Water Bottles and Bottle Cages

A bottle cage is the fixture that holds a bike bottle in the right place on the bike and with which you drink on the go without having to stop. There are three mounting positions: on the frame, behind the saddle and at the front of the bike on the aerobar. The frame position is the standard for cyclists and mountain bikers: the bottle cage clamps onto the bottle holder bolt points of the frame and keeps the bottle within reach upright at your side. Bottle cages mounted behind the saddle are popular with triathletes who ride with an aerobar: they offer extra fluid capacity without affecting the aerodynamics at the front of the bike. Torpedo-style cages at the front hold a bottle horizontally on or between the aerobar extensions.

In this range you will find frame bottle cages in aluminium and carbon for on the frame, saddle bottle cages for one or two bottles behind the saddle in separate cages and integrated wing systems, and torpedo cages for the aerobar. The bottles come in 500, 710 and 750 ml, in a basic quality for daily use and as an insulating version that keeps your drink cold. The choice depends on which position on your bike is the most practical, how much fluid you want to take along and whether weight plays a role in the choice between aluminium or carbon.

Which bottle or bottle cage suits you?

The right choice depends on your cycling discipline, how much fluid you want to take along and in which position you can most easily reach it while riding.

You ride a road bike or gravel and want a bottle on the frame: choose a frame bottle cage. Mount it on the bottle holder bolt points of the frame, usually on the down tube or the seat tube. An aluminium cage is sturdy and affordable; a carbon frame bottle cage saves a few grams of weight and is an upgrade for athletes who pay attention to weight. Make sure the cage closes well around your bottle: a loose bottle on a cobbled lane or on the cobbles of Flanders is quickly lost.

You are a triathlete and want extra fluid capacity behind the saddle: choose a saddle bottle cage. Mounting behind the saddle gives extra capacity for the bike leg without having to adjust the aerobar position or the front of the bike. A cage for one bottle is compact and light; a cage for two bottles gives more capacity for longer distances. You take the bottles out of the cage by hand, so slightly more action than with a drinking system at the front, but the setup is simpler and quicker to mount.

You want an aerodynamic wing system behind the saddle for races: choose a wing system. Wing systems are integrated saddle-mount systems in which the bottle cage or cages are incorporated into an aerodynamically shaped wing structure. They reduce the air resistance that a simple saddle bottle cage creates and are the choice for triathletes and time trialists who also want to ride as aerodynamically as possible at the rear. Wing systems are available for one and two bottles, in aluminium and carbon versions.

You also want a bottle at the front of the aerobar: choose a torpedo cage. A torpedo cage holds a standard bottle horizontally on or between the aerobar extensions. You lift the bottle out to drink. That is different from an integrated drinking system in which you drink through a straw in position. A torpedo cage is more practical if you already have bottles, want to refill quickly at supply points and do not want to maintain a separate straw system. Take a look at the drinking systems if you want to drink without taking your hands off the aerobar.

You also want to fit a GPS computer and save space on the cockpit: choose a frame bottle cage with an integrated GPS holder. Some cage models have a mounting point for a GPS bike computer on top of the cage, so that your computer is right in front of you and you do not need a separate mount on the handlebar. That is particularly handy on triathlon bikes where the cockpit is already taken up by the aerobar and the drinking system.

What do you look out for when buying?

Mounting position: frame, saddle or front

First determine which position you want to use. Frame bottle cages are the most universal solution and fit on virtually every bike with standard bolt points on the frame. Saddle bottle cages are fastened to the seatpost and the saddle via an adjustable bracket: check whether the bracket fits the seatpost diameter of your bike. Torpedo cages for the aerobar are fastened via the extensions or a separate bracket: check the diameter of your aerobar extensions before purchase. If you want to take along multiple bottles, a combination of frame and saddle is the most common setup for triathletes.

One or two bottles behind the saddle

Saddle bottle cages are available for one bottle and for two bottles. A cage for one bottle is compact, light and sufficient for an Olympic triathlon or a race of 40 to 90 kilometres where you also have a drinking system or torpedo cage at the front. A cage for two bottles gives extra capacity for a full triathlon or a long time trial where you want to take along more than one litre of fluid. Keep in mind that a double cage with two full bottles means two kilograms of extra weight behind the saddle, which also influences the riding dynamics.

Aluminium or carbon

Aluminium bottle cages are sturdy, affordable and sufficient for most athletes. Carbon bottle cages are lighter, usually twenty to forty grams less per piece, and are a worthwhile upgrade for athletes who optimise the total weight of the bike. Carbon is also popular because of the look on a race bike. The weight advantage of a carbon bottle cage is relatively modest per piece but can be part of a broader weight reduction across multiple components.

Bottle: volume and insulation

The most used volumes are 500 ml for short rides and races where you want to refill quickly, and 710 to 750 ml for longer rides where you want to stop less often. A larger bottle weighs more and does not always fit equally well in a smaller bottle cage: check the maximum bottle diameter that the cage accepts. Insulating bottles keep your drink cold in warm weather and are a pleasant difference on longer rides in summer. Basic models are affordable and perfectly fine for daily use; insulating variants are an upgrade if temperature plays a role.

Our advice: for a triathlon, always combine a saddle bottle cage with a front solution. A saddle bottle cage for one bottle gives a reserve; a torpedo cage or triathlon handlebar with a drinking system at the front ensures that you drink in the aero position without having to stop. This way you always have fluid at hand regardless of which system you primarily use and which supply points the race course offers.

Need help with your choice?

Would you like to buy a bottle or bottle cage but are you not yet entirely sure which model best suits your wishes and needs? Then we are happy to help you further with all your questions. You can reach our triathlon specialists by phone on +31 (0)413-256800, send an e-mail or drop by our triathlon shop in Volkel, the Netherlands.

Frequently asked questions about bottles and bottle cages

What is the difference between a frame bottle cage and a saddle bottle cage?

A frame bottle cage mounts on the bolt points of the bike frame, usually on the down tube or the seat tube, and keeps the bottle upright at your side. You take the bottle with one hand while riding. A saddle bottle cage hangs behind the saddle on the seatpost and is popular with triathletes who ride an aerobar: they want to keep the front aerodynamic and mount the extra fluid capacity at the rear. A saddle bottle cage is aerodynamically less ideal than no bottle behind the saddle, but is the most practical way to take along extra fluid on a triathlon bike where the frame position is already taken or the frame bolt points are used for another cage.

Does every bottle fit in every bottle cage?

Most bike bottle cages are designed for a standard bottle diameter of 74 to 76 mm, which corresponds to most common sports bottles of 500 to 750 ml. Wider or narrower bottles do not always fit well: a bottle that is too narrow rattles and falls out with vibrations on unpaved roads or bumps; a bottle that is too wide simply does not fit in the clamp. When in doubt, check the specifications of the cage for the maximum bottle diameter. Some cages, particularly compact carbon models for races, are tighter in dimensions and accept less variation. Standard bottles of common sports brands usually fit well in most cages.

What is a wing system and who is it suitable for?

A wing system is an integrated saddle mount in which the bottle cage or cages are incorporated into an aerodynamically shaped structure that is fastened behind the saddle. The wing shape reduces the air resistance that a separate round bottle behind the saddle creates and gives a sleeker, more integrated appearance. Wing systems are available for one and two bottles, in aluminium and carbon versions. They are suitable for triathletes and time trialists who want to generate as little air resistance as possible on all parts of the bike over long time trial distances. For recreational cyclists and mountain bikers they are less relevant: they usually do not ride in a time trial position and the aerodynamic gain is less decisive on a normal road bike.

How much weight do I save with a carbon bottle cage?

An average aluminium frame bottle cage weighs between 30 and 50 grams. A comparable carbon model usually weighs 20 to 30 grams. The weight advantage per cage is therefore around 15 to 25 grams. On a road bike with two bottle cages, the saving is 30 to 50 grams in total. That is a modest but measurable saving if you combine it with other light components. Carbon bottle cages are also chosen for their look on a race bike and for the stiff, stable grip with which they hold a bottle. They are usually more vulnerable than aluminium in the event of falls or impact.

Which bottle is best for warm and cold conditions?

For warm conditions, an insulating bottle is recommended: it keeps your sports drink or water cold, which is both more pleasant to drink and favourable for the taste of a sports drink that quickly tastes less good in the heat. Insulating bottles are usually double-walled or have an insulated wall and are slightly heavier than ordinary bottles at the same volume. For cold conditions an insulating bottle is not always necessary, but it can prevent your drink from freezing in extreme cold. For training in normal temperatures, a simple standard bottle is sufficient and the choice is primarily based on volume and personal preference for the type of mouthpiece.