I said "OK but there is a lifetime guarantee on the frame". His response was that not in this case as it was obvious I had over-tightened the bolts! This remarkable feat of forensic science was achieved without even attempting to remove the bottle cage to inspect the bolts or the bosses. Mechanic then looked on the computer and said that there were just three frames left in the large size that mine is (discontinued model). The cost would be £259 and to help me out they would transfer all components to the new frame free of charge. I said I would think about it.
On returning home, I went on YouTube and did a search on "bottle cage boss repair" or similar and there was an American chap who showed how to easily tighten these bosses without any special tools. It is literally less than a five minute job. Incidentally, the proper name for the bosses is riv-nuts as they are a cross between a rivet and a nut. I am somewhat annoyed to think that the mechanic must of known it was a simple repair. I know he is not new to the job as he was the same chap that sold me the bike over two years ago.