Troul 

hard to say, I just keep mashing forward.

Anna_Sazzi

It was good thing maybe that your bottle holder broke and not frame? Plastic cage is bendable like carbon fiber if you wish cheaper.

Reflector Guy

I use the cheap aluminum "Delta" cages they sell at Dick's Sporting Goods.

One rule: They have to be black. Black goes well with any color of bike and doesn't call attention to itself like a matching-paint colored one would.

I find the bottles get scratched up from the dust that invariably gets between the bottle and the cage. I have a brand new Celeste green bottle I've never used for that reason.... For actual drinking purposes I use Aquafina water bottles from 7-11.

RGMN

I use Salsa Stainless Steel Nickless Cages on all my bikes.

Koyote

Looks nice, but it seems like the design would allow it to stretch out over time. Any issues with that?

msu2001la

For those who run brightly colored cages, do you also match bottles to them? I have a collection of bottles that are all a bit different, and while I usually try to pair them up so that the two bottles match, once they're on the bike I'm not sure the color/style of the cage really matters.

I ask because you nerds have put it in my head that my stainless steel cages look out of place on my carbon bike, so I'm going to buy some new cages. The bike is all black, but I'm also planning on new wheels soon and have been thinking about hubs in some audacious color like lime green or purple or orange. Maybe I should color-match the cages, but then do I have to get new bottles that also match?

Danhedonia

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

"ThinkTop Ultra-Light Full Carbon Fiber Bicycle Bike Drink Water Bottle Cage" $28 for two. Weighs less than many carbon cages. A few colors. Available all day on Amazon. Durable, hold 23oz. size bottles of different diameter quite well, easy removal/replacement. They look appropriate on a TCR, Emonda and Roubaix (which all sport them now).

Honestly, these are one of those products that once you find them, you don't bother with other stuff. (caveat: for reasons I cannot fully explain to myself, I put alloy cages on my one MTB).

WhyFi

On my gravel bike, I have some aluminum cages from Lezyne that are very similar in design (and only 10 bucks a pop). They've kept their death grip on my bottles for five or six years.

WhyFi

[Nelson laugh] HA ha![/Nelson laugh]

To answer the question: I let the bottles be bottles and only concern myself with the cages matching/complementing the bike.

icemilkcoffee 

I don't.
Fabric cageless bottle and cageless tool keg for me:

RGMN

Nope, no problems with them stretching. I've only had to replace 1 after it got bent out of shape, but that's after it got hit by a concrete block.

Koyote

God, I hate it when that happens.

Koyote

If you go gonzo on the hubs, I think it's more important to match the bar tape...and the headset, ideally. Or not. The bike will still run just as well.

Hiro11

King Cage Stainless or Ti. Basically the perfect cages.

If you absolutely insist on a plastic cage:
Modern carbon road bikes: Elite Vico or the cheaper Custom Race Plus which looks and works exactly the same.
Mountain bikes: Specialized Zee Cage or Lezyne Flow, Flow side entry if you don't have the room for either.

Jsg222

yes, both are fine elite you can by In your local shop for about 15€ and carbon is around the 50. Highly recommend..

HarborBandS

I think the answer is to first, get a metal bike, and then outfit it with King Cage stainless or Ti. Done.

Bottle cage choice should definitely determine what frame material you go with.

veganbikes

How is that not sexy? It is made in America from titanium and it is clean and smooth awesome. I have a few of those on different bikes.

Also many of my bikes have cages from Portland Design Works, from Bird to Sparrow to Owl and Lucky Cat and I believe a Good Dog on at least one bike. Not lightweight but really good looking and holds bottles quite well.

blue192

I use a bird shaped metal cage from Portland design. I know not as sexy as carbon fiber but still like it.

Rooney 

I know the King Cage Iris have a better reputation for durability, but I love how the Velo Orange Moderniste looks. Slightly thinner tubing, a nicer looking mounting plate, and I prefer the bend being on the swoopy bit versus the flat part. Eventually, when I can justify it in my head, I’ll go to those absurdly price Nitto cages, which are the most beautiful.

Sy Reene

In the realm of absurd is this Silca set of Ti cages. But at least they also come with 2 Ti drinking straws

https://www.excelsports.com/silca-an...cage-straw-set

TakingMyTime

I usually buy the $5.99 Blackburn cages at the local discount sporting goods store. Over all my years of riding I think I've seen 1 start to come apart at one of the welded seams. I've found that over the years between all the bikes I have been given, found etc., there always seems to be a cage attached to the bike. I probably have 8 or 9 cages just sitting in a drawer in my garage. If I was ever to break one I'd just replace it with one from the drawer. There is no way I would pay more than $10 for any cage.

indyfabz

Looks aero, but does it leave droppings on the tubes?

Koyote

These people claiming that their $5 and $10 cages have lasted for X number of years are making meaningless claims. Time doesn't matter; distance and heat matter.

My oldest pair of King Cages have traveled over 40,000 miles, and I've lived in some rather hot climates -- so, they've seen a lot of use. And, as noted, I've never had to even bend one back into shape. That's worth twenty bucks apiece to me.

Jmpierce

On a side note. who do people use for the third cage on the underside of the down tube, on touring bikes?

GamblerGORD53

Wire style cages are OK for plastic bottles, Gatorade or whatever. I use the short stubby Gatorade ones. I adjusted the fit of a stainless cage, and it wouldn't hold proper after that. For my Kleen Kanteen thermos bottles, ONLY my DIY CF will do. Luckily they are almost the same size.
For a form, I use the thermos with an innertube wrap for extra space. I then have a stick to make a groove for the bolts. Non-stick plastic on both sides of the wet CF. Wait about 25 hours and pull the thermos before it is full hard cured. It takes a really hard pull to get the form out. Trim the top with snips at this time too.
I then put the bottles in a sock and slip it in, a perfect snug fit. Also helps to keep them cool.

Actually, I just bought a new roadster and a new batch of CF supplies to make some more. How I'm going to hide the smell in my apartment is another matter. LOL.