Originally Posted by 79pmooney

Yes, they were, The current SS Kings are better, (Hold the bottle just as well, don't rust, look better and probably last longer.) I've switched because the Kings exist. But I rode the TAs for 30 years and still have one in use. (1967 to 2020. That's a decent run.)

I was told several times by different shop owners that TA kept making the steel cages long after the US market was abandoned because there was a small but very important market that wouldn't go away, that in fact begged TA to keep making them. The professional racers who were no-name domestiques. The laborers so critical to getting the stars to the finish line (and who often finished hammered an hour later. These were the guys who did their work then dragged themselves over the mountain because they HAD to finish to be able to suit up, start tomorrow and do it all over again. Losing that WB 40k from the finish doing the rough descent on a 97 degree day when the last support vehicle was well up the road? Absolutely NOT OK. Grand tour ending for him, quite likely a major setback for the team in days to come and possibly costing him next year's contract. Steel TA cages? Bike's heavier but those bottles don't fall out. Priorities. So, please, please TA, keep making those cages!

I still have several but they are way past giving to anybody.

Ben