Recs Needed: Torpedo Bottle and Computer Mount
EN Gear Monkeys:
P3C is freshly assembled after complete overhaul and is ready for it's first ride tomorrow in almost 3yrs. I need:
- A torpedo bottle solution. What's the best out there? Most interested in aero and zero spillage.
- A Garmin 510 mount that works with ^this^, placing the computer where I can see it. I have it mounted temporarily to the stem and it might as well be in my pocket. Can't see it at all but good enough for riding this weekend.
Any help?
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Comments
Zipp BTA Mount for Profile HC (http://www.trisports.com/trisports-torpedo-bta-mount-sytem-200.html). Fits Edge 510. I have an earlier model--it's fantastically stable.
Some folks jury rig a Garmin mount with zip ties to the torpedo mounted bottle.
I got the Speedfil Z4 Bottle Cage with Garmin Arm but I found the mount for the Garmin was still too far back. I found that a using a flexible PVC pipe zip tied just below my hands keeps my garmin 510 right where I want it and it cost pennies. I still have a big section of the pipe left and I can give you some of it next ride so it would cost you 0 dollars!
(Pictures Attached)
I cant really speak for the aero properties of the setup as a whole. It may be OK since it's in that cavity between your arms. But the HC mount may negate that a bit since some air goes in between your arms, and the HC mount puts the whole set-up more into that air flow.
I also use the SpeedfillA2/Z4 setup. Its an easy setup, aero and computer is very visible.
Yep, this setup will only last through the weekend, until Amazon Prime or whatever gets me something more permanent. New Calfee should be done soon so it will be tough to stay on the P3 for every ride
Thanks everyone for the recommendations!
I bought the A2 when it was first released a few years ago, and had a couple of issues with the straw getting upturned. Ditched it and went to the Torhans 20. Loved the Torhans.
The Torhans doesn't work on the new Speed Concept due to the monoextensions so I went back to the A2. Worked well for in training and at IMFL 2013. Then the straw got upturned at IM Canada last year and it was useless.
This year I'm going to try the X-Lab torpedo system.
If I had normal aerobars/extenstions I would use either the new Torhans AeroZ, the Torhans 20 or 30, or the new Profile Design FC.
Hey Rich.
Obviously a very personal decision so not a recommendation as much but my experiences that you may find helpful. Fortunately (or unfortunately) I've tried a few and am currently in the market as well. Key (for me, anyway) is maximizing a small cockpit and making sure I can mount a the head unit where I can see it so I don't pull an Al Truscott.
King Cage Top Cap Mount + Gorilla Cage. Simple. Works. Can jam any bottle in there any time. Used this with my Garmin 800 computer mounted nicely to the inside my left aero bar on my P2 with plenty of room. Used for three years and loved it other than the whole hafta-pull-the-bottle-out thingy. Went looking for a solution with a straw. http://www.kingcage.com/products-waterbottle-cages.html
X-Lab. I used one for a full season (last year) and found it was a hot splashy mess. There are three holes total in the top including the one for fluids and two for straws. Ended up taping them all in various ways (hello hockey sock tape!) to keep the sloppage to a minimum. For me it is a fail (you have one job bottle, ONE JOB!) but I don't have a better solution (get it, *solution*) that I love.On my P2 we mounted the computer to the top of the bottle with zip ties http://xlab-usa.com/torpedo-system.html
Profile HC: Got this one when I got my P5 this winter and had finally gone all "Office Space" crazy with a bat on the X-Lab. It DOES holds fluid very well (so fancy!) but I don't like where the straw is and it puts the computer REALLY high. No room in my new cockpit for computer on a bar or out front. May force me to use the 920xt on the inside of my wrist instead. I'll go with it if I have to, but am not in love. http://www.profile-design.com/product/hydration/aero-hc-system/
Profile FC: I am 1st in line when my LBS gets this one in and hope it is the magic bullet. Seems it will be low on sloppage and they are actually acknowledging that people want to mount their computers where they can see them. Reportedly will land in mid April at my LBS. Fingers crossed. http://www.profile-design.com/product/hydration/fc-hydration-system/
Tor Hans: Another option similar to the Profile FC I'll try if it doesn't fit the bill. Doesn't address the computer well but straw and low sloppage potential seem promising. http://shop.torhans.com/collections/aeroz
Good luck - keep us posted!
Bob, if your straw if flipping up it is too long. I cut the inside straw a bit. I also cut the end of the inside end at an angle, so when my straw is up in the drinking position, the bottom of the angled hole on the inside practically rests on the bottom, so you can get almost ever drop out of the bottle.
I'll try to see if i can find my old pics of this setup on my P3. The only change I had to make on my P5 is to put the bottle cage on backwards, so the bottle ends up with the straw in the right spot for me to drink out of.
http://www.shutterfly.com/picturepicker/viewTabletPicturePicker.sfly?fid=55ef198243fc59df2f762628e38c6d8e
On my 2014 P3 I have an X-Labs Torpedo. There are two brackets available, I have the shorter bracket without the computer mount. In front of that my Edge 510 is mounted on a Zipp aero arm that attaches to the right aero bar.
The X-Labs bottle has two holes to choose from for the straw, and the mount gives you positioning options forward and aft. I have mine right back.
The bottle has two cap options for filling, I use the one where you don't need to open it, you just ram your bottle through the self closing trapdoor, squeeze three times and you're done refilling.
I'm really happy with this set up, it works for me. The straw is right where I want it and the Garmin is placed nicely so I don't move my head to see it.
Rich, how far apart are your extensions? I would wager that resting a regular bottle on the extensions, and securing it with a big ol thick elastic that goes around the bottle and beneath the extensions, would be more aero than any of the torpedo bottle systems available. I used this for training and racing last year, and had zero bottle drops. Moreover, I think this gets much closer to the aero ideal that gave birth to this product class: Cervelos original findings ("torpedo improves performance") were with a regular bottle that was very much filling in the space between the forearms - and nothing but - without a lot of straws, mounts, and other stuff sticking up (for a good example, do a ST search on jonny0's picture - it demonstrates it very well).
Unfortunately, I think many of the aftermarket solutions are very overengineered, and make significant performance compromises for visual, marketing or brand differentiation purposes. (Plus, the above solution then lets you attach a barfly, kedge, or whatever mount for your computer to somewhere closer to the hand position, puts it rest in a wind shadow of your hands, and puts it in your natural view when riding aero. )
Again, a ST search = I think ERO found that the torpedo systems can be better than one another, but they are not the best solution. That distinction goes to the torhans 30, when positioned close to the headtube. iirc, this achieved something like a 4-8 watt improvement over baseline. The torpedos, meanwhile, had an aero cost. Cripes ... even though Craig Alexander, as a sponsored athlete, went to the track to test the XLab and found it performed better than others in the class, you will see from watching the '12 ('13?) kona video that he ditched the bottle during the ride (cuz there's not way it worked its way loose). He did most of the bike with cage only, and used other stuff for fluid.
I'll see if I can dig up a pic of the above to demonstrate. I think this is the winner for simplicity, usability and performance.
All, thanks for the input.
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