[Closed] Elite cages and Camelbak bottles...

Yep, I got one to stop winter mud covering the drinking nozzle. Popped it in my elite cage and speed (more likely crawled) up the Malverns.
First bumpy section and out popped the bottle. Unfortunately I did not notice until I reached the bottom and couldn't find the bottle despite an impromptu climb back to the top. I have since replaced it with an elite bottle with a nozzle cover and have enjoyed mud free winter drinks ever since

I use Cannibals and Podiums (old and new shape) and haven't lost a bottle yet. It's you! 😀

specialized zee cages. end of thread.

CaptainFlashheart - you're right to suspect muppetry on my part!

Sounds like elite cages are pish to me.

10s of thousands of km exclusively using camelback bottles because they iz moar best (it's true I had my people look into it)

I use Blackburn MTN cakes on my tourer and ti bike.

Merida branded carbon cages on my carbon MTB and my wife's salsa

And tacx plastic cage with the rubber band over the tips on my road bike.

Never lost a bottle...... How ever I have seen a number by the trail side which makes me ponder if they are also using elite cages.

I'd thought bottles were bottles and was about to go for an Elite Vico cage but they seem fussy as well, only working with Elite bottles:

"The only real stumbling block is that, when tested with other bottles – including those made by Camelbak and Science in Sport – the cage was too tight, to the point that the bottle could only just be squeezed in and required a massive heave to be released."

https://road.cc/content/review/217911-elite-vico-carbon-bottle-cage

It's you Iain.

Elite custom race place on my Bronson, as it holds the camelback podium (MTB one with mud cover) perfectly, whereas the Zee doesn't sit well with it, sadly, as the Zee looks better.

Maybe it's down to the type of Podium you have. I believe the design was changed last year and the current model has better retention - so I've read.

I've got the Elite Custom Race Plus ones on my grav bike and they're all good. In fact, originally they were so tight it was a struggle to get the bottle in/out. Loosened up a bit now and cope fine with the Camelbak Podium bottles (older type).

Used Elite Custom Race & Podiums on all kinds of MTBs and road bike for years, really good fit, not lost one yet!! Likewise Elite Inox on my commuter/tourer (although that's metal so you could bend it anyway to make it fit better).

I have podium bottles dating back to before the arc......

Not sure it's anything to do with them not being the latest design

On the first gravel ride with the new mk3 podium bottle, it ejected from an Elite Custom cage twice. Changed to Leyne Flow cage which is super secure if a bit bulky.

I use any bottle with any cage - just add a wrap of velcro around bottle and frame.

Never lost one yet.

Same goes for the pump as well.

My podiums are at least 2 or 3 years old, so not some new design.

On the first gravel ride

A common theme is occurring here, folk riding mongrel bikes.

the older ones were great, I still have one and its snug and secure. the couple of newer ones I bought a few weeks ago just slide in and out and hence bounce out on anything bumpy..

Will buy a couple of Elite bottles methinks

Get a couple of those wee rubber wristbands, ye see them everywhere for various charities, put it round the bottle, and then in cage, that'll sort it.

^^^ now there's a good idea, cheers

I've loads of GSK orange ones at work, gimme a shout if ye want, I'll pop em in the post, will match yer bike!

Braw, that’d be handy, will PM you address. Many thanks 🙏

Rattled around Flanders and Roubaix with camelback bottles and Arundel cages never lost anything

Thanks for all the feedback, seems like it’s only the new models of the Podium bottles that have this issue with Elite cages...

There are three models of Podium. I think only two models of body, maybe three heads. Think the last two heads have had the same body

Have never lost a bottle, good effort!

try a King cage, never had a problem losing bottles, inc Podiums with those

The newer Camelbak podium bottle shape with more pronounced neck works much better than the older shaped one in a Zee cage (though I have used the older bottle for several days in Morzine and not lost it).

On the roadie I use Elite Custom Race and never had an issue (not Camelbak bottles mind).  Not sure what you're doing if you are losing bottles on a road ride unless the cage is borked.

I've had similar issues with the podiums and Elite Custom Race. Fine all winter, but as the weather has warmed up, I think the plastic cages get more flexible, and the bottles start popping out.

I've switched to Tacx Deva, and problem solved.

I've found old elite cages don't hold bottle as well as new ones. The little rubber bit stretches. Takes years though.

Not sure what you’re doing if you are losing bottles on a road ride unless the cage is borked.

Thanks, no not lost any on road, but I did remark that the new camelbak bottles are loose/easy to slide in and out the Elite Custom Race cages on that bike.

Synchros make a great side loading carbon cage that fits podiums, and it's only like £15!

I exclusively use podium bottle and have Elite customs on road and cross but King Ti cages on MTB. Not lost a bottle in years.