And maybe it's because they are not paying for their bottle cages out of their own pockets - their teams are supplying them - often complete with sponsors logos prominently on them. That being said, I agree, there might be. a miniscule performance improvement in shaving an ounce from the bike of a professional racer. I never said that there wasn't. But nobody who posted in this thread inquiring about what cage to buy, IS a professional racer. And BTW, that miniscule performance gain from shaving an ounce of weight from their bottle cage is just as likely to be from something known as the placebo effect as it is from the actual minute weight savings itself.

Also, I can assure you that not EVERY pro bike racer uses costly carbon fiber bottle cages on their bikes. Some, particularly some of the ones who don't have sponsors and are paying their entire way out of pocket - use the cheap plastic ones.

Get the cage that will get the most approval from a bunch of interweb strangers, do a poll, make whole process out of the pain of making a decision. Or you can make up your own mind and choose the ones YOU like.

White is not a material, it's a colour (:

Plenty of teams use bog standard plastic cages such as Elite Custom Race

http://cdn.mos.bikeradar.imdserve.co...sml-700-80.jpg

Probably because they were under the UCI weight limit.

No, because they do the job of holding a bottle.

Fiery, let me ask you a question: If I, D1andonlyDman, irrespective of my prior disagreement with badger1 over a typo, were to post, using my Bikeforums handle on this internet blog, that "1 + 2 = 3" would that quoted equation be my subjective opinion, or is it an objective fact?

So does a $2 wire cage... but they don't use them.

I don't seem to see these around much, but I just spent way too much getting a pair of Tacx Tao Carbon bottle cages. I had some heavy aluminum ones, same design, but broke a mount after about 10 years of use.

I think these are really nice to use.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...L._SL1500_.jpg

I paid more for my cage because it looked cooler. Don't care about any performance gains and the extra money I spent won't leave me starving. There is more to things than cost/function.

They do in Paris Roubaix

http://cdn.coresites.factorymedia.co...4/IMG_8331.jpg

My point is that you said pro riders use expensive, lightweight, carbon cages, when actually they don't: they use standard cages. Weight-weenies use lightweight carbon cages.

What if I told you that the CF cages actually look much dorkier?

I would squirt my water bottle at you. :)

Mine is not CF by the way, but it wasn't $2.

Well.... you're right when it comes to Paris-Roubaix. I checked a number of pictures and they do use heavier aluminum cages. I suspect they do because they are more secure. I do know that the Bontrager XXX cages I have said they are intended for road and not MTB or offroad use. That is they do flex and a bottle can come loose if the road is rough enough... ie. cobbles.

Now on a mountain climb, they use lighter cages, so just like wheels and frames, they alter their equipment to suit the ride.

Jens Voigt 2011 Trek Madone 7 with RXL carbon bottle cages

http://cdn.coresites.factorymedia.co...7/IMG_2111.jpg

I would go with the White/Celeste Highlight and clear water bottles. I have a similar issue on my bike. Cannondale Supersix evo in the white/green/blue Liquigas colours. I found any type of colour tended to appear very heavy on the frame. I went for the cheaper option with White/Green Highlight Elites also shown in the thread.

I'd get a White/CF mix.

I would get white plastic cages, that way when you put a white water bottle in them it looks like there's nothing holding the water bottle. Stealth.

MOD NOTE - Can we please extend the decency to the OP to not derail this thread into yet another "why do I ride an expensive bike" thread? If you really want to have that battle again, please take it up in a new thread or one of the many that already exist.

I'd definitely go with the white Bianchi cages. The black on the inside complements the carbon and they aren't as visually bulky as some of the other options shown.

Thanks!

I ended up buying these for $40 shipped. A little pricey but eh... I like how it looks.

I'm glad I posted here because prior to posting I didn't even know these elite cages existed.

http://cdn1.bigcommerce.com/server32...0.1280.jpg?c=2

Good choice. They'll look great and function well.

As much as our bikes are machines, many are also works of art