Hydration Issues ?!?

[fixiegrrl]

I am looking to add dual cages to my small 43cm Fuji track bike because unfortunately it only has room for 1 cage on the downtube. Anyway, I was thinking of getting either the Profile Design agua rack (w/standard black cages), the more tri-styled XLab flatwing (I get to choose my own cages) or the Minoura dual bottle cage holder (also has no cages). All are similarly priced and are similiarly positioned/angled under the saddle, but there is a lack of product reviews online.

Has anyone used these products before and how did they perform? What did you like most or hated about them? I'm open to other hydration alternatives or products I didn't mention above.

[Nanci]

I'm curious about this, too, since I don't have room on my 47" frame, either. But, from observing at triathlons, where you see a lot of double bottle holders, bottles aren't very secure in them, they fly out at the slightest provocation, and the pet name for double bottle holders is Rocket Launcher.

I have seen a sort of cool thing, though, a girl that had a big plastic cup in one side, with all kinds of tubes and stuff in it. Maybe not the most secure, either, though.

Camelbaks are nice, but hot in the summer, so I've taken to carrying extra drinks in a little trunk bag on the rack, (Topeak) but you'd look like a dork with that set-up in a tri...

Nanci

[Running Mommy]

Yeah I have a bottle launcher.. And it does occasionally. It's a profile design. I have one bottle holder on the down tube then the launcher on the back. I keep a water bottle filled w/ my tire changing stuff on the back and I haven't had it launch yet. But the other day I had an empty bottle launch out of the other side. I think I mostly have problems when the bottle is empty. I use just about every set up possible. I do use a camelbak for my water. I have a nice one that vents pretty well so even in the AZ heat it doesn't bother me. I also have an aerobottle that fits between my aerobars. It has a loonnng straw so that I can just take a swig when I'm down in the bars. It's nice but can get messy on rough roads. It just has a sponge thingy in it instead of an actual top, so the liquid can slosh out. It's nice for on the fly filling though. Usually I carry two bottles of my cyto/carbopro cocktail and just refill my aerobottle.
They also have a never reach system. It's a big plastic bladder that mounts on the back w/ a supppperrr loooooooooooong tube/straw that goes along your top tube and mounts on your bar. You then just take a sip whenever you want. It kind of seems like a good idea, but kinda strange at the same time. Some guys say it looks like a urinal??
There are lots of choices out there. I guess you just have to figure out what works for you. Good luck!
denise

[SadieKate]

Scroll down on this link to see a tandem dual bottle cage adapter. I just bought one for my Mercian but haven't installed it yet. It may not work with really small frames, especially if they are compact frames with a sloping top tube. I forgot to get matching cages but as soon as I do, I'll report.

http://www.tandemseast.com/parts/accessories.html

[Melody]

In the event you decide to look at hydration packs, take a look at Deuter. They're german made and are, in my opinion, cooler (from a heat standpoint) than the camelbacks. This is the pack I own:

http://www.deuterusa.com/hydro8.html

What makes them run cooler is their air stripes system. It allows for air to circulate on your back unlike the camelbacks that I've owned in the past.

http://www.deuterusa.com/airstripe.html

The other thing I like about the deuter is their bladders. It uses a clip which is removed during cleaning or filling of the bladder so you have full width of the bladder for access. Adding ice is easy

Mel

[Crankin]

I have had 2 47 cm bikes, one Cannondale and one Trek. I have dual cages, with no problem. My only problem is that I can only use a smaller bottle in the back one.

[CorsairMac]

they do make a dual water bottle cage that goes on your seat post. someone here uses one but I don't remember who. My little LBS sells them so it seems it's a common accessory.

[SadieKate]

That's the bottle launcher everyone's referring to. I hate it when someone shows up with one. I feel like we spend the day going back and forth chasing down bottles to reunite with their owners.

[CorsairMac]

That's the bottle launcher everyone's referring to. I hate it when someone shows up with one. I feel like we spend the day going back and forth chasing down bottles to reunite with their owners.

ROFLMAO - I had Not a clue it would do that! Thanks for clearing up the "bottle launcher" refernce SK!

[fixiegrrl]

Thanks for all the input. After much reading, I think I'm going to start with the Xlab saddlewing attachment which allows me to choose my own water bottle cages. I went with a newer version of the Profile Design E-cage because it has a support arm running up the back which is supposed to help prevent the launching issues that happen using the Aquarack with the unsupported bottle holders (which others have complained that the bands which hold the bottles in breaks easily). I choose the Saddlewing because it looks like there's less bottle angle and allows for more room under that saddle for my small bag. Hopefully I won't have all the launch issues and can spend my time riding and not picking up my bottles. The hydration packs are perfect for when I'm offroading but didn't work as well for me on the road. I felt a little dorky too. If that doesn't work out, I'll try the Minoura dual cage mount ($13) that is vertical and attaches to the saddle arms. So far, I haven't found any negative reviews of it.