Last few pieces of the puzzle - bottle cages

fat bloke

Looking to sprinkle the last few grams of carbon over my soon-to-be completed bike build.

Anyone got a heads up on some not too overpriced bottle cages? Something classy, and a splash of colour might be nice too - preferably red.

These BBB ones look grand tbh and the price is ok (19 euro). Just wondered if anyone else would like to opine :pac:

AstraMonti

Really go to ebay, there is like a trillion* carbon bottle cages (around 100k with red color :P) , and the majority would be lighter than the BBB too.


*Numbers might not be 100% accurate

fat bloke

Hmmm, you might actually have underestimated the selection

It's ok to recommend a particular one, y'know..... anyone? Anyone?:o

jj1

Red, cheap as chips & lighter than carbon.

Also the solution to most bike technical issues.

Muckers

FSA Kforce are the business. €80 each on crc. ebay for a fraction of that.

doozerie

Personally I like Specialized Rib Cage cages, for £11, and available in a number of colours:



Or Elite Custom Race, for £9:



My wife uses the Rib Cages, I have an Elite on one bike. I reckon the Rib Cages probably hold a bottle a bit more securely.

Edit: Oh, sorry, just noticed that you were looking for carbon, which neither of the above are. I have Arundel Mandible carbon cages on one bike and they are excellent. They seem robust and the certainly hold my 710ml bottles very well. Colours are limited to black and white though, and they are £40 each on that site. In reality I'm not sure that their performance is so superior to Rib Cages to justify the price though, I was just spoiling myself with carbon when I bought them.

kincsem

As doozerie said
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/elite-custom-race-bottle-cage-2012/

Top Features of the Elite Custom Race Bottle Cage 2012
The undisputed number 1 bottle cage in the pro peloton, a true design classic which is also self-adjusting.
Tough composite plastic construction is durable and light
Added rubber tensioner grips bottles tightly for peace of mind in sprints and on rough sections
Wide range of colours and graphics to perfectly match any bike

I have two carbon bottle cages. They are off the bike as they hold the bottle too tightly and it is also difficult to insert the bottle.

fat bloke

Have to disagree on those Elites, I think they're awful. I bought two of them for the Mrs, and another time two for myself and very shortly after they looked worn and grubby and .... sh1te basically.
I know the real carbon weight savings are shag all and the prices can be silly but I had the same carbon cages on my Felt for three years and they always cleaned up like new and still looked perfect when I sold the bike in October just gone. There was a small bit of white/washout on the insides alright, but all in very very satisfactory pieces of kit. I'd be replacing those elites every 6 months to keep them looking well, and you wouldn't be long then making up the price of a carbon pair.

doozerie

What about the aluminium Elite Cuissi gel for 9euro (plus shipping of 6.53euro):



I have a pair of these on one bike and they perform well. When you put a bottle in it doesn't feel like the cage holds it well but I've never had a bottle fall out or even come close - having said that I don't think they'd hold a bottle as well as the Specialized Rib Cage. My ones are black and the colour has worn off over time where the bottle makes contact on parts of the inner face, but I think that is probably inevitable for any painted cage.

For a non-painted plastic cage, the Arundel Sport for £9 is one that is reputed to hold bottles well:



...and yes, I've put altogether too much thought into bottle cages, the above are all ones that I've bought over the last couple of years, though I've yet to put the Arundel Sport ones into use.

mossym

sorry to resurrect an old thread, but what did you go for in the end?

BDK

I have those elite cages aswell and though they do a good job,they do look grubby where the bottle rubs off them.Any suggestions on alternatives?