A case for quality bottle cages
#27
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 494
Likes: 0
From: Owings Mills, Maryland
Bikes: 2011 Trek 8.4 DS hybrid; 2012 Felt F-75 road bike; 1990 Specialized Stumpjumper MTB; 1992 Guerciotti road bike (inactive)
Yep. I hear you. I need to go ahead and replace my bright red nylon cages (nice looking) with the old school metal ones that allow you to bend inward to make tighter. After this past Saturday's ride (3 riders, 38 mi loop with RR track crossing at bottom of long, fast downhill) when my bottle dislodged just to the point of release before I grabbed it. I only knew to grab it after last time I did this loop (last Fall, 4 riders) when bottle completely dislodged and hit the ground, fortunately rolling off into a ditch without incident. I never, ever had that problem with the bendable, old school metal cages since I started road riding in 1985. I would not want anyone to go down (and you'd go down pretty hard) b/c of that. I'm pretty sure I can find a set of bright red cages that secure the bottles over the worst bumps. GOOD POINT.
P.S. You'd think that the problem might be limited to us amateur enthusiasts and weekenders. Think again. In more than one pro race in Belgium (Het-Volk, or maybe Ghent-Wevelgem) I've seen a few bottles on the floor as the peloton descends a very fast, steep, cobbled section at break-neck speeds.
P.S. You'd think that the problem might be limited to us amateur enthusiasts and weekenders. Think again. In more than one pro race in Belgium (Het-Volk, or maybe Ghent-Wevelgem) I've seen a few bottles on the floor as the peloton descends a very fast, steep, cobbled section at break-neck speeds.
#28
your god hates me



Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,916
Likes: 3,753
Bikes: 2026 Crumpton T5, 2016 Richard Sachs, 2010 Carl Strong, 2006 Cannondale Synapse
#29
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 7,391
Likes: 13
From: Memphis TN area
Bikes: 2011 Felt Z85 (road/commuter), 2006 Marin Pine Mountain (utility/commuter E-bike), 1995 KHS Alite 1000 (gravel grinder)
I have a pair of these in black, they work pretty well with Podium Chill bottles: https://bontrager.com/model/09664
I was riding roads the other day that were about as close to gravel as you could get, but still be considered asphalt chip-seal, and the bottle still held securely.
I was riding roads the other day that were about as close to gravel as you could get, but still be considered asphalt chip-seal, and the bottle still held securely.
#30
Senior Member

Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,611
Likes: 478
Yes indeed, I agree: quality cages are one of the most important parts on a bike. This is especially true around here, the roads are third world-ish in the spring. I'm always amazed at how many terrible designs are out there that launch bottles at the slightest bump. This is really dangerous in a group.
Stainless is a great option, but other options hold just as well if not better. Elite seems to know what they're doing. I like the Elite Custom Race cage for my road bike which cost about $20, hold securely, look cool and are basically indestructible. For mountain/cross, the ~$17 alloy Elite Gel Ciussi is my favorite. Ciussis are really tight and a bit of a pain to get a bottle out of, the tradeoff is that it's basically impossible to lose a bottle from them. Ciussis are the most commonly used cages at Paris-Roubaix for a reason.
Stainless is a great option, but other options hold just as well if not better. Elite seems to know what they're doing. I like the Elite Custom Race cage for my road bike which cost about $20, hold securely, look cool and are basically indestructible. For mountain/cross, the ~$17 alloy Elite Gel Ciussi is my favorite. Ciussis are really tight and a bit of a pain to get a bottle out of, the tradeoff is that it's basically impossible to lose a bottle from them. Ciussis are the most commonly used cages at Paris-Roubaix for a reason.
#31
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,939
Likes: 181
From: Newport Beach, CA
Bikes: S works Tarmac, Felt TK2 track
Boyd has a really nice CF cage that is very secure. I have been torpedoed by a bottle from one of those behind the saddle triguy setups. Actually it was a trigrl and fortunately I was watching that area closely.
#32
#33
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 802
Likes: 0
From: Lake Claire, GA
Bikes: 2008 Giant TCR Advanced
I just ordered from CC and picked up a new one (back ordered) added some new camel back insulated bottes aswell. the new bottle barely fit in the cages. Very snug. But it works with a little effort.
#34
I recently broke one of these. I had to bunny hop off a curb and the bottle on my seat tube was still full of water. I landed hard enough so the that the bottle broke the little lip on the bottom. It still holds bottle fine, just have to rest the bottle on the down tube. I thought I cracked my frame.
I just ordered from CC and picked up a new one (back ordered) added some new camel back insulated bottes as well. the new bottle barely fit in the cages. Very snug. But it works with a little effort.
I just ordered from CC and picked up a new one (back ordered) added some new camel back insulated bottes as well. the new bottle barely fit in the cages. Very snug. But it works with a little effort.





