GravelBuddy

Not sure if you got sturdy bottle cages yet, but I would recommend cages from a company called Dawn To Dusk (dawntodusk.bike). They have cages specifically for gravel riding that have a calibrated grip so that bottles don't launch. These are especially helpful when riding on bumpy terrain, etc. The ones I have are called the Kaptive 8. They are not in the $5-10 range, but you pay for the quality and the assurance that you don't lose your bottles... I used to have the aluminum cages and I would lose bottles all the time... I haven't since I switched over.. Hope that helps!

79pmooney

I am totally old-school. I consider water very important. I insist on cages that will not shed bottles on rough (even very rough) roads or break mid-ride and cost me a waterbottle, even if used too long. So for me - steel cages. I buy the King Cages that cost roughly twice what the OP wants to pay for cages that will last me probably 10-20,000 miles and when they do start to go (hasn't happened yet) it will probably be in the form of a crack I discover cleaning my bike.

Before going to the King cages, I used the old TAs, some for multiple decades. To date, I've shed maybe a dozen bottles in 40 years and I don't think I have had a steel cage break off yet despite using many way too long. (There were some long stretches of zero steel cages to be bought in the '80s and '90s.) Now, instead of having to use ratty, beat up TAs, I get to use the elegant, clean Kings. Life's good. (And over the span of enough time, I am pretty sure the Kings come out cheaper simply by lasting longer.)

indyfabz

After more than 2 years I sure hope he has.

indyfabz

Same here. My ex had one break. I think it got damaged by a pedal when hers and others bikes were transported out west in a trailer. We were at the Philly Bike Expo. King had a booth there. He gave her a replacement for free. Talk about customer service. And they don't discolor your bottles.

Skipjacks

Obvious spam is obvious.

GravelBuddy

Hahah not spam at all... been gravel riding since 2017 and just sharing what has helped me.. so obviously not spam

GravelBuddy

Cool, I haven't tried the Kings, yet... For me my concern was bottles launching especially when hitting a big bump.. so the ones I got hold up exceptionally well... haven't had a bottle launch since..

indyfabz

ikr

Skipjacks

Your first 2 posts on the site are a post in a dormant thread (about the most passive uninteresting topic in biking) with a weblink to a sales site, then a post saying that first post wasn't spam.

Color me skeptical.

indyfabz

fify :d

GravelBuddy

Hmm doesn't seem dormant to me.. Call it what you want.. I'm here to share my experience..

GravelBuddy

If you're going to block my contents in my comment then block out the references to Kings too.. right.. only fair.. Last I checked forums are for sharing information

Skipjacks

Well aren't you a delightful ray of sunshine

Jon T

I'm with you on that one Brother.
Jon

eja_ bottecchia

People are so touchy here.

canklecat

Since my last post a couple of years ago I've switched to plastic cages on my road bikes. So far, so good, never had a bottle pop out -- which would be bad pookie in a group ride. I get annoyed when other riders drop bottles and I'd be mortified if I endangered someone behind me.

I still use aluminum cages on my hybrids, but it's hard to tug out the insulated bottles I use in summer -- especially my stainless double insulated bottle that I freeze before really hot summer rides. Not a big deal on casual rides on my hybrids, but it's a PITA to struggle with water bottles during a fast group ride on my road bikes.

The 50 Strong plastic cages made in Ohio by a small company are good for only around $8 a pair. Much less expensive than some comparable carbon fiber cages, and nearly as lightweight. Haven't lost a bottle yet, even on some whoop-de-YIKES! dips and rattletrap roads.

And I'm gonna try those Tacx Deva cages @memebag mentioned a couple of years ago. I wanted some bright yellow cages for my purple Trekenstein to be sure the colors clash properly. 50 Strong doesn't make 'em in that color, but Tacx does.

mstateglfr 

You accused a new poster of spamming, doubled down on the accusation, you then went on the defensive with sarcasm when the poster took issue with your accusation.
Hardly a position from which to cry foul.

Spamming, to me, is unsolicited. In a thread where the topic is asking for suggestions...thats about as solicited as it gets.

Anyways, maybe its this one instance, but I really dont find it offensive/bad, even if the poster is somehow tied to that company. The website offers some interesting products- its significantly more relevant and looks better than most actual spammed websites. The poster could be tied to the company, and if so should disclose that, but it doesnt make the suggesting any less valid to consider. Seriously, look at some of the suggestions in this thread- cheap plastic cages that are notorious for snapping in all sorts of places are suggested. Why not consider something suggested by a brand ambassador or employee too?

I get the slippery slope here. And I also get how annoying that phrase is since at any time we can all(or moderators) just decide where the line is.

Brocephus

I've never had an issue with aluminum or stainless cages, but my favorites have always been some sort of polymer/ plastic. I have a black plastic Specialized mtn cage that I've had for decades, and that has been on numerous bikes. Same goes for the 2 Profile Designs cages currently on my road bike. I pulled them from my parts drawer when I scored this bike on Craigslist last year, and they hold even tall, heavy bottles more firmly than anything else I've had.
I have a carbon Zefal cage, that I got on sale someplace last year, just cuz it was a deal, but it seems kinda wimpy and frail, it doesn't seem like it would hold a large bottle real securely, and I haven't used it yet. (The Specialized is also a little shaky, but I've never lost a bottle. Plus, it never gets bent.)
The bottle cage concept has pretty much long been figured out, with the cheap ones largely working as well as the expensive ones, so IMHO, most of these new-fangled, high-dollar cages are just novelty products in search of a sucker with money to burn.

indyfabz

It WAS dormant (last post had been Nov. of last year)) until you revived it--on the same day you joined--by quoting the OP, which is more than two years old. Then you post what sounds like a sales pitch with a web site address in a manner designed to avoid the prohibition against members with less than a certain number of posts including links.

I think the SPAM concern is a legitimate one.

autonomy

By that definition the strategy of posting the same post and a link with your product to every thread and every forum that asks for a similar product is not spamming. Not saying that's what happened here, but I've seen it happen and it's a common 'promotion' strategy.

My research indicated that weld failures were one of the biggest problems with aluminum cages, although I never had one fail. For my new all-around bike I got two of "Delta alloy" cages off Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00H5MQN1G/. Held slightly-oversized 1-liter seltzer water bottles just fine on a recent trip.
On my road bike I've been using a painted Ibera aluminum cage and wanted to get a new one, but the prices have gone up and people are complaining that the new finish is rubbing off and making the bottles look like crap. So I've changed my mind for the time being. And I don't like the look of aluminum cages on road bikes, hence I didn't get the same ones I got for my all-around bike.

Nelly Lu

You can buy Monkii Water Bottle on cycletaiwan.com, it costs about 24$. These were the perfect price for value. They aren't very heavy at all. In fact they are quite light. I just went for a long ride with them on today and I must say they hold the bottle very well. I had two different bottles and had no problem with them moving, shifting, or falling out. Overall I'm very happy with my purchase.

gios

Just tried an Elite Cannibal XC and it grabbed my bottles so tight I returned it for a refund. Probably for mountain bikes that do 360s lol. Going to try a King Cage.

GlennR

2 for $10 on Amazon and is adjustable.

https://www.amazon.com/accmor-Rotati...279b84_p_1_i_p

Outrider1

You can find them on Amazon for 5-10 bucks.

Milton Keynes

I fully agree with this. I refuse to use a non-insulated bottle, especially when biking during the heat of summer. With non-insulated bottles, you leave the house at 8 AM, your water is warm by 10.