I changed the bite valve out for a camelbak version. Zero splashing or leaks on today's ride.

I don't have a problem with the bite valve. If you do, blow a bit into after drinking to empty the straw of liquid. What happens to me is that I get leakage through the little vent hole in the cap. That wil drip onto the bike and onto me. You really need to do a good wash job after your Tri otherwise the sticky crap sticks in too well and can affect steering.

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BC Don
Pain is temporary, not giving it your all lasts all Winter.

Not sure what the Xlab bite valve looks like, but I put a Camelbak valve on my Profile HC and on a recent ride the rubber split right above the junction with the straw, making it useless. I ended up tossing it and just using the straw without a valve for the rest of the ride, but replaced it with one of these http://www.windwardboardshop.com/...2zi8YCFUyPHwodb78A7Q

The barbs were just a touch too small for the ID of the Profile's straw, but I cinched the straw down with a small ziptie and snipped the excess off - works perfectly. You can 'lock' the valve closed for transport too.

Tangential, but do you use the whale tail , or how do you hold your straw down?

I can't operate the whale tail while biking without falling off.. thinking about adding a piece of velcro so I can just stick my straw down.

It may be that the valve got caught underneath the black plastic. I would check and see if that's the case. That happened a couple times with me and I have learned to fix it before my rides! The other trick I do if I know I am going on a particular bumpy ride, is release the drink from the valve. To do this you softly clench the bite valve which allows air to come in.

Another thing you may want to check is if there is a tear in the bite valve. We have had a few tear and we are getting a re-designed valve in shortly to rectify this.

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Candice Turner
CEO
XLAB - Aerodynamic Triathlon Accessories
Dawn to Dusk - Off-road Specific Storage Accessories
http://www.XLAB-USA.com http://www.dawntodusk.bike

The vent hole is there to allow you to drink from the bite valve, otherwise you wouldn't be able to drink out of it. This location is really the only place for a potential leak on our 1-piece bottle compared to others on the market.

We would like to avoid all leaks however so we are modifying the solid cap slightly to avoid any further potential leaks. Stay tuned for more details on this!

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Candice Turner
CEO
XLAB - Aerodynamic Triathlon Accessories
Dawn to Dusk - Off-road Specific Storage Accessories
http://www.XLAB-USA.com http://www.dawntodusk.bike

Thanks Candice. I'll take a close look at the bite valve to see if it's caught or for any tears.

Since you're on here, I have another question. On a mildly bumpy ride, not big bumps, but not super smooth roads, my bottle popped loose 2 or 3 times. I have remedied this by wrapping one of my daughter's hair ties around the whale tail and down under the bottle cage. Is there a better remedy for this? Is this a common problem?

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Dan Hollingsworth

Nobody grows old by merely living a number of years. People grow old only by deserting their ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up interest wrinkles the soul." - Douglas MacArthur

I am using the whale tail. Works well for the most part, I think my straw popped out a couple of times during my ride. No issues with putting the straw back in, but if it's bumpy or not a good time, I just let the straw fly until I have a more opportune moment.

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Dan Hollingsworth

Nobody grows old by merely living a number of years. People grow old only by deserting their ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up interest wrinkles the soul." - Douglas MacArthur

I would suggest trying out not using a bite-valve at all. I think we've been fed a bunch of marketing fluff: " Included bite valve allows for fluid intake only, no air intake which causes bloating." and " Bite valve keeps fluid at top of straw for faster drinking."

Removing the valve allows the drink to flow much easier... with the BTA's, the straw really isn't very long at all, so i take a sip and the liquid is there very quickly anyways; and i don't notice any air intake at all...

Sure, the drink drains back into the bottle after a sip, but that also prevents any spilling too... i don't have the problem that you are describing. Might be worth a try.

will you be selling this bite vale separately Candice? Mine has torn almost half way around at this stage, and i don't think i've been overly aggressive with it.

I had the same problem as the poster with mine leaking all over my bike and me. I found mine would bounce against my computer or the bottle and just coat me and the bike. I did the "release bite" on mine and ended up splitting the plastic and destroying the valve after about a month. At that point I had to cut the valve off. My father is having the same issue as the poster.

The bottle itself is great. The valve is cheap/bad. I'd love to get my hands on a new valve.

I've also had my bottle release from the cage multiple times. I use electrical tape and basically tape it to the cage.

I assume you're talking about the Torpedo 400 system? I've had this happen twice recently, including at BSLT 70.3. I was fortunately able to catch the bottle in my left hand and get it back in there. During inspection after the race, I noticed my bottle was a bit worn (dented a bit) on the bottom, where it catches the cage. I'm using the cage the system came with. I've had this bottle for a while and use it every ride, so I ordered a new bottle and am hoping that does the trick.

Distribution of the new valve is still to be determined internally. We may just be getting the valves, or we may be getting complete new straws. I will keep everyone updated when I know!

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Candice Turner
CEO
XLAB - Aerodynamic Triathlon Accessories
Dawn to Dusk - Off-road Specific Storage Accessories
http://www.XLAB-USA.com http://www.dawntodusk.bike

Will let everyone know on here when the new valve is available!

As far as the bottle releasing from the cage, it should be locked in....can you post a side pic of the back screw (the one closest to the stem). I will take a look and see what may be causing it to come out so frequently.

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Candice Turner
CEO
XLAB - Aerodynamic Triathlon Accessories
Dawn to Dusk - Off-road Specific Storage Accessories
http://www.XLAB-USA.com http://www.dawntodusk.bike

well either the bite valve alone, or the straw with the valve. either way not having to buy a complete 400 kit again just for that bit would be great

I have had similar issues with the bite valve splitting, I am on my second straw/valve now with the same split (red bite valve).
Candice was kind enough to replace the original valve, but within two weeks the new one is split again, this is NOT from biting to hard, just gripping with teeth to get in mouth.
FYI be very careful if valve has split, the rubber piece on my first straw was split and while taking a drink (sucking in) the rubber came off completely and was sucked down my throat. There was a moment of panic as I rode and tried to cough it up, but realized it was just easier to swallow.
Candice I was in my LBS today and noticed a "clear" rubber version on the bit valve? Is this the new version?
Boomer

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==================
Cervelo P3 / Flo 60/90
RTA Nation

The bottle should be locked down and definitely not pop loose. Can you send a side pic of the back screw so I can see what is between the screw head and the cage? I am thinking the screw is not high enough to catch the bottle.

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Candice Turner
CEO
XLAB - Aerodynamic Triathlon Accessories
Dawn to Dusk - Off-road Specific Storage Accessories
http://www.XLAB-USA.com http://www.dawntodusk.bike

Don't worry, no need to buy a full system again! It will either be a new valve on a new straw, or the bite valve itself.

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Candice Turner
CEO
XLAB - Aerodynamic Triathlon Accessories
Dawn to Dusk - Off-road Specific Storage Accessories
http://www.XLAB-USA.com http://www.dawntodusk.bike

I can fix the bolt head issue if that is what it is. I'll take a look at it. I replaced the bolts at one point so maybe the new ones are slightly different.

A tip when installing is lift up on the back of the bottle - this allows for more clearance over the back screw. You are not digging the screw into the back of the bottle then.

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Candice Turner
CEO
XLAB - Aerodynamic Triathlon Accessories
Dawn to Dusk - Off-road Specific Storage Accessories
http://www.XLAB-USA.com http://www.dawntodusk.bike

Hi Boomer,

We have not released the new valve yet, so stay tuned on this. Shouldn't be too long now.

The bite valves come in red, magenta and clear. The clear bite valves come on the Torpedo System 100 - so not a different bite valve, just a different color.

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Candice Turner
CEO
XLAB - Aerodynamic Triathlon Accessories
Dawn to Dusk - Off-road Specific Storage Accessories
http://www.XLAB-USA.com http://www.dawntodusk.bike

Oh ok thanks

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==================
Cervelo P3 / Flo 60/90
RTA Nation

It is more of what's under the bolt head & the screw length. For Torpedo System 100 users the back screw should have the longest screw (size dependent on # of aero spacers used), a black spacer and a flat washer. If you don't have the black spacer then the bolt head is not sticking up for the bottle to catch on it. The minimum length the screw should be is M5x18mm.

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Candice Turner
CEO
XLAB - Aerodynamic Triathlon Accessories
Dawn to Dusk - Off-road Specific Storage Accessories
http://www.XLAB-USA.com http://www.dawntodusk.bike

Great, thanks Candice.