Side Loading Water Bottle Cage Recommendations
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,075
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 27 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Side Loading Water Bottle Cage Recommendations
Getting a new bike next week so I need a recommendation for new bottle cages. Due to the bike having compact geometry (necessitated by me having "compact geometry"), I need side-loading cages. I'm not a weight weenie, and I don't need carbon, especially at $50 each. Not a big fan of buying off ebay (so there go the Chinese CF bottles). Really all I'm looking for is a first-hand recommendations for a good-quality side-loading cage, that are either flippable or come in left and right versions so I can access both cages with my right hand.
I've seen some Ibera alloy cages on Amazon that have a faux-CF finish, but I don't think they meet the requirement for flippable or left/right versions. I saw that Arundel has a plastic sideloader that's flippable. Also, Elite has an aluminum one that's flippable. I think right now, it's down to these two. Anyone have experience with these (or possibly other recommendations, e.g., Specialized, Lezyne, Blackburn all make side-loaders as well)?
Thanks,
KB
I've seen some Ibera alloy cages on Amazon that have a faux-CF finish, but I don't think they meet the requirement for flippable or left/right versions. I saw that Arundel has a plastic sideloader that's flippable. Also, Elite has an aluminum one that's flippable. I think right now, it's down to these two. Anyone have experience with these (or possibly other recommendations, e.g., Specialized, Lezyne, Blackburn all make side-loaders as well)?
Thanks,
KB
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 167
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Arundel makes quality cages that work. My sideloading Arundel cages have worked perfectly. I have never had a bottle fly out when hitting a bump. In short they are simply the best.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 71
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
4 Posts
Specialized has their zee cage which is side loading. They make left and right, but most shops I've only seen them stock 1 side. You can order direct from their website, if wanted.
I've used a pair for 3 years. No issues.
I've used a pair for 3 years. No issues.
#4
Senior Member
I've always wanted to try the Specialized Zee cage, but they never have the colors I want in stock...
I'm currently using Zefal's Wiiz cage. These are cheap plastic cages, and they look like it. If you need a cage that looks cool, you'll need to pay more for an Zee or Arundel. At 65g, they're twice as heavy as a carbon cage that would cost 8X more. The only time they've dropped a bottle is when I got T-boned by a car. One nice feature of the design is that you can flip the cage over to create a left-handed or right-handed orientation. I bought mine at Amazon for $8. I've been using mine since January of 2009 without a problem.
I'm currently using Zefal's Wiiz cage. These are cheap plastic cages, and they look like it. If you need a cage that looks cool, you'll need to pay more for an Zee or Arundel. At 65g, they're twice as heavy as a carbon cage that would cost 8X more. The only time they've dropped a bottle is when I got T-boned by a car. One nice feature of the design is that you can flip the cage over to create a left-handed or right-handed orientation. I bought mine at Amazon for $8. I've been using mine since January of 2009 without a problem.
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 1,968
Bikes: '09 Trek 2.1 * '75 Sekine * 2010 Raleigh Talus 8.0 * '90 Giant Mtb * Raleigh M20 * Fuji Nevada mtb
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Timing is everything. I just discovered my water bottles don't come out of cage either. Here's another one for you to look at - Cannondale Alloy Side Cage Bottle Cage. I'm liking the looks of the Spec Z cage at $20, left and right, so they will both open to the same side on the seat tube and down tube, but that is just for looks. Maybe I'll go with an faux carbon alloy though. And has to match the silver / black them of my bike.
__________________
FB4K - Every October we wrench on donated bikes. Every December, a few thousand kids get bikes for Christmas. For many, it is their first bike, ever. Every bike, new and used, was donated, built, cleaned and repaired. Check us out on FaceBook: FB4K.
Disclaimer: 99% of what I know about cycling I learned on BF. That would make, ummm, 1% experience. And a lot of posts.
FB4K - Every October we wrench on donated bikes. Every December, a few thousand kids get bikes for Christmas. For many, it is their first bike, ever. Every bike, new and used, was donated, built, cleaned and repaired. Check us out on FaceBook: FB4K.
Disclaimer: 99% of what I know about cycling I learned on BF. That would make, ummm, 1% experience. And a lot of posts.
#6
Engineer
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: El Paso
Posts: 178
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Check out Bontrager sideswipe. ambidextrous so you can flip for left or right handed and they are actually pretty sturdy as well
Bontrager: Sideswipe RL (Model #11219)
Bontrager: Sideswipe RL (Model #11219)
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 6,432
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 539 Post(s)
Liked 44 Times
in
38 Posts
I've also been using the Specialized Zee cages, and they've been perfect. Dunno what else to say - they just hold onto the water bottle securely, pretty easy to get it in and out, they just work.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 1,968
Bikes: '09 Trek 2.1 * '75 Sekine * 2010 Raleigh Talus 8.0 * '90 Giant Mtb * Raleigh M20 * Fuji Nevada mtb
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Check out Bontrager sideswipe. ambidextrous so you can flip for left or right handed and they are actually pretty sturdy as well Bontrager: Sideswipe RL (Model #11219)
__________________
FB4K - Every October we wrench on donated bikes. Every December, a few thousand kids get bikes for Christmas. For many, it is their first bike, ever. Every bike, new and used, was donated, built, cleaned and repaired. Check us out on FaceBook: FB4K.
Disclaimer: 99% of what I know about cycling I learned on BF. That would make, ummm, 1% experience. And a lot of posts.
FB4K - Every October we wrench on donated bikes. Every December, a few thousand kids get bikes for Christmas. For many, it is their first bike, ever. Every bike, new and used, was donated, built, cleaned and repaired. Check us out on FaceBook: FB4K.
Disclaimer: 99% of what I know about cycling I learned on BF. That would make, ummm, 1% experience. And a lot of posts.
#10
Senior Member
Another + for Specialized. I use the Podium Ice or Chill bottles and they have an undefined shoulder. If any bottle should get ejected from a cage those would be them (and in fact they redesigned it and the new ones have a shoulder now).
I've done crits with a fully loaded big bottle on roads with such bad/sharp-edged potholes that people were moving bars, levers, breaking wheels, crashing, and of course ejecting bottles. I actually moved my bars once on that course, also moved one lever. However I never dropped even a totally full Podium bottle from my Zee cage.
I use the regular one for the other spot, which I can top load.
This is the bike with the small Podium bottle (Podium Ice).
I've done crits with a fully loaded big bottle on roads with such bad/sharp-edged potholes that people were moving bars, levers, breaking wheels, crashing, and of course ejecting bottles. I actually moved my bars once on that course, also moved one lever. However I never dropped even a totally full Podium bottle from my Zee cage.
I use the regular one for the other spot, which I can top load.
This is the bike with the small Podium bottle (Podium Ice).
__________________
"...during the Lance years, being fit became the No. 1 thing. Totally the only thing. It’s a big part of what we do, but fitness is not the only thing. There’s skills, there’s tactics … there’s all kinds of stuff..." Tim Johnson
"...during the Lance years, being fit became the No. 1 thing. Totally the only thing. It’s a big part of what we do, but fitness is not the only thing. There’s skills, there’s tactics … there’s all kinds of stuff..." Tim Johnson
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Someplace trying to figure it out
Posts: 10,664
Bikes: Cannondale EVO, CAAD9, Giant cross bike.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 67 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
6 Posts
Check out Bontrager sideswipe. ambidextrous so you can flip for left or right handed and they are actually pretty sturdy as well
Bontrager: Sideswipe RL (Model #11219)
Bontrager: Sideswipe RL (Model #11219)