I bought a Zefal tool bottle thing to hold a few bits under the down tube and a Zefal bottle cage thinking they would be the perfect match. It is not a snug fit and rattles 🙁
So, is anyone able to recommend a bottle cage with an emphasis on holding the tool keg firmly with ease of removal relatively unimportant?
The cage you have plus a velcro strap
I have a specialized side loader.
The cage you have plus a velcro strap
That could be the solution. I will have to check there is a suitable place to thread a strap through
I have a specialized side loader.
Another vote for the Specialized Zee, just remember to chose left or ride loading (not so important here, but just in case you ever do use it for a bottle)
https://www.bikeparts.co.uk/products/elite-struka-microadjust-bottle-cage-black
I use these on my gravel bike. Never had a bottle rattle or fall out.
Specialized Zee
+1 It happy grips on to my thermo's flask (7cm), which is not quite as big a normal drinks bottle.
Bontrager does a bottle cage called the Bat Cage made from recycled fishing nets that grips bottles like a determined mastiff. Just really effective in a no-nonsense, affordable way.
The Elite Ciussi was always the default answer to this question. Squeeze it to make it tighter and/or add some grip tape.
Zees are great but you also need to be careful with bottles as the retention "notch" isn't always at the same height.
BBB dual side loaders. Cheap and never let me down
If I don't need a side loader because of weird frame shapes, my go to is the old skool Blackburn MNTN cage. Great grip, but also bendable
Arundel mandible. Not cheap but I have never lost a bottle.
Too many choices, I need consensus dammit! 😀
Decathlon simple, plastic bottle cages hold tool bottles well. A velcro strap around the downtube, as mentioned, if you want to avoid the bolts rattling loose and losing vital tools/parts.
Van Rysel 500: £4.99.
After experimenting with many where people told me 'ive never lost a bottle'....and then me losing several bottles... I've gone back to lezyne flow.
Don't expect to get a bottle in or out very easily (you can, but you need the knack)
But you (really, really, really) will never drop a bottle.
I've had XL zefal magnum bottles full of water on some extremely chunky tracks and never (i.e. actually never) lost a bottle out of one.
A note of caution they may not work with all frame designs, as top loading and need the bottle to be angled a bit when going in/out
Edit. Not sure what's gone on with the broken link I posted...this is the one
Came here to recommend the Lezyne flow as well. I have them on any bike that doesn't need a side loader
Very reasonably priced at RRP. Tredz have them in white for a mere seven pounds fiddy
https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Lezyne-Flow-Bottle-Cage_53711.htm?variations=colour:White&sku=147280
Zees are great but you also need to be careful with bottles as the retention "notch" isn't always at the same height.
I have the Zetal tool bottle and it sits slightly wonky in the Spec Zee cage as the notch isn’t aligned.
I have the Zetal tool bottle and it sits slightly wonky in the Spec Zee cage as the notch isn’t aligned.
"Standards"
I have the Zetal tool bottle and it sits slightly wonky in the Spec Zee cage as the notch isn’t aligned.
I didn't take that chance, I bought a Zefal cage to go with the Zefal tool bottle so they would be made to the same
"Standards"
but it's not merely wonky, it's loose!
Thanks for the feedback on the Zee cage 👍
It still is. I've been using them, except where sponsors say no, for decades. I still have a pair of red ones that are now a very faded pink that i bought in the 90s to match my team bike. They are still in use.The Elite Ciussi was always the default answer to this question. Squeeze it to make it tighter and/or add some grip tape.
The Elite Ciussi was always the default answer to this question. Squeeze it to make it tighter and/or add some grip tape.
Original/standard or the new Gel?
The Elite one Mister-P suggested is magic. Use it on a rigid MTB that used to dump bottles regularly. Never does now. Really good.
Portland Design Works otter cage, got one for my daughter and it's snug!
There is much overthinking/overspending on this thread.
Buy a cheap boggo metal one like this...
...and bend it in a bit.
Choice made (for now), I’ve ordered the recommended Lezyne. Looks like it will be ok under a down tube, I even splashed out the extra to have black rather than white but a tenner ain’t bad. Just hope it can keep a grip.
I’m put off any you can bend to tighten as mounting the cage under the down tube has the potential for the weight of the tool keg to unbend it again
King Ti. Ridiculous money, but mine is from 2008 and I've never lost a bottle.
Specialized Zee and a strap won out in this video which also demonstrates the problem with mounting a cage on the underside of a tube