wheelspeed

Nylon bottle cages seem like good bang-for-the-buck, and I like the Bontrager ones to go with the rest of our Bontrager kit on our Trek, like the race lite: https://bontrager.com/model/04072 (It's a basic plastic look if you don't want to click.)

I'd also like two side-load cages, and it'd be nice if they matched. Unfortunately Bontrager's only side-load cages are CF. Beautiful, sure, but I don't want to spend >$200.00 for matching side-load (x2) and regular (x2) cages!

So, has anyone found a brand that is good value ($30 or less each) with somewhat matching regular and side-loading cages? Or, anyone using side-loading cages that are so good that they use all four cages in that version?

Also, I hope I'm assuming correctly that any plastic/composite cage won't scuff bottles?

diabloridr

My wife has Arundel side loaders on her teeny-tiny Calfee. Expensive - yep (though about $10 cheaper than the Bontragers), but really no other option for getting the bottles in and out. She has no complaints.

You're correct, plastic/composite shouldn't scuff, if you keep the cage clean of dirt or other abrasives.

zonatandem

You can use a handlebar mount for your bottle cages for stoker and pilot. Minoura sells to adaptor for the handle bar mounts.
Then go one step furhter: remove the pull-up tab from center of bottle cap and stick in a plastic flexible tube . . . drink without removing the bottle.
That'll give you 2 more bottle mounts. At rest stops you can refill the HB bottles from spare bottles on the frame.

Mxfarm

Maybe I'm missing something.... but what about - https://bontrager.com/model/05512

Then just powder coat it to whatever color you want.

marc

dvs cycles

Besides all that they are great cages. I have 4 of the other-sider version(side-loader wouldn't work for right handers) on our Santana.
Great company too. When I inqured about a reverse side-loader they got right back to me saying they were already gearing up to make them and contacted me when they had them and where in my area I could buy them. Actual one on one e-mails.
Dave-O cages on all my singles also.

wheelspeed

I just took a look at the Arundel website, and, they do look like nice cages. However, the side-loader ones are $50.00 each, and the matching standard ones are also about $50.00, so for two of each, I'm back to $200.00 for cages. :-(

wheelspeed

Hmm, I haven't thought of that. My stoker probably would like to have a bottle on the bars. You don't think the back of my thigh would touch a water-bottle mounted on the front of the stoker bars?

TandemGeek

Ebay has always been a good source for me when it comes to water bottle cages. I've bought at least 10 Profile KK-2 Karbon Lite cages over the past couple years and I don't think I've paid more than $25 for one + shipping. Several were bought in pairs. They typically sell from $45 to $66 MSRP.

Just a quick search using ' side water bottle cage ' turned up a few lower-priced possibilities. No telling where the auctions will end, but nothing ventured...

https://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=sid....c0.m270.l1313

catonec 

$4.99 61 gms/black

https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...7_10000_202543

wheelspeed

Thanks guys. But those other ebay options are aluminum, as well as the Nashbar one, and aluminum scuffs up the bottles. As I get older, with more bikes having different bottle-cage patterns and tired of bottles looking like they're from the city dump, I want to get away from aluminum cages. Admittedly, aluminum is the best bang for the buck in price and weight if you're not anal-retentive like me.

I guess I could resubmit this thread as searching for "Nylon or composite side-load cage for < $30.00 that doesn't have a CF weave-look."

gracehowler

WE followed Zona's advice and mounted one on the bar for the stoker, wife loves it, clearance issue is not me, but her, knees are really close when she stands.
R&J