Anyone use Arundel Chrono setup?

kathleennelson

Hi Nation,  trying to decide on my hydration/fuel set up for my up coming HIM and IMWI.  I am considering the Chrono by Arundel.  The only place I can put it is on my seat tube for there are not screws on my downtube.  My question is will it work ok on the seat tube?  For those that have used it, does the cage release easily?  I am assuming one needs to squeeze the bottle to get it out and then does it just pop back into place?  I will use that for fuel and either a cage between areo's or an areo drink lite for water.  Any other suggestions?  Thanks!

DocHoffart

I have this setup on my downtube for 2 of my bikes. It releases and holds well. I have never had an issue with it. It is a standard sized bottle relative to holding contents but of course is irregular in shape. That noted: it is not easy to refill and requires wedging a butterknife in the bottletop and leveraging it to open the lid (not the squirt top) and put contents in. In other words, it isn't going to be easy to refill on the fly. So, if you think you will be refilling it during the race, I haven't found that to be a task that will happen. I guess you could clench the lid between your teeth and yank but only your dentist will appreciate that after the extensive work you will need makes his/her "non-english speaking auto payment" for him/her.

Vince

Nemo Brauch

I have the Arundle bottle and use it as a "feed bottle" for races (holds all my liquid nutrition). On my QR I had it on the downtube, but the only place on my Felt is on the seat tube. It fits there just fine and although it was easier to take the bottle in/out on the downtube, it still works fine on the seat tube (I just need more practice).

Although I don't have problems getting the top off like Vince mentions- I do have problems getting the top back on and would agree with him that refilling it on the fly would be a problem. For a HIM this isn't a problem- I only need one bottle. For IM, I put a second bottle in the bike SNB and just do a quick exchange when I get there.

ghernand

Dear Kathy,

I use the arundel bottle.  takes a little while to get used to in terms of getting it back into the cage, but no biggie.  i agree with the others that the lid is hard to open and close, so riding with no hands or using teeth to fill on the fly in a race would be difficult.  for training, i use this bottle on the down tube and a horizontal regular bottle between the aerobars, secured with Xlabs torpedo holder.

for racing, i use the horizontally mounted regular bottle between the aerobars and use this as my water bottle for taking from the aid stations.  on the down tube i use the speedfil system and it holds my infinit mix. 

for a 70.3, i keep the horizontal holder empty and use only the speedfil.  if i want water, i take at the aid station, drink, and then dump bottle before i leave that station. 

for IM i leave t1 with water in front and infinit below.  taking water at aid stations and placing between aerobars.  at special needs, i have a large bottle with infinit.  i yell at the kid to take the bottle out of the bag, i take it without stopping and fill the speedfil, throw out the empty bottle before i leave the bottle drop area, and that will hold me until T2. 

i don't train with the speedfil because i train in same area as Rich Strauss and i don't want him to laugh at me all geeked out training with my speedfil.  i use the arundel because i can't deal with anything that is not aero!!!!!!

hope this helps!

g

HayesSanborn

Yup I use it, I don't have the issues opening or closing it. However, I have I have to squeeze really hard to get my drink. I don't get as much with a normal squeeze of a bike bottle.

Not enought of an issue to change though....I keep it on the seat tube

 

kathleennelson

Thanks everyone for the advice!  Sounds like the Chrono might be a good option for fuel and like you do Nemo, refill at the SNB.  Water will be between the areo's with a bottle or areo drink lite....I haven't decided on that yet.  Love this place for good solid advice that works

gina

Hey Kathy- I used the Arundel in 2008 for IMFL as my feed bottle. Had 2nd one in SNB, worked just fine. I switched to a Speedfil for IMAZ and am 50/50 on going back to the Chrono.

kathleennelson

Posted By Gina Hamel on 27 May 2010 04:14 PM

Hey Kathy- I used the Arundel in 2008 for IMFL as my feed bottle. Had 2nd one in SNB, worked just fine. I switched to a Speedfil for IMAZ and am 50/50 on going back to the Chrono.

 

Gina, good to know from someone who has used both.  I had been considering the speedfil, but kind of like the look of the chrono better.  The speedfil looks rather big and I only have room for a cage on my seat tube, so prolly it wouldn't work anyhow for my setup.  Really leaning towards the chrono.  Thanks

Paul Hough

I ejected my Arundel Chrono bottle off my down tube in at least a half/dozen races and finally ejected that piece of crap off my bike. Bontrager makes a similar bottle with a cage that locks it in tight. Maybe Arundel has redesigned their cage since I first bought mine in 2006. Sounds like I'm the only one who had problems though.

kathleennelson

Paul, just wondering about how you were ejecting the bottle?  did it not fit into the cage properly or do you mean the bottle came out when going over bumps etc...curious because everyone else's experience seems positive.

Nemo Brauch

Wow- I can't imagine that think ejecting. The only time I've ever lost a bottle, it was totally my own fault. At about mile 90of a 100 mile ride I was limping home in a world of hurt and bonkiness when I stopped at a light and took a drink. When the light turned I just rolled and didn't put the bottle back in securely= I dropped it somewhere in that last 10 miles and I couldn't even tell you when it happened- I was totally out of it that day.

Paul Hough

Kathy - if I hit a good bump with a full bottle, out it went...and it was seated correctly. And I even put velcro between the bottle and the cage for additional holding power after the first three ejections. Last time was Nov 09 at the World 70.3 champs. I knew the mounting screws were frozen, and right after that race I told my wife the cage was coming off even if it ruined the frame. Well there's now a hole in the frame were that mounting bolt was and I now have a new bike (actually 3). So in the end, it was good. I'm thinking of putting the Bontrager bottle on my new QR CD0.1 since it is aero and the clips go into deep indents in the bottle. No way will that thing go flying. However, I'm exploring all options at the moment to see what matches my paint scheme best ... that's equally important.

HayesSanborn

Posted By Paul Hough on 27 May 2010 05:19 PM

I ejected my Arundel Chrono bottle off my down tube in at least a half/dozen races and finally ejected that piece of crap off my bike. Bontrager makes a similar bottle with a cage that locks it in tight. Maybe Arundel has redesigned their cage since I first bought mine in 2006. Sounds like I'm the only one who had problems though.

My snaps into place, sounds like they've redesigned it. 

 

kathleennelson

FYI Peeps, bought and installed the Chrono and used it on yesterday's ride.  Love it!  Works great and is an improvment from my previous cage and bottle set up!  Thanks for all the advice!  Still trying to figure out how to carry water?  Tried putting a cage between the aero bars, which would work, but no place to put the computer!  I think I might have room for the areolite bottle without having to move the computer.  I think that might be my only option.