King Cage was founded in 1991 by Ron Andrews, a craftsman who has worked for numerous bike manufacturers such as Ibis Cycles, Merlin Metalworks, and Yeti Cycles. The workshop specializes in handmade titanium and stainless steel bottle cages.
They are still made one by one by Ron's own hands in his garage in Durango, Colorado. King Cage bottle cages are held in such high regard by handmade builders that they are a staple on many of the show bikes exhibited at the NAHBS (North American Handbuilt Bicycle Show).
It has been a while, but King Cage has released some new products. The items that garnered much attention when they were first unveiled at the Philly Bike Expo in October have finally arrived!
New Product: Stainless Steel Flat Top
Typical bottle cages have a bend at the top that firmly holds the indentation of a water bottle, preventing it from falling out on even the roughest roads.
Conversely, when trying to mount "non-cycling" bottles, such as those from Klean Kanteen, this bend can make installation difficult or limit the types of bottles you can use.
Yes, while some people force them to fit, many others have given up on using insulated bottles altogether. Just the other day, Keita from All-City was using a pair of pliers to forcibly straighten one out...
The solution to this protrusion problem is super simple: the arrival of the newly designed Stainless Steel Flat Top.
Because there is no bend at the top, it is now possible to mount a wide variety of bottle types. The size and weight are the same as the conventional stainless steel cage. While you lose that "click" sensation when inserting a bottle, it still holds the bottle quite securely.
Even if you don't typically use traditional water bottles, you can now easily carry your favorite bottles from brands like CamelBak or Klean Kanteen. Especially now that it’s getting colder, it’s heartening to know you can bring your favorite coffee shop's "to-go" coffee along in an insulated bottle.
Incidentally, stainless steel bottle cages, which offer both strength and lightness, have less flex than standard aluminum ones, providing superior holding power when a bottle is inserted.
【Stainless Steel Flat Top】
Material: 304 Stainless Steel
Weight: Ave. 48g
※Mounting bolts not included.
New Product: Titanium Flat Top
This titanium model is about 20g lighter than the stainless steel version and offers even better durability. Like the stainless steel version, the conventional titanium cage had a bend at the top, but now a flat version is available.
Capable of mounting various types of bottles, the Titanium Flat Top is the perfect companion for riders seeking weight savings or planning long-distance rides.
【Titanium Flat Top】
Material: 3-2.5 Titanium Alloy
Weight: Ave. 28g
※Mounting bolts not included.
New Product: Mini Thing Cage
A smaller sibling to King Cage's masterpiece, the "Manything Cage," which allows you to attach not just bottles but various types of cargo as well.
The Manything Cage allows for the attachment of various essential items for long trips, such as large 40oz water bottles or dry bags.
As the name implies, the Mini Thing Cage is more compact than the Manything Cage, with a lighter and slimmer profile that fits your bike perfectly.
It can carry bottles that don't fit in standard cages, and when combined with King Cage's Universal Support Bolt, it can be securely fixed to tubes that lack bottle mounts.
The included Voile strap can be selected in either 12-inch or 16-inch sizes. For example, if you are using a 32oz Nalgene, please choose the 16-inch strap. It is also very useful for carrying items other than bottles, such as rain gear.
【Mini Thing Cage】
Size: H185 x W50 x D50mm
Weight: 49g / ave.
Material: Titanium
Includes: 12-inch Nano Voile Strap / 16-inch Nano Voile Strap
※Mounting bolts not included.
Restocked Item Highlights
With this shipment, we have also restocked items that had been out of stock for some time, so please check them out as well.
KING CAGE
Manything Cage
Size: H210 x W63 x D80mm
Weight: 50g / ave.
Material: Titanium
KING CAGE
Titanium Bottle Opener
※The engraving reads "KING CAGE".
KING CAGE
Top Cap Cage Mount
Material: Aluminum
Weight: ave 17g
King Cage Evolves Its Welding Process
Those who have seen the recently arrived stainless steel cages might have noticed: Ron has introduced—or rather, built himself—a laser welder for his stainless steel products. You can tell by comparing the weld marks to previous models (on the right).
This is truly an industrial revolution for King Cage. Thanks to this, the production pace has increased, not only shortening lead times but also enabling the development of new products like those featured here, further unleashing Ron's creativity. Of course, the pre-welding bending process is still done one by one with homemade jigs, and the cages remain products that require a great deal of manual work.
Now in its 32nd year, King Cage remains a family business, steadily growing with the help of his daughter and her husband. The products produced by King Cage are, as always, one-of-a-kind and continue to capture our hearts.
A photo from the Philly Bike Expo: seeing Ron with his beloved daughter, Tyre, and her husband all wearing matching All-Stars with patches, looking happy in their booth, was truly heartwarming.
King Cage items always seem to sell out before you know it. Make sure to grab yours when they’re in stock!
