Don’t really care for my Specialized cages since they require spotting to seat the bottles. They are the type which can be swiveled from horizontal to vertical to anything in between, They hold the bottles securely but my old fashioned (1980s) cages didn’t require spotting first. Since it is a more modern bike, I would prefer a more modern cage. Don’t need ultra expensive carbon but don’t want heavy either.

So what does the brain-trust suggest? And if we can keep away from name calling and arguments, it would be quite refreshing.

https://www.elite-it.com/en/products...stom-race-plus

I second the Elite cages, I've got them on a couple different bikes.

I have a set of these on one of the road bikes:


For the gravel bike, I have the "Cannibal XC" Elite cages. They load from the side/top and really hold the bottles well in bumpy terrain. I can even grab/put back a bottle in them when bouncy down some rocky fire road, without even looking.

I'm ignorant - what does "spotting" mean?

For my road bikes, as light as possible, so Zefal Pulse L2:

For my gravel bike, a bit more security, so Tacx Ciro:

I also had the Elite Race Skins Sierra_rider posted above but found them super tight for either Polar or Camelbak bottles.

Sorry, for the vague word. Was trying to say, Looking down at the bottle cage while riding, to place the bottle in the cage. With the current set-up, I have to take my eyes off the road rather than just reaching down and placing the bottle while keeping my eyes on the road.

I kind of thought so but wasn't sure. I can't make any suggestions better than what's already been posted. I haven't really had a problem with getting the bottle into the cage and have only dropped a bottle once in my memory going back at least 15+ years. Also, I've never lost a bottle bounced out. So I'm not a good judge.

https://kingcage.com/products/iris-king-cage



Stainless steel so bottles don't get marked up.
Stainless steel so cages don't snap or crack.
Stainless steel so bottles stay in place since that's like the most basic expectation for a cage.
MUSA, for what it's worth.

If you want it in black- https://mythcycles.com/product/powde...ng-cage-black/
If you want a different shape...
https://www.amazon.com/Arundel-Stain...BoCzBQQAvD_BwE
https://www.biketiresdirect.com/prod...hoC-wkQAvD_BwE

I've used so many different ones over the years. But, my favorites are the titanium King cages and the Enve carbon ones...

Those are exactly what I use, too. Zefal on my road bike and Tacx on my MTB and gravel bikes. Zero lost bottles.

same

Enve cage just 18 g

King Ti cage is 28 g

I use those Tacx ones on all my bikes. The roads around here have enough potholes.

I think the word “looking” could have been substituted for “spotting”

Two years ago I bought cheap ultra light carbon fibre Amazon one and they work great. They hold the bottle firmly. I never lost one. They're 20g each I believe. The only downside is that they can scratch water bottles.

Amazon.com : PERGEAR Black Carbon Fiber Lightweight Bicycle Water Bottle Cage for Cycling - Pack of 2 : Sports & Outdoors

I recently bought the Supacaz Fly Cage Carbon ones for my new Tarmac SL8 since they were 25% off. Not sure why I did that considering that they're 70$ a piece, but whatever...

I use the Bontrager ones from REI they work great are cheap and only weigh 38g.

The reviews said they scrape up the bottles. Your experience?

I have only dropped a bottle once from the Zefal Pulse L2. I was still learning to drink on the go -- so I guess my (small Polar) bottle was not fully inserted -- when I rode over a thick, raised steel plate covering a patch of road under construction during a fast descent. The bump was so hard that I barely managed to hang on. I found the bottle against the curb of a side road a block back.

I think all composite cages that hold bottles reasonably securely would scratch up plastic bottles.

I can see how the lower model could be loaded from the side, maybe not the upper.

There are times I fail to find the cage w/o looking when replacing the bottle--lacking Stevie Wonder skills on the go--and even then some are less fiddly than others. This is my current favorite, because who doesn't relish paying seventy bucks for a twelve-buck accessory?

Silca Securo Ti V2.

In my experience, bottles get scratched up eventually, regardless of cage material. Such is the nature of moving a bottle in and out of a friction fit retention device.

+1 - except, I go cheap and run the $20 SS King cages of the same shape. And those cages always grab the bottle on a no-look stuff. (But you gotta stuff that bottle straight. Crooked stuff? The world will see that crooked stuff the next 20 miles until you reach down for the grab and "what's going on!")

I've been hearing for years the ti Kings work just as well. I probably should go that way because two of my bikes are ti. When my SS cages wear out. It will give me something to look forward to in my next lifetime.

My favorite also. I have two each on my gravel and road bikes. Strong, light and secure. I've never dropped a bottle no matter how rough the trail.

Elite.

Another vote for the Bontrager Elite Recycled water bottle cage. Besides working well it was the only one I could find that matched the bike

My LBS recommended Arundel Mandible on a build we did. Ended up loving it. Put it on a couple road bikes and a gravel. Never lost a bottle.

+1 on the Mandible.

My completely unfounded and non-scientific take on all of the Ti and Steel recommendations -- they work great, but I want a bottle cage that breaks or bends before my frame does (ie. in case of a crash).