What are the pros and cons of some of the more common stainless waterbottle cages out there?

Until my closest LBS closed, I used to just get the $5 alloy silver bottle cages- I've been pretty happy with (what I consider to be) the 'classic' water bottle cage. I think I've been fortunate that my bottles haven't been marked up more than they are- I see the more... "elegant" designs, like the "iris," "R," "T," and Salsa and wonder if they offer anything other than a unique style... easier to get bottles in or out- or less grabby or more likely to get bent...

Nitto..get what you pay for and they're all hand brazed. But that still can't justify the price for me. I love my Elite Ciussi stainless cages and Salsa cage. I have a King cage also but the Elite has the classic look and the thin stainless tube I think goes perfect with small tubing of a lugged frame. I have both Stainless and the alloy cages also.

i like the one on the pink bike above. it looks like a velo orange moderniste.

i put this type on all my bikes.

gotta have stainless, so it doesn't blacken my plastic bottles as much as aluminum.

the problem with buying this type of vo knockoff on ebay is they're not always silver in color, and it's hard to tell the color from the pic. if they're grey or pewter, they don't look right. unfortunately, those non-silver colored ones are a lot less expensive.

I've tried several, my opinions on a couple:

Velo-orange Moderniste cage. Love this cage. Streamlined, almost Art Deco look. Somewhat pliable so you can bend it a smidge to really hold the bottle well. Looks great on my resto mod Raleigh but I think it might too modern for something more classic.


Elite Ciussi cage. Definitely a more classic look and great accents. Functionality not as good as VO cage though. Bottles fit a little loose for me and cage cannot be bent in at all. Still works fine, just not the fit I prefer with the VO cage.

One o' me faves are the Allara (Al-E) cages with the roller. One rolls the bottle in and out of the cage. Only made in chrome plated steel afaik. Plus they are C&V.

This old timer is a bit rusty but gives the idea -

I like the Ciussi cages too.

I have King Iris cages on one bike. They look cool but they are a bit tighter than optimal imo.

Electra makes a knock off of that Nitto cage for about half the price. I like the King cages and the V-O cages and find that they fit tall water bottles very well. The traditional cages are usually made for shorter bottles with a protruding piece intended to rest against the shoulder of the bottle.

Kings -

+

price
looks
holds bottle very well

-

none.

ciussi inox

+

The made in taiwans look good from a distance

-

price
loser on bottle
made like crap

nitto - never owned.

I've used two Nitto Rs for the last couple years and they carry the biggest water bottles I can find in the summer. They have been very easy to pull bottles out of, even on the seat tube, and are very durable. I will be getting another Nitto R for the Nishiki Professional to carry a 26oz. water bottle for this summers rides. I also have the King tulip shaped water bottle cages on our tandem and they are bomb proof and also hold the biggest water bottles I can find for summer tandem rides.

I prefer Arundel cages. I've had Ciussi and the bottles move around a lot more, they're more secure with the Arundel. And it costs less.

Had a gal bring a broken one of these by last year. It broke where the mounting plate attaches to the cage. They're stainless tubing, so I snipped the heads off a couple nails, slid them into the tube and silver brazed it back together. A little heavier than stock, but probably won't break again.

^ that reminds me that I've had two VO cages break at that joint.

I like theses VO cages, Classic looks and hold the bottles really well.

FWIW, I don't see much difference between most cages. I've got black plastic on the black Bianchi, an anodized blue cage on the Grandis, and various old or newer metal cages on the other other bikes. They all work. They all look decent enough. Bottles get marred up anyway from insertion, especially if the bottle is covered with a layer of road grime. So for most bikes I just go into the LBS (I know, yours closed) and pick up whatever looks decent at a decent price and not too heavy. I think I remember that King cages work, but I'm not sure I think I remember correctly.

That is THE reason I use stainless cages.

TGB, My favorite bottle cage is the aluminum Elite Ciussi, for looks. I haven't had any problems with bottle retention or bottles rattling around in the cage. For just a darn good cage I have had several Avenir cages. They're inexpensive and strong enough to hold a heavy, old style headlamp battery repeatably over rough ground on my mountain bike. Not very retro looking are a set of Cannondale cages I put on the '99 Cannondale.

In order: Avenir. Cannondale. Elite Ciussi



Brad

I can't see this VO double bottle cage on their site. Is it out of production now?

I quit using Blackburn Al and went to King SS 20 years ago. They hold up incredible well and don't mark up bottles.

Another King stainless fan here. I don't use anything else.

What do you use to mount them to the handlebars?

So many choices these days. I kind of miss the time when you could have any kind you wanted, as long as it was TA. Those Nittos sure are pretty, but they do make you pay.

+ 1. I'd like a pair of TA water bottle cages. Those things are going for silly money on the evil bay.

No love so far for the blackburn chicane cages. They are readily available, light, and cheap. They also work well and look right on an old bike.

The way you did that looks fantastic; do they still make the double cage holder for the front? I think it was a Blackburn bit.

+1
I picked up some cages in the past from Performance which I am certain are really Blackburn with the "Forte" brand on the tag.
Here is the road version: Forté Strada Lite Stainless Road Cage
I prefer the mtn version because the thicker tubing holds tall bottles better.