My poxy Specialized one has died – the “tabs” that hold the bottle in have snapped off so the bottle just falls through it.

Currently using my plastic “Rib Cage” but it looks gay (bright red and naff looking).

Any recommendations for bottle cages that don’t break but also don’t cost four billion quid?

Zefal one looks okay – any good?

i use a cheap as chips £2 specialized aluminium one and never had any issues over the last couple of yrs. i had one of the carbon spesh ones and it, like yours, died. didn’t really see the point in a replacement carbon cage as there was so little weight difference for the extra money….

Bontrager Race X Lite Carbon ones are good. I used to use Tacx Taos, the carbon ones are very nice, but mine broke after a couple of years and they’re not cheap. The alu ones look alright though.

Cheers njee – will look them up.

Mine’s lasted just over a year so can’t return it. Dammit.

http://www.pedalon.co.uk/acatalog/bontrager_side_entry_cage.html

Never drops the bottle (I’ve been down descents on race courses strewn with bottles and mine’s not budged!), full-sus compatible. Won’t break.

They do a carbon one too if you think its worth £28 to save 40g.

Njee – seem to be a couple of different types.

Is this the one you mean?
X Lite

Yep, that’s the one I use, also never dropped a bottle (but never really had that problem with any cage I must say!).

Taxc Taos aluminium ones are utter bobbins an an mtb, the bracket construction is very weak, OK for road bikes though.

Not carbon, but very good and look nice.http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?PartnerID=79&ModelID=37234

If it’s carbon you want, the Planet X ones are really excellent and reasonably priced. Around £28 though they often do a 2 for 1.

If it’s carbon you want, the Planet X ones are really excellent and reasonably priced. Around £28 though they often do a 2 for 1.

But they have quite sharp edges and gouge great chunks out of the water bottles.

I use a Ti one from Wiggle for the road bike. The colour probably doesn’t match that many bikes tho.

Bonty X Lites are great. £20 delivered on ebay. I have a Merida one that came with the bike and I have no marks on my bottle. Brilliant

This is where mine have come from,

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-cages-Pair-Full-Carbon-bicycle-water-bottle-cage-/230544449364?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35ad851f54#ht_1404wt_932

I got an ebay special (from the UK) for about £14 delivered, has survived well so far after about 6 months use.

Do bottles stay in cages when you ride ?

When I have used cages the bottles always seem to head for the undergrowth.

Bazzer

Bazzer – yep. In fact with the plastic Rib cage, it’s really hard to get the bottle out!

Cheers for the ideas all – very handy!

I use some elite plastic ones. NEarly as light as carbon, look ok and are tougher.

Just bought an x-lite off teabay for £21 (from overseas) – cheers all!

What is the point in carbon bottles cages? Save 40g to then put in 800g of full water bottle seams a bit pointless. Then again I suppose you could say that about most light bike parts.

I wasn’t impressed with planet x ones, lasted less than 5000 miles before the bottom tab broke. Pbkones are lasting well though.