Bottle Cages - Tacx Tao Carbon V's Bontrager Race X Lite

Spins

Getting new carbon bottle cages for my bike, which is matt black with white type and some red detailing.
Have it down to this or this
What do you think?
Any experience of either?

TinyExplosions

Tacx Tao all the way

CheGuedara

Or you could keep it euro and get some of THESE.

Pricy, but if you're dressing up something nice you may as well go all in, no?

(oh, and they're secure too)

Lumen

I have these titanium ones which are supposed to be 22g each, which is lighter than either of those plastic yokes. :pac:

Spins

Both are nice and I've already spotted them but I've decided it's either the tacx tao carbon or the bontrager race X lite. Which of these looks nicer IYO?

Lumen

Tao.

btw, a poll probably would get more responses than a discussion thread.

Ciaran500

WTF, are you guys really that obcessed with weight to spend €60 on a bottle cage.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=34008
Save €50 and struggle with that extra 10g on the bike (thats about the same weight as a €2 coin)

decrrrrrr

Spins wrote: »

Getting new carbon bottle cages for my bike, which is matt black with white type and some red detailing.
Have it down to this or this
What do you think?
Any experience of either?

I put the Bontrager Race X Lite on my new Trek recently. Do exactly what they are suppose to do and look well on the bike..

No experience with the Tacx..

stuf

mind you don't put bottles in the cage or if you do, for god's sake don't put liquid in them - you might not be able to move the bike with all the extra weight

Ciaran500

stuf wrote: »

mind you don't put bottles in the cage or if you do, for god's sake don't put liquid in them - you might not be able to move the bike with all the extra weight

And don't forget to pick your nose, brush your teeth, shave everywhere and go to the toilet first. Alot more than 10g to be saved there :pac:

Diarmuid

The Botranger looks good but doubt I'd pay €35 for a cage.

AstraMonti

I would choose none of them, but if you are concerned about the weight, there are very nice carbon bottle cages on ebay for a tenner with only 22g weight! I can find up the seller if you like

blorg

I have the Tao on most of my bikes, most of them have the aluminum version which I picked up for around £6 with free bottle from PBK but I have the carbon version on my road bike for the bling (€20 with free bottle in Cycleways sale.)

To be honest carbon bottle cages are mostly about the aesthetics, for me anyway. The 10g isn't that big a deal to me

The Tao looks good and is damn cheap in aluminum (my primary reason for buying it originally.)

But to be honest I am not sure it is the best out there for gripping bottles. The key issue is that as it loops all the way around it has no "give" to accept and grip the bottle and this often means it is either tough to get the bottle in fully, or the bottle is too loose (especially if you are using non-Tacx bottles- the Tacx bottles are tapered and do fit better with the cage.)

My suspicion is that models that have two arms that are "open" (like the Bontrager) would actually grip the bottle better while making it easier to re-insert/remove. I've used a cage similar in design to Lumen's linked Titanium ones before and it did grip the bottle better I reckon.

AstraMonti

blorg wrote: »

To be honest carbon bottle cages are mostly about the aesthetics, for me anyway. The 10g isn't that big a deal to me

Now.. everybody knows thats a lie! You didn't buy the tubes from the offer because they had a longer valve which meant 1g more

jdt101

For some bling it has to be Zipp http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=A6001 The price is not bad vs the other choices. I have bought one for my road bike.

rottenhat

I'll be sticking with:

blorg

Doesn't come up for me but I hope your are referring to the Nitto R which is a lovely cage on an appropriate (read classic steel) bike. Very different aesthetic to a carbon cage though and not sure it would be so appropriate on a carbon bike! As expensive as a carbon cage too.

Spins

Hey Astramonti, send me on that ebay sellers details please..

rottenhat

blorg wrote: »

Doesn't come up for me but I hope your are referring to the Nitto R which is a lovely cage on an appropriate (read classic steel) bike.

Purist! Yes, it was indeed the Nitto R and Nitto T. I think the T works a little better as a cage, but nothing beats the R for looks.

AstraMonti

Spins wrote: »

Hey Astramonti, send me on that ebay sellers details please..

Here you are

I 've bought my self a pair of these, great quality and good looks too

Home:Ballyhoura

Spins wrote: »

Hey Astramonti, send me on that ebay sellers details please..

Hey man, I was the person who introduced these cheap carbon cages! Here is one of the places I had a link to both of the sellers (same person I think!) I had mentioned them many times before this too!


Anyway...Tacx have a class new design, their Custom Macia bottle cage. I want one!! I did a quick search and found a few big people use them: here, here, here, here...and a nice picture. It will self adjust like blorg was on about and it's light too! €25 is much cheaper than some of the other cages mentioned. The ideal cage for me (it would suit you color scheme "Spins")

Just look at how beautiful it is, and according to the Cervelo mechanic Alejandro Torralbo it is very durable

the Elite Custom Macia cages are tough enough to last an entire season if needed

Elite’s use of ‘Macia’ signifies carbon look-alike construction. Its composite is finished with a carbon appearance. You get the bling, and save the dough. Its a few grams heavier, 6 to be exact.

The Custom Macia uses the same self-adjusting system as the Custom Carbon. The shiny metal is replaced with a red plastic end piece at the base of the ‘V’.

As cages go the Elite Custom Macia Cage offers the best bang for the buck. Carbon appearance, composite pricing, firm hold on bottles and weighs in at 33 grams. We must admit it’s a great buy.

Home:Ballyhoura

I found the Tacx Tao here for £3.93 but I can't find the "Buy Now" or "Add to Basket" button anywhere on the page...any ideas? It was also for sale here for the same price but is no longer available!

I was going to replace my 2 carbon ones which I got off eBay. They look class but they aren't very reliable. I lost a bottle in a race by just going over a pothole (towards the start of the race and it was my only bottle!) and a second "good bottle" which wasn't so cheap: the Camelbak Podium (luckily I found it after the race)! So, maybe I'll have to go with the cheap Tacx Tao on PBK for €8.84 each including a bottle (any idea what the bottle is like?) seeing as the class Elite Custom Macia is still a bit expensive for a bottle cage!

zzzzzzzz

Home:Ballyhoura wrote: »

I found the Tacx Tao here for £3.93 but I can't find the "Buy Now" or "Add to Basket" button anywhere on the page...any ideas? It was also for sale here for the same price but is no longer available!

I was going to replace my 2 carbon ones which I got off eBay. They look class but they aren't very reliable. I lost a bottle in a race by just going over a pothole (towards the start of the race and it was my only bottle!) and a second "good bottle" which wasn't so cheap: the Camelbak Podium (luckily I found it after the race)! So, maybe I'll have to go with the cheap Tacx Tao on PBK for €8.84 each including a bottle (any idea what the bottle is like?) seeing as the class Elite Custom Macia is still a bit expensive for a bottle cage!

I've got two Tacx Tao cages and I wouldn't buy them again.

They're fairly flexible and had lost their shape within a few weeks of putting them on the bike - they're now more oval shaped and you have to squeeze bottles back in to them. Although that would solve your problem of losing bottles.

TinyExplosions

Home:Ballyhoura wrote: »

So, maybe I'll have to go with the cheap Tacx Tao on PBK for €8.84 each including a bottle (any idea what the bottle is like?) seeing as the class Elite Custom Macia is still a bit expensive for a bottle cage!

I ordered a pair of them from pbk the other day, and they arrived yesterday -the bottles are standard Tacx 500ml ones, just like I normally use (though I have a couple of the camelbaks and quite like them), I got a Unibet and a Silence Lotto -I suspect it's a random team bottle taken from somewhere.

@Aidan -I've not had the problems you're describing with my tao's, and am happy to reccommend them... horses for courses I guess

xz

I ordered these for my PX http://cgi.ebay.ie/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&item=260391500730 JUST HOPE THEY'RE THE REAL DEAL. 2 for the price of one is a great deal. He also does Ti nuts and bolts etc with free postage.

lukester

Have Taos too, and never had a problem- only used them with Tacx bottles though.

@Tiny- which Camelbaks do you use, thoughts on them? I like the idea of the bite valve, and they do a BPA free bottle, but it doesn't seem suited to bottle cages.

biker_joe

i used the elite macia, plastic ones .... very good indeed and they work, as in they will keep your bottle in during a race ..... some brands I have used were n't up to it .... tacx being one of them, i just don't like the design !

the elites are good value, and I could find other things to buy for the €40 euro difference for carbon, or else just lower the HR for an hour and lose the 10g in FAT

Biker Joe

TinyExplosions

lukester wrote: »

Have Taos too, and never had a problem- only used them with Tacx bottles though.

@Tiny- which Camelbaks do you use, thoughts on them? I like the idea of the bite valve, and they do a BPA free bottle, but it doesn't seem suited to bottle cages.

I have a pair of these. Got 'em cheap, which was why I tried 'em. One is my 'work' bottle, that I use in the office, and it's ok. Downsides are that it is hard to get the lid on tightly, sometimes it leaks a bit, and I actually find the valve more awkward to open, as it's a twist rather than a pull (they market this as a good thing, but I don't really like it)

Bottom line is they're fine to use off the bike, don't think I'll be bringing them on any spins though

KStaford

Jesus guys are you really this obsessed with weight...?
(forgive me as I am a toal noob and novice)

If you are this obsessed with weight, then you should never, never put an actual water bottle with actual water in it on the bike (too heavy) and you should shave off all body hair (too heavy). Moustaches, beards etc not allowed. Get rid of shoe laces, mouth siliva, toe and finger nails, head hair, all leagally unnecessary clothing etc.
Personally, if I am going for a water bottle holder, I'll give some tosser €2 for one in buy and sell or whatever.

I have a feeling I'm gonna be banned new, ah well, twas nice while it lastede, farewell all.

Home:Ballyhoura

I think the CamelBak podium bottles are grand. The valve at the top is not really a bite valve like the ones on the bag bladders/resevoirs. It has a lockout feature to keep s sealed while travelling, but you just leave the valve open when you are ready to ride (i.e. when you are on the bike). It is a very clever little valve, as when it is open, you can turn it upsidedown and nothing comes out. You either have to suck or squeeze for it to come out. The whole idea of this is so that you are not looking down to open the valve (like on standard bottle like the tacx) and when you are done, no need to do anything to close it (no more banging off your hip to close the valve!). The only downsides that I can see is the cost (you wouldn't want to lose them) and mainly that not as much water comes out as quickly as the standard bottle. This can be ok when training, but in a race when you are gasping for breath, it can be an issue. Hope this helps!

Diarmuid

KStaford wrote: »

Moustaches, beards etc not allowed. Get rid of shoe laces, mouth siliva, toe and finger nails, head hair, all leagally unnecessary clothing etc.

It's easier to buy a light bottle cage

KStaford wrote: »

Personally, if I am going for a water bottle holder, I'll give some tosser €2 for one in buy and sell or whatever.

indeed