Just curious about bottle cages; I'm noticing more and more people are getting those expensive carbon ones. I just have those $5 wire (hollow tube?) ones. I like them fine, but maybe I'm missing something.

What is the advantage (if any) of the carbon ones? Are they faster, somehow easier to use, or is it just for looks?

I bought two on ebay for $20 because I thought they look pretty. They do happen to hold my bottles better than the wire one after about a month

Wire cages suck... they never hold shape, they drop bottles, and are heavy to boot. That said, for roughly the same price you can get plastic ones that are lighter, easier to use, more durable and look better. Carbon cages offer the same benefits as the plastic ones, at triple (or more) the price. But they are lighter and look better (most of the time), so at least they've got that going for them.

I think it's more a matter of not wanting cheapo cages on an otherwise expensive/high-end bike. It's like putting hub cap wheels on a Porsche. You just don't do it.

I have Arundel Mandible cages on both my bikes. I bought them when Competitive Cyclist had a sale where you get 2 Mandible cages and Arundel cork tape for $99. They're probably the best cages money can buy in terms of bottle retention and strength/weight. I love mine.

The $2 plastic cages from my LBS work fine. Carbon cages start at $20 (some are $100) and are not as durable as plastic. Weight is about the same.

These wire ones have been on my current bike since 2008, held shape, never dropped bottles, and look plenty curvy and cool... at least IMO.

love my Arundel Mandibles too, i hated the wire cages because my bottles rattled in them, they don't look very good and i had too many ejected bottles

plus some of the wire cages actually broke from all the bike vibration, they snapped at the welds

I really really hope you are joking...

I just bought two carbon cages from flyxii.com. They seem to be a Chinese carbon factory selling direct. Someone here posted a thread about a bike build they had made from one of their frames, so I checked out the website and figured why not? Both carbon fibres cages cost me $23... Shipped.

Once I've received and installed them (ordered last Thursday), I'm happy to give you guys a review

And if the review is positive - please also give us the web site.


Thanks,

I bought an Elite Custom because I got it on sale and I thought it looked all racy.

To my surprise, it's actually a lot easier to use. The bottles go in and out much more nicely and are very secure. Also it doesn't seem to mark up the bottles - mind you, this one isn't carbon.

I mean it's not a big deal, it's not like my aluminum cages didn't work - but for an extra $10, based purely on function, yeah I'd say it's worth it.

Profile Design cages (fiberglass reinforced nylon) for $5 a piece:
https://www.cambriabike.com/shopexd.a...m=016626000203
or
https://www.treefortbikes.com/product...age-Water.html

Good luck finding better bang for buck than that...

I was going to throw down for this combo I believe. My brother has them and likes them. They're super light weight at only 18g each and you get bottles with them!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/280655728985...ht_6767wt_1073

If your frame triangle is small the Arundel sideloaders are excellent water bottle cages, but they are expensive. We have 4 on our tandem and stoker and I can quickly grab a bottle even while working on a climb.

Of course: the website is www.flyxii.com

Payment was done through paypal, so seems secure, and like I said, 2 carbon cages for $23 including shipping to Canada is a pretty good deal- at the very least, I'll just give them to my girlfriend if they're no good. Once they arrive though I'll put some pictures and thoughts up.

I have carbon cages on my bike because they were free, else there is no way.

These alloy bottle cages can go pretty fast.

Only in the 41 would anybody actually ask if carbon bottle cages are faster.

My experience is that 4mm or thinner wire cages suck but 5mm ones are pretty good. They cost $3-5 each. But yeah, I've also never had any problems with my lighter and sexier Pedros Milk cages ($8 each) and Specialized Rib cages ($14 each).

Brew your own, 11 grams, goes alright

What's strange to me is that they don't post weights on their website... or am I just not seeing where they've mentioned this? I don't want to buy a set and have them be like 100g each.....

It's funny how insignificant conversations that you have with other cyclist all of a sudden appear on BF as topics. A week or so ago, I was getting my bike out of the truck and the guy parked next to me made the comment that he liked the color scheme of my bike (red, black and brushed aluminum). Since I have an aluminum frame, I'm not too concerned with a gram or two when it comes to the cages. He also commented on how perfect a match my red and black painted, aluminum cages, that I got from my LBS, are to the paint color. Then he tells me he rather have CF cages on his CF bike because of the weight factor and proceeds to put aluminum thermal bottles in the cages that certainly make up the difference in weight. Go figure....

Don't like the heavier weight of aluminum cages over carbon? Fill your water bottle with one sip less.

I have been using the Bontrager Race Lite ones (plastic) for years. The only time I've ever thrown a bottle was when I was thrown over the bars. And even then, I only lost one of them and it might have had to do with the fact I kicked one side of the cage off in the fall.

Cheap, effective, and relatively light.

I have eBay Chinese carbon ones.

I am sure someone is going to tell me they are going to esplode and chuck my bottles at me at any minute, but for the last two seasons they have worked great, are light, nice looking and cost about $20 for a pair.