The bidon cage is an interesting addition to the collection of bicycle ephemera in the Museum. It relates to the history of cycling equipment used in association with cycle racing in terms of design and materials which differ from those of today.

Bidon is a French word which means container. In cycling the bidon is the water bottle and the bidon cage is the carrier which was fixed to the bicycle in which the water bottle was carried. The dual bidon cage carried tow water bottles and was attached to the handle bars. Bottles with a type of straw were placed in the bidon cage and the rider could lean forward and drink while riding.

Nothing is known about the production.

The bidon cage was purchased at auction from the collection of Mr Jack Hepher. Mr Hepher was born in about 1915 and raced bicycles in the 1930s, competing six times in the famous Goulburn to Sydney race. He owned a bicycle shop in Campbelltown from the 1930s selling Carbine and later Speedwell bicycles. He sold his bicycle business in 1954 and in 1976 bought the Ye Olde Bicycle Shoppe in Bundanoon where he hired bicycles and restored pre 1940s bicycles. He has since retired to Mittagong and kept his collection of bicycles in a special garage/workshop next to his house. In 2003 an auction was held and most of his collection of over forty pre 1940s pedal bikes and cycling equipment sold.

'Bidon cage' dual bottle holder for use on a bicycle, metal, maker unknown, Australia, 1930s

A hand made bidon cage made up of a number of metal strips that have been bent to form a holder for two bottles. The bidon cage has soldered joints and a cylindrical wire clip or hook that allows the bidon cage to be mounted onto the frame of a bike.

Made: 1930 - 1939


Owned: Hepher, Jack;

2004/133/10

1930 - 1939

140 mm

170 mm

85 mm