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I have a Starling, so cage on under side of top tube. I've tried an old Spec Zee and a cheapo Lifeline alloy, both lost bottles. Never had an issue with the Zee on my old FlareMAX?
Currently have a Fidlock, which works really well but rattles, A LOT, so looking to replace.
So what the most secure cage going?? I'd probably use with a Nukeproof (Elite) or older Podium bottle.
My experience is that the Spesh cages work particularly well with Spesh bottles.
Got a spesh z plastic on the flaremax, working well with a big bottle. The alloy version is stiffer so maybe worth a try if yours isn't.
I have a god-knows-what cheapy alloy one, and squeezed the ends in a bit to make it a tighter fit. Seems pretty rock solid with a big bottle when I'm clattering around on on my hardtail
Just here to recommend a Spec Zee followed by Fidlock. . . so I'll be leaving then
Dunno if it fits normal bottles but it's adjustable so might and looks pretty secure - https://www.topeak.com/global/en/products/132-Adjustable-Cages/371-MODULA-JAVA-CAGE
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Currently have a Fidlock, which works really well but rattles, A LOT
I was at BPW at the weekend, and i picked up two seperate fidlock bottles that had fallen out of the holders
Thanks everyone, think I'm going to order a new Zee cage and see how that goes.
@nickc I was at BPW Saturday, what a day for it!
This video is quite interesting. Spesh Zee with and bit of velcro seems to be the winner.
my buddy has a Murmur.
He uses a Fabric bottle (you know the one without a cage but with the little plastic lugs) in combination with a Velcro 'enduro' strap.
It doesn't fall out, but is obviously a few seconds more faff undoing the strap to take a drink.
No option to maybe pack out the fidlock joining faces with Velcro or helicopter tape to remove some of the play?
I have two Zee cages in the main triangle on my gravel bike from which I have never lost a bottle even when riding down some of the rockier 'British gravel', and a Fidlock under the downtube. I use a strap to ensure that the fidlock bottle doesn't fall off without me noticing which would also stop any rattling happening, but appreciate that adds a fair bit of faff to actually having a drink.
These are good, used for Paris-Roubaix over the cobbles on my bike, can be tightened to hold bottle:
Elite Ciussi - use them on road and FS MTB - never lost a bottle.
If it's underneath the top tube and therefore working the wrong way up, might a decent side entry cage work better as they wrap around more rather than being split in the middle.
The old Belgian cobbles solution was always an Elite Ciussi that was 'bent' to make it super tight.
@nickc I was at BPW Saturday, what a day for it!
I don't think I've ever been there when was so nice! there was a big accident on Terry's Belly though where someone had washed out one of the berms at the bottom, lots of claret and many staff helping him out - it was great to see the organisation they had and obviously very well drilled. Hope he's Ok.
Any (cheap) metal one which can be bent & hold it's shape will probably be fine. (I use the Elite Ciussi I think on one of my bikes). Other than that I use either Elite Custom Race cages or Lezyne Flow where there's limited space. Never lost a bottle (only ever use Podiums or very occasionally a wine or large beer bottle 😃)
King Cage stainless steel and bend it in for extra hold
Classy and understated and will last for ages, just like your frame!
When I see bottles on the trail I always think to myself that in 40 years of riding & numerous crashes where I've broken myself or the bike I've never ever lost a bottle from the bottle cage ever. That's numerous different cages too
what fidlock bottle have you got?
i hadn't noticed mine rattling
Any cage is going to be dependent on the bottle that goes in it. I'd maybe look into that if it's a regular issue. I run different cages on all of my bikes and none of them lose bottles.
The most secure cage I've experienced though, is a Prime one from Wiggle. There's reviews on their site complaining that you can't get the bottle out, and I can confirm that with a tight bottle, and the ridge in the correct place, it's pretty bloody difficult to do on the move.
Specialized are decent. I have one about 14 years old. It's a bit broken now and did start ejecting bottles, but a wrapping of self-almagamating tape soon fixed that, which will work on pretty much any cage if you're struggling.
Elite always seem to be recommended. They're OK. A bit loose sometimes I find, but still hold the bottle well.
I have been completely converted to Bontrager RL cages, we have them on every bike in the house. They are used with a range of bottles and I have never lost one, even if I've forgotten to take it out before driving home with the bike on the roof. Been faultless in the Alps/BPW/Dyfi etc.
I've used the Topeak Java cage listed above and a fidlock on several bikes with under the tube cage mounts.
The Java is the most secure by far, and can take an 800ml bottle, but is more of a 'have a drink at the top of the climb' kind of cage, you won't be able to easily reach down and have a drink while pedalling.
The fidlock is far better for drinking on the move, and I've not had it rattle off...yet. Mine made a bit of noise too, but a bit of tape between the magnet thingies stopped that.
Put a wrap of gaffa tape around the bottle if it's a bit wobbly. I've never managed to loose anything out of a Zee cage, so you might just have been unlucky.
Also a Spesh Zee cage with a Camelbak podium bottle, rode Dyfi all day with no loss of bottle last week
Blackburn Alloy and bend to achieve the desired level of retention?
The other thing is how big a bottle/how much weight you are putting in the cage? a 500ml bottle will be easier for it to keep hold of than a monster 1L bottle in theory...
I recently bought a couple of Camelbak Podium bottles, they are very nice but seem a tiny bit smaller than others. Not so much that they are rattling, but they definitely wobble a bit.
I've got a Starling Murmur and use a Lezyne Power Cage. So far solid and silent. The podium bottles I have are very tight, so tight I've started using my elites instead.
Was at Bpw on Friday and happily left my bottle on the uplift all day without drama.
Lezyne flow. Grips like nothing else. Bit of a bastard to get bottles out of tho!
I'll say again, Elite Ciussi ! 🙂
Thanks again for all the advice, I'll probably go for another Zee and velcro strap. Though the Lezyne Power looks nice.
@nickc apparently it was very serious and he was lucky that two doctors followed him down the trail!
Lezyne flow, never lost a bottle. Different types of bottles too.
Another Lezyne flow user here and like above never lost a bottle. Infact I had to stop using a pair of elite bottles as they where too tight in the cages.
Bend cheap one
Put sock on
Bottle
Secur!
He uses a Fabric bottle (you know the one without a cage but with the little plastic lugs) in combination with a Velcro ‘enduro’ strap.
DO NOT use a fabric bottle / cage, even with a strap - ive lost more bottles with that system than any other system. I'm now on Fidlock, which doesn't rattle. Tbh if I were the op I'd find where/why it's rattles and either fix it or stick some tape down.
The old Belgian cobbles solution was always an Elite Ciussi that was ‘bent’ to make it super tight.
Correct answer. Add some skateboard grip tape for maximum security.
@monkeyboyjc the main rattle comes from within the locking mechanism, so not sure how to fix that. It also rattles between the bottle and the bit attached to it. I assume it's because it's hung upsidedown.
For side-loading cages, Cotic suggested the Lezyne cage, works really well, super secure. Buy the opposite side entry to the hand you normally use if it's going to be inverted under the top tube.
For conventional cages, the Bontrager Bat bottle cage - made out of recycled fishing nets - is just brilliant. Much thicker than the normal Bontrager cage material and grips incredibly tightly. I wouldn't use it on my road bike for that reason, but on a mountain bike it's amazing.
https://www.pedalon.co.uk/acatalog/bontrager-orp-bat-bottle-cage.html
Someone menioned the Camelbak Podium bottle above, the older version is fine. The current model is really badly designed and lacks a defined shoulder for the cage to hold, just a really poor design. Avoid would be my advice on that one.
@nickc apparently it was very serious and he was lucky that two doctors followed him down the trail!
Phew, lucky guy. As I said there was a lot blood. 😮
Before I read the rest of the replies, I was going to say Spesh Zee
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Joe Barnes suggested using a bit of elastic or a rubber band. It’s on one of his you ride videos.
I just use a Fidlock which seems to work
Lezyne Flow as a couple of others have mentioned. No flex, so the bottle needs to give to get it out. I used mine on the Murmur I tested a couple of years ago and didn't have any issues.
I found these the best for my Audax/Winter bike
My fidlock rattles a lot even on the road bike so gave up on it. Some good suggestions on here and I need a couple of cages.
Those Elite cages are simple and brilliant. I'm still using a pair that are circa 10 years old. They've never let me down through any terrain. The only other cage I would revert to being Arundel: held my bottles in the 3 peaks so thats a positive endorsement
Yeah, i'm a massive fan of the Elite Ciussi cages, been using them for a couple of decades, at least. Can count the bottles i've lost on the fingers of one hand.
The extremely expensive and secure cages that my ex got (because shiny carbon fibre) used to lose a bottle once every half dozen rides, even the bottles they were actually designed to pair with.
So, she's back on Ciussi now.