I'm a klutz -- recommend a bottle cage...?

[artifactos]

You could always just wear a small Camelbak for the bike portion. You can put it on in transition and take it off in transition.

I saw quite a few people with smaller Camelbaks in a local sprint triathlon today - I figure I'll probably have to use mine if I ever get past Olympic distance on the bike, since I go through two water bottles on my 20-30 mile rides, even in spring weather. I can't imagine how much water I'll go through during the summer - I sweat a lot!

Good luck with the cages you're trying, though!

Also: On the run, unless you will drink a lot, most races will have hydration points every mile or so, so you do not need to carry a water bottle or hydration pack. I guess it depends on your personal preference for that! Most triathlons/duathlons I've watched have provided water or electrolyte drinks in cups, so you drop the cup or throw it in a trash can coming out of the pit stop instead of holding onto a bottle.