Carbon Bottle Cages

majormantra

I recently got two generic ones off ebay called "D3"s and they are nice. They are well made and very light. I think I paid about £16 for both shipped to the UK.

They do hold the bottles very tightly however so they aren't the best choice if space within your frame is limited. Arguably this is true of my new Ribble but I can live with it for vanity.

I don't have a close-up but you can see them mounted here:




Matthew

bahzob

In answer to your question: no.

To be honest the only valid reason for getting a carbon bottle cage is for the bling factor.

So for an S-Works SL2 you've got to get the carbon to go with it natch and the Campag ones look good on any bike with Campag groupset etc.

Just a word of warning: I'm a great fan of carbon and just about everything on my bikes is made of the stuff.

However bottle cages are one case where form overrides function. I found in use my S-Works cages got sticky and very tough to get bottle out. Tugged hard and cage snapped. So in terms of pure function alu or plastic cages are probably best.

redddraggon

Tacx Tao

crabstix

I only recently bought a pair of Focus branded cages in carbon. I have to say they are much better in use than three different alu version I have used. The bottles, camapg, slip in and out easily with minimal rubbing on the surface of the bottle, yet are retained securely at all times. Expensive but functionally and aesthetically worth it.

Monty Dog

I've yet to find a carbon cage as secure and easy to access as a Tao over the rough stuff- IME there's plenty of expensive 'bottle launchers' out there. The downside of the Tao is it's resistance to a sideways impact - but most carbon cages aren't too durable either - at less than a tenner, it's less heartbreaking.

Chrissz

Elite Pato Carbon - lovely bit of bling - had mine for several years now and never a sign of any problems at all

robthehungrymonkey

I bought non-branded ones off ebay.

And yes, for the bling factor plus i needed some. They do look cool though.

IMO, they're pretty good, the best bottle cages i've ever had. Not sure on how long they'll last (although they seem pretty well built they are very thin), but i've never felt the need for extra strength ones. I don't race, and have never fallen off my bike so maybe that's relevant?

Smokin Joe

robthehungrymonkey wrote:

I bought non-branded ones off ebay.

And yes, for the bling factor plus i needed some. They do look cool though.

I don't race, and have never fallen off my bike so maybe that's relevant?

Oh dear.......Oh dear, oh dear oh dear.

I would not have said that...

robthehungrymonkey

Smokin Joe wrote:

robthehungrymonkey wrote:

I bought non-branded ones off ebay.

And yes, for the bling factor plus i needed some. They do look cool though.

I don't race, and have never fallen off my bike so maybe that's relevant?

Oh dear.......Oh dear, oh dear oh dear.

I would not have said that...

Yeah, i've never had a puncture either....

(obviously, going to get a puncture on a 35mph downhill on my way home tonight and fall under a tractor).

proto

redddraggon wrote:

Tacx Tao

What he said.

The whole point of carbon bottle cages is their blingtasticness. Just knowing I'd bought cheapo from ebay would spoil it for me. Where's the poser value in chepa n cheerful.

So Tacx or Campag, but the Tacx do work very well indeed. (BTW so do the Tao alum versions too, and there only a few grammes heavier)

nicholasj

I brought some of the Planet X ones - very nice simple design, light and well made - excellent quality i think. Also come in a gloss or matt finish to suit your bike.

Cant see any issues of lost bottles as yet..and not too bad a price (compared to Campag etc!)

Surf-Matt

Just ordered one from Hong Pong - Spesh Rib Cage carbon for £20. Have the plastic one on the road bike (this is for my MTB) and like it a lot. I think some have broken them - not sure how.

neeb

These are not particularly cheap but they work very well:

http://www.enigmabikes.com/components/e ... od_36.html

Very easy to get the bottle in and out (just ram it in the general direction of the cage) and also secure. It's a good design because it does actually make use of the properties of the material to make a functional product. The carbon has the right balance of springiness and stiffness to keep the bottle in place but also allow you to easily get it in and out.

TheStone

Also have the Planet X ones. They look and work really good for not much more than the ebay ones.

alfablue

The Planet-X ones are very good!