Water Bottle and Cages

[Glory]

I hate to ask a question that has already been answered but I have searched for an hour and still can't find the thread I'm looking for =\

I am looking for a newbie bottle cage, one that I can possibly at some point remove and replace the bottle without any major mishaps =) I bookmarked this bottle cage, but I would appreciate any input before I buy something that is hard to use. Also, any suggestions for bottles would be great too!

http://www.competitivecyclist.com/pr...-807.49.1.html

[pumpkinpony]

My bikes just have boring cages like this
http://www.competitivecyclist.com/pr...43.1964.0.html

As for water bottles, I like the insulated Polar bottles. They won't fit on my mountain bike frame though, so I use the small thin plastic freebies from the bike store on it.

[zoom-zoom]

These are my favorite: Elite Custom. I tried the Tacx and didn't like them. One of the ones I ordered was bent...which said to me that a fall could destroy them, since there was no way to get the bottle in unless they are perfectly round.

Those Elite Custom ones are awesome. I have yet to have an issue getting a bottle in the cage. Prior to those I had those cheapy wire kind...total nightmare. I was forever dropping bottles.

My favorite bottles are the Camelbak Podium bottles.

[ny biker]

I've used the Polar bottles for years, but due to the angle of the top tube on my new bike I had to find a shorter bottle. So now I use Camelback Podium bottles which are also insulated.

[marni]

Since my bike came with 2 bottle cages, I just use those. I do prefer to get a wide mouthed bottle so you can get ice in it. I just use the freebies that come with ride swag bags as long as they hold 22-24 oz. They get grotty and dirty out on the road so I keep four of them in circulation. 1 in the freezer with plain water being frozen for the next ride, 1 of plain water on my bike, one of electrolyte on my bike and one being cleaned with denture cleaner.

I have found that the insulated bottles are a waste of time around here, the stuff still gets warm. Even a fully frozen bottle only lasts about 10 miles before it is thawed although still cool. Gotta love the heat and humidity around here.

[DarcyInOregon]

My bikes just have boring cages like this
http://www.competitivecyclist.com/pr...43.1964.0.html

As for water bottles, I like the insulated Polar bottles. They won't fit on my mountain bike frame though, so I use the small thin plastic freebies from the bike store on it.

I use the same kind of bottle cage as pumpkinpony, except I got them from Purely in a color to match my bike. Here is the link: http://www.purelycustom.com/p-24-alu...tle-cages.aspx

This type of cage is easier for me to get the bottle in and out of while I am in motion. I use the Polar insulated bottles also.

[Eden]

I tried Tacx Tao cages... they don't work at all on my small frame... too much clearance needed to get the bottles in and out.

I have these http://www.performancebike.com/bikes..._1024942_-1___ on my race bike and plain old wire ones on all my other bikes.

[HillSlugger]

I like the Tacx Tao and had them on two bikes.

[Glory]

I use the same kind of bottle cage as pumpkinpony, except I got them from Purely in a color to match my bike. Here is the link: http://www.purelycustom.com/p-24-alu...tle-cages.aspx

This type of cage is easier for me to get the bottle in and out of while I am in motion. I use the Polar insulated bottles also.

Those bottle cages are soo awesome! Thanks for posting the link.

[Glory]

I bought these after losing a bottle on a huge group ride when we went over rail-road tracks. I use the larger-sized Polar bottles:

http://www.amazon.com/Planet-Bike-Bu...9238991&sr=8-2

The bracket encircles the bottles much higher up. Haven't had any problems since.

Which was my next question Are the larger bottles easier to use? I'm looking at the 24 oz bottle and it says possibly a difficult fit with smaller frames?

[ciao_bella]

I like the Polar insulated water bottles also. They do come in two sizes, the 24 oz is longer, and the 20oz is shorter. I use the 20oz size because it fits better with my frame.

There are also "side loading" bottle cages that can be used with a shorter frame space. I have one made by Specialized, but other companies make them also.

For example:
http://www.arundelbike.com/sideloader.html?p=1.1.1.4

and

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/...right-ec027063

and

http://bicyclehabitat.com/product/sp...oy-77552-1.htm

Ciao

[dianne_1234]

I like plastic cages - aluminum cages leave black aluminum oxide on the bottles.