Carbon Cages: Please Talk Me Out of Them
I went online to buy bottle cages for Dash, my beautiful Kestrel, thinking I would get something relatively inexpensive, plastic and slightly sexy-looking. One on the frame, one zip-tied between the bars, and I'm ready for 70.3 training and racing. But then, I started seeing all the pretty carbon fiber cages. And I started thinking insane thoughts, about how my bike NEEDS carbon fiber cages. Worthy bling? Or should I stick with my cheap, plastic cage plan.
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Have you thought about an aero bottle/cage for the downtube? That would be worthy bling with a bit of a performance advantage. Just a regular carbon cage is not worth it in my book. However, if you can afford it, why not?
From a completely irrational, emotional standpoint: Dash would look resplendent with carbon cages.
Trying to justify the purchase: you will have some weight savings with the carbon cages.
The solution to your problem: Buy carbon cages that are ON SALE!
No need for carbon cages when you can have a carbon aero bottle. It's only $200 and probably not dishwasher safe, but it would look really cool on Dash.
How about a Speefill set up? Hands free drinking is the only way!
I have a carbon cage for my second bottle--really, really cheap on sale. The reason I like them is the "give." They flex and open easily, so sticking a water bottle back in just feels smoother to do. Take this with a grain, b/c I am a bottle dork extraordinaire. But I do like them for that reason.
From somebody who had some serious buyers' remorse over the carbon cages, don't do it. Not worth it. Buy a cheap cage (Bontrager makes some great ones that are cheap and have good hold, Elite also makes some good ones), and spend the money on beer.
Or, I could trade you mine for Elite cages and beer...
Mike
The profile design e-cage ones can be found for $5 or less each, but they break pretty easy. Now I'm using the heavier plastic profile ones. The bontrager bat cage is really solid and works great for between the bars because of multipe ways you can zip tie it.
I have cheap, off brand cages. Last year, when Su got her new bike, we put XLab gorilla cages on it. They are the bomb! She never ejects a bottle when mine are all over the place.
They are my Bday wish for this year!!
Like DAvid, I got my carbon cages on sale for about $20. I wouldn't go back to metal, now that I think this over.
Oh, no! I was counting on the nation to fall one way or the other. Speedfil is definitely in the hydration scheme for IMWI. Does anyone use their Speedfil all the time, or is it too high maintenance?
Hm. I have a birthday coming up in a few weeks. Maybe one sexy carbon cage (on sale) as a present to myself and the cage Mancona suggested to zip tie to aero bars?
I have one carbon cage (with a cute carbon pump attached to it) and one old school metal cage (it's there because the bolt head have stripped, and I can't get it off). I never lose bottles from the carbon one, and have lost several (in races) from the metal one.
I vote for whatever LOOKS the best, though - color and form coordination.
If you're going the seat mounted bottle carrier route, I would highly recommend the carbon XLAB gorilla cage as they are very good at holding on to bottles and not launching them at every road bump opportunity.
I use my speedfill all the time. Yes it is a PITA, no doubt, but I love it. Also, you will need to have a different cage entirely for it, so not sure if that will impact your decision.
(Dan has spoken. Beth goes to shop for white carbon cages.)
Regular bottles will not fit. I use speedfil on the downtube, and 2 bottles in a cage behind the seat. that gives me about 4 hours worth of nutrition. Sometimes I may even use a aero bar bottle I bought years ago for that additional 5th-6th hour ride. Obviously I have weight issues.
Overall in a race, I always use speedfill, its easy, im lazy to get a bottle out of a cage..too hard...
http://www.xcracer.com/shop/viewproduct.php?productid=51
"Don't ask questions you don't want to know the answers to", I heard a few times.
It was the war being my inner zen capitalist, who knows it is easier to lose 20g of me and my inner stylish triathlete, who is riding around on the same frame as most of the Kestrel-sponsored riders.
I'm thinking this is my cage (in white). Especially since I have a white rear wheel cover.
Since I was told to make a birthday wish list, the top part of contains the "style my ride," plan, including pink castelli jersey. I'm thinking three red stars in a line on the rear wheel, and I have myself a beautiful ride.
Beth- I rode with Carly last week. She has the exact same bike (not sure of size) and uses the Speedfill. It fits great. I was envious as it will not fit my bike. But I do have carbon cages with the down tube having a side opening so it's easier to remove since I have a small bike frame.