My Vanity and Pretty Tacx Bottle Cages

[hilldweller]

Can you not just drink from the one you can get in and out, and swap them over when that one's empty? Or do have one for water and one for energy drink or something?

[Karma007]

Okay. That just looks hot. If it weren't for having to actually drink out of them...

[lunacycles]

Your bike is designed for Dale's Pale Ale or Bud Light only on the seat tube. I agree that Dale's is one fine brew in a can. No, really, they should have put one of the bottle cage bosses below the front derailleur mount-it usually works well there and still allows for a bigger bottle...but, nevermind...

If you are ready to explore with other cages, you might consider the one made by Velocity. Not nearly so space agey and blendy with the frame, but they have some adjustability in how they attach so you could get it a few mm lower on the seat tube and probably have good access that way. The only side-access cages I have seen don't impress me.

[wackyjacky1]

Your bike is designed for Dale's Pale Ale or Bud Light only on the seat tube.

+1. That will have to be your carb replacement drink.

[ZenSojourner]

Camelback.

'Nuff said.

[Eden]

Camelback.

'Nuff said.

not really - some of us would find this to be terribly uncomfortable and/or have other reasons that we cannot use one and need a solution that allows bottles

[ZenSojourner]

Have you ever used one? I'm not sure what sort of discomfort you fear, but I've never had any.

At any rate, for those of us who's properly configured bike frames don't allow easy access to water bottles, a camelback is a wonderful thing. Also, I've found since switching to a camelback I drink more frequently. I actually don't use the camelback brand, my first one was a camelback, but the ones I'm using now have velcro closures instead of the narrow opening on the camelback, basically I can clean it much more easily. It's open all the way across the top, then you velcro it closed and roll it up kind of like a dry bag. I have 2 sizes, one as big as I could get for those 50 to 75 mile rides, and a smaller one for short rides/commuting.

If you don't like 'em, don't use 'em, but don't dismiss it out of hand for everyone. My camelback means I can ride with one to no bottles, still have my frame pump, and not have to worry about dehydrating. I literally do not notice it up there on my back. And I ride in some heat, over 100 on blacktop.

Otherwise I'd have to carry water in my panniers and stop to get a drink, because I only have room for one small water bottle on my short-person, small-frame bike. And it's hard to get in and out while riding.

I'm awful glad I don't have to try to manage with "traditional" water bottles.

[tzvia]

I almost make 5'2" if I try very hard to stand up real straight, and ride a 44cm Ruby. As much as I would like to use a light weight beautiful cage like those, I know I will need to yank the seat-tube bottle sideways, so I use these:


They are Elite Ciussi tubular SS cages. Not as light or pretty as the CF cages I wish I could use, but they 'give' a bit so I can get the bottle out. They look kinda retro on a CF bike, but I just don't have the room to pull the bottle straight up. They do work great; I've never lost a bottle, even on my MTB (use it for an energy drink.)

Camelbacks are fine for MTB, where you need to carry more water than you would on a road bike (no 711 on the mountain side), but the weight, carried high on the back or hips, just does not feel right on a road ride IMO. I used to do that, but went back to the bottle, and much prefer it.

[smurfalicious]

Your bike is designed for Dale's Pale Ale or Bud Light only on the seat tube. I agree that Dale's is one fine brew in a can. No, really, they should have put one of the bottle cage bosses below the front derailleur mount-it usually works well there and still allows for a bigger bottle...but, nevermind...

If you are ready to explore with other cages, you might consider the one made by Velocity. Not nearly so space agey and blendy with the frame, but they have some adjustability in how they attach so you could get it a few mm lower on the seat tube and probably have good access that way. The only side-access cages I have seen don't impress me.

Ha ha yes indeed that is the answer. If only it was a cross bike, then it would be 100% appropriate. I do, actually, enjoy taking a long ride out to Oskar Blues, chilling on the patio for a burger and beer, filling up water bottles, emptying my bladder and heading home.

I'm just frustrated because my friend I bought it from seems to think it's no big deal that I have to use a "solution" type cage on a 52.5cm frame. Blue is a small company, certainly she can put a bug in someone's ear. This is a totally racey bike, and I plan to race on it so I need two functional cages, and I ideally they should make me swoon. There's a size smaller than mine, what in the world are they supposed to do?

So that said, Camelbak is um, way out. I think that looks so dorky on the road.* Not to mention out on the road, as opposed to in the trees, you're in the sun all the time and those things get HOT! I've lived in BFE, and do most of my riding on BFE roads and there's nowhere so far that hasn't been more than two water bottles away from a quicky mart with fresh, cold beverages. I like to carry different things, and refilling a Camelbak sounds like such a hassle. And I've found that much like eating in front of a TV riding with a Camelbak makes me drink too much. And unlike rural Oregon there a way fewer places to steathfully pee.

Now there is the new Camelback Racebak that is part baselayer, and part Camelbak, but it just sounds like a laundry nightmare if I wanted to use it regularly. However, it might be my crit solution because I am so lopsided that I could take out a whole pack trying to get my bottles. So bad that I might end up going 45 minutes with no water. I've never done a crit, but I doubt that's "just what you do."

*Note I said, "think." This is merely my opinion and nothing to get butthurt over.

[Eden]

tzvia - I ride a 44cm ruby too. I've got these cages
and they work great for me. This design with the front open and very low works nicely. They have enough give to get the bottles in and out, but they are stiff enough to keep them securely held. They are light and pretty good looking to boot. (not to mention pretty cheap for carbon cages at $30 each) When I first got them I was afraid they'd break - they look and feel so fragile, but I've had them for a couple of years now with no problems.

[ilima]

Can you not just drink from the one you can get in and out, and swap them over when that one's empty? Or do have one for water and one for energy drink or something?

That's what I do. The bottle on the down tube is the one I drink from. I switch the bottles out when I stop or if I'm riding in a place where it's safe to switch them; just hold one bottle in your mouth when you make the switch.

[fidlfreek]

+1 on the Arundel side entry cages. They work like a dream on my 49cm compact frame.

They come in righty and lefty styles so you can use whichever hand feels most comfortable. And they look SO SO smooth