Raised bottle cage bosses - why?

[KondratievsBike]

That's it really... just seen some on an old post of @allenh here ( https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/french-frame-identification-help-needed.385339/ ) and realised I'd never questioned why I'd got them on an old Joe Waugh...

Real and funny answers both gratefully received...

 

[grantoury]

Obviously for convenience. ;-)

Never seen that, though.

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

I had a Carpenter which had 2BA nuts brazed on the down tube. I have a Woodrup with similar but not as long. Maybe it was done before braze on fittings took off? 1960s and 1970s frames need clips and guide for most things. Just a guess though.

 

[Mod-Master]

no knowledge on this sort of thing, but I’ve seen people cram stuff like inner tubes under their bottle cages. Maybe it’s for ease of storage? I dunno

 

[grey-beard]

Less likely to scratch the frame?

 

[greencat]

More aero innit?

 

[Mod-Master]

More aero innit?

Wouldn’t the lower ones be more aero?

 

[scant]

I agree with grey beard, less likely to mark the frame. yeti cycles on the earlier 88ish FRO models used nuts welded to the downtube for bottle bosses

 

[clubby]

They look like the same as the stubs the down tube shifters fit to. Maybe builder was hung over and put them in the wrong place?

Serious guess now though. With those you wouldn't need to drill the tube, just braze them to the outside. Could save weakening a thin steel tube?

 

[greencat]

Wouldn’t the lower ones be more aero?

Strava says otherwise