Not the sexiest of topics, but let's talk bottle cages. What do you recommend?
03-09-21, 12:27 AM
#1
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Not the sexiest of topics, but let's talk bottle cages. What do you recommend?
*for road cycling only (no gravel or MBT), so holding force doesn't have to excessive
*easy to insert and remove the newer Camelbak bottles
*looks ummm sexy?
*the lighter the better, but without breaking the budget
*carbon... ?
Suggestions?
*easy to insert and remove the newer Camelbak bottles
*looks ummm sexy?
*the lighter the better, but without breaking the budget
*carbon... ?
Suggestions?
03-09-21, 12:40 AM
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I have something made of plastic. It was kinda cheap and in the right color. But mostly because of being the right color. Matching colors make you faster.
03-09-21, 01:03 AM
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I used to buy some ridiculously cheap cages on Nashbar and Perfromance .... 26 grams I think, for about $5. I shop by weight and low price ..... not so sure a big-name, high-dollar cage holds a bottle any better. I'd go online and see what's out there. And really, unless you race, 50-100 grams for a couple bottle cages .... less than the weight of the bottles. As far as looking sexy ... I have never seen a bike component with which I wanted that sort of relationship, but no judgement ... whatever works for you. 
I found some really cheap, really light, nice-looking (minimalist, black-and-white so they match everything) cages on Nashbar or Performance. Of course that was several years ago .... prices have probably tripled. 
I found some really cheap, really light, nice-looking (minimalist, black-and-white so they match everything) cages on Nashbar or Performance. Of course that was several years ago .... prices have probably tripled.
03-09-21, 05:48 AM
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03-09-21, 05:56 AM
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https://www.arundelbike.com/product-.../bottle-cages/
They make nice stainless cages like king and also many nice carbon cages
They make nice stainless cages like king and also many nice carbon cages
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03-09-21, 06:04 AM
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Carbon bottle cage not sexy? Surely you jest.
03-09-21, 06:43 AM
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If your bike is carbon, it is best to use a carbon bottle holder. A metal holder will damage your frame when accident happen because it does not itself break.
03-09-21, 06:59 AM
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Just don’t get one of those cages that allows you to remove the bottle from the side. Bottles fall out of them with bumps or if you don’t grab the bottle just right. It’s happened to me, and I’ve seen it happen to others too.
03-09-21, 07:05 AM
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I have yet to find a reasonably priced true carbon wb cage that lasts as long as a cheap plastic wb cage. Both will mar the bottle you slide in & out. The adjustable topeak's are not gentle with the store brand 16.9oz bottled water.
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03-09-21, 07:20 AM
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Lay your bike down on the ground in any orientation you like, and you will see that the bottle cages will not come in contact with anything. To break a bottle cage, you would need some weird off-the-bike mishap -- I'm not sure how that would happen.
And I'm not even sure that you are correct about a cf bottle cage breaking before a cf bike frame. Seems like it would depend on the particular items we're discussing.
03-09-21, 07:22 AM
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I got a couple stainless steel cages on a new bike a while back. My wife remarked that water bottles coming off that bike didn't get marked up like water bottles coming off my other bikes, which were all aluminum. Took me a while, but now I've got stainless cages on all my bikes. Wife is happy, I'm happy.
I don't know where they all came from. I think one bike's came from REI, another from Velo Orange.
I don't know where they all came from. I think one bike's came from REI, another from Velo Orange.
03-09-21, 08:23 AM
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Ew, David - metal cages on a modern carbon bike look out of place to me. Wouldn't do it.
I like the Bontrager Elite cages - I've continued to buy them even though I don't have a Trek anymore!
Bottle holding is just about right with the insulated Podiums (which I assume have the same outer diameter as the regular) - not a vice, not a bottle launcher. Available in lots of colors and, at $20, I think that they're reasonably priced for something that you can pick up locally, giving you and opportunity to see and fondle before buying. For $50, the same design is available in carbon fiber in the Pro series.
I like the Bontrager Elite cages - I've continued to buy them even though I don't have a Trek anymore!
Bottle holding is just about right with the insulated Podiums (which I assume have the same outer diameter as the regular) - not a vice, not a bottle launcher. Available in lots of colors and, at $20, I think that they're reasonably priced for something that you can pick up locally, giving you and opportunity to see and fondle before buying. For $50, the same design is available in carbon fiber in the Pro series.
03-09-21, 08:24 AM
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I only mess with Elite or Supacaz cages, depending on the aesthetic of the bike.
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03-09-21, 08:33 AM
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This is so improbable as to be a non-issue.
Lay your bike down on the ground in any orientation you like, and you will see that the bottle cages will not come in contact with anything. To break a bottle cage, you would need some weird off-the-bike mishap -- I'm not sure how that would happen.
Lay your bike down on the ground in any orientation you like, and you will see that the bottle cages will not come in contact with anything. To break a bottle cage, you would need some weird off-the-bike mishap -- I'm not sure how that would happen.
03-09-21, 09:12 AM
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Was that the monkey working on the complete works of Shakespeare who took a break for a bike ride?
03-09-21, 09:39 AM
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Origin8...making hydration sexy again.
03-09-21, 09:45 AM
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03-09-21, 09:48 AM
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03-09-21, 10:11 AM
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I got taken out by another rider on a wet, downhill section of road once, and in the crash, broke one of my $70 Lezyne carbon cages. It was a freak accident, but proved how stupid it was for someone of my humble means to spend that kind of money on water bottle cages.
03-09-21, 10:24 AM
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Cateye bc100 is reasonably light, durable and inexpensive.
03-09-21, 10:29 AM
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I expect my cages to hold water bottles and not break. To be items I put on, use and forget. The old chromed steel TA cages of the '70s and early '80s were that cage. The SS King cages are that cage. Weight? Not back breaking. COst? Under $20. Life expectancy? Don't know but I fully expect 20 years and 20,000 miles without breaking or losing a bottle. Perhaps needing a tweak or two to improve grip.
Now I hear both the discord visually with CF frames and that the cages are probably stronger than the middle of most CF DTs and STs.
Now I hear both the discord visually with CF frames and that the cages are probably stronger than the middle of most CF DTs and STs.
03-09-21, 10:40 AM
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Another vote for Arundel. I have a set of stainless steel cages on my carbon bike.
I like the way it looks, and so far my bottle cages haven't broken my frame.
I like the way it looks, and so far my bottle cages haven't broken my frame.
03-09-21, 11:13 AM
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I have 3 different cages on 3 bikes and they all work and I've never had a bottle fall out. I choose mainly on how it will look on the bike and price. Most expensive ones I have were $25 ea. and I consider that an extravagance. Spending big bucks to save 10 grams or so, seems a little crazy to me.
At the end of the day, it's a bottle cage. Pick one and see how it works.
At the end of the day, it's a bottle cage. Pick one and see how it works.
03-09-21, 11:26 AM
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... and nothing happened.
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03-09-21, 11:35 AM
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Elite makes some good cages. The tacx are good but are hard to remove some bottles. Elite can be kind of tricky with various makes.
I have found personally the super light cages like <20g have too much flex for me. (bontrager xxx)
I have found personally the super light cages like <20g have too much flex for me. (bontrager xxx)