TimothyH

Yeah, so I just found out that preventing bottles from getting scratched or discolored by the cage is a thing. Been cycling since 1977 and never heard of this.

So my question is, really?


-Tim-

cycledogg

I never spend too much on bidens. The logos always seem to get scratched. But I do wash them often, and if they start to change color form age and use, well, that's to be expected from any plastic item. So, yes, I don't really like them to be all scratched up either.

Theycallmegio

Really.

Cyclist0108

Stainless steel cages (like King) are good in this way. I view it as a bonus, rather than a primary directive. It is kind of nice to have water bottles that don't look grotty.

AlmostTrick

It wasn't that long ago that I found out some of you call a water bottle a bidon. Really? BF spellcheck doesn't even recognize it as a word.

GuitarBob

Who, might I ask, is the ultimate authority on such things? Like you, I've never heard of it before.

mgopack42 

All i know is that my wife will throw away a perfectly good WB if it is all scratched, or especially if it has dark stains from an aluminum WB cage, unless i save it and put it in my secret stash in the garage. i say it doesn't matter how it looks as long as it functions as designed!

cruiserhead

because bidon is commonly used in other parts of the world where cycling is more mainstream than in the USA
In most places i've traveled, bidon is accepted. Of course, everyone can understand "water bottle" so it's interchangeable.

Just as duvet, doona, conti quilt and comforter can describe the same thing.

fietsbob

You get new full ones from your team mates and toss the empty ones aside, for the fans to pickup as a free race souvenir , right?

CliffordK

Stainless seems to be good at preventing discoloration, but not necessarily preventing scratches.

I've been experimenting a bit with stainless bottles, and they scratch up quickly.

Cyclist0108

Plastic bottles. Steel cages.

HTupolev

Of course. If something gets used as part of something else's visual scheme, some folks will try to keep it pristine.

CliffordK

There are also a lot of followers of plastic cages. Apparently the better ones are pretty indestructible, CF, or not.

TimothyH

I'm all for a stylish appearance. Even so, I'm not at all embarrassed that I've been scuffing and discoloring bottles since the Carter administration. At least not enough to get rid of perfectly good Arundel Mandible cages. Maybe the gritty nature of gravel has induced a more rough hewn outlook on appearance.


Where does one purchase former vice presidents? Do they cut grass?


I never heard of "Grotty."

Gross + Rotten? Grotten?


-Tim-

cycledogg

Ahh, my spelling, the atrocity of it all. Drink container, ok?

Rowan

We use either plastic or CF holders on all bikes now (which means at least five years). Damage caused to containers, including wear away of printed info, has pretty well stopped compared with use of metal holders which ironically still dominate displays in some shops. The wear away of the paint finish on metal holders also had a bad habit of leaving crappy marks.

Choose good quality plastic or CF ones, though, to ensure longevity and good retention of bottles of various diameter.

Cyclist0108

British slang. Sounds slightly less crass than "crappy," especially when deployed with a British accent.

eg: "That shirt you are wearing really looks grotty. I should kick your sorry, copious arse for refusing to spend money on non-bike clothing ."

Sy Reene

A bidon squirts down, a bidet squirts up? A bidet is known for preventing discoloration as well.

mstateglfr 

Understatement.

bikecrate

Aren't scratched and beaten up bottles the sign of a "true" cyclist.

TimothyH

Discolored bidens are a sign that the rider enjoys a more "Pure" form of cycling.

Like riding without a GPS or using downtube (friction) shifters which should make a comeback. These are more pure forms of cycling.


-Tim-

FlashBazbo

Yes.

All my bottles are relatively ancient. I defy anyone to find a square mm without a scratch on any of them. A couple have deep gouges from being bounced off gravel / rocks / tarmac. And the discoloration is from the aging of the plastic -- not from painted cages. It's more than a matter of style and authenticity. (Aren't Millennials supposed to be all about "authenticity?") The older and harder worn the bottle, the more flexible it is for the squeeze. A well-worn bottle is like a well-worn pair of Levi's 501's. It's comfortable like an old friend.

Scratch-free bottles? They are strangers and newcomers. Yet to earn their place.

caloso

I don't know anyone who actually rides, as opposed to sitting and posing at the coffee shop, who gives a moment of thought to scuffed water bottles.

Sy Reene

Indeed.. though we can all plead guilty to giving a moment of thought to internet threads that discuss this topic.

TrojanHorse

And yet here we are...

As long as they're not moldy (mouldy? Are we going full Brit today?) I don't care.