I have an XLAB torpedo bottle cage in my tri bike now. It’s the round bottle setup. Thinking if switching to an aero rounded bottle with a straw setup. Thoughts on the profile design HC aero bottle with the straw versus the XLAB torpedo bottle with the straw? I have always been an XLAB fan…
Currently have the Xlab torpedo. I might be in the minority but I don’t exactly love it. Trying to cinch down the straw on mine while on the move is a PITA and so is cleaning the damned thing.
Next bottle to try on my list is the Torhans aero 30
That is exactly what I have been wondering. About how easy it is to use while riding hard. Is it Ny easier than temping a bottle with your hand and drinking then putting the bottle back
It’s easier than a bottle in the hand for sure. For me, putting the straw back under the “dolphin tail” or whatever they call it while riding is a futile exercise. Doubt there’s much of an aero penalty. My biggest beef is how much of a PITA it is to clean.
I dig my Xlabs. I don’t think it’s a pain to clean, but I agree trying to tuck the straw into the dolphin tail while on the move is not easy.
I have the Torhans Aero30 too. My shoes and shirt look like a Jackson Pollack painting from all the splatter after a ride. I used it twice. Never again. I have the Profile Designs system too (not the torpedo bottle but the one that looks similar to Torhans). Same thing with the leaking. The Xlabs leaks/splatter significantly less than either system. I don’t use either of my other systems now.
Will that bottle fit into my current bottle cage on the bars or do I need a new cage also for that aero bottle?
The xlab bottle? Yes it fits in a cage, not all of them though you can use the Elite custom cage for it just fine.
I’ve not had an issue cleaning it, just stick it in the dishwasher and it’s fine. I mainly use it for water though.
It’s great when in aero, as mentioned its hard to get the straw back whist still in the aero bars. My main issue is drinking from it out of aero i.e. on a long climb, it’s just unnatural to dip your head that low. Still better than reaching for a bottle though.
Just throwing a speedfil recommendation out there as another option, A2 mounted on the Z4 cage (can pop the garmin right on top of it). Can use a regular bottle with the cage, can cut the straw to length desired and easy to jimmy together a clip to tuck the straw underneath.
I know you are looking for an aero bottle, but I wonder how much benefit there is tucked behind your hands?
As for the Torhans, I was at Jim Manton’s getting fit recently, he said that is a very aero setup… IF it works for you. It depends on how close you can get it to the back of the stem. If it’s too far out might actually be a penalty
I eliminated the dolphin tail and instead zip tied a magnet to the straw and epoxied another magnet to the bottle. Works great.
I have the Profile Design HC system, it works great for me. Never looses a drop of water or whatever I have in there. It’s a bit hard to read your computer. Real easy to clean and I love the closable rifill hole.
Jmt…
Martijn
I’m mostly interested in it if it is easier to use while riding versus taking a bottle out to drink
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For those who have trouble cleaning their bottles. Same applies to water bladders etc…
Simply soak in a bleach & water solution, then give it a good shake and all the crap should come off. Nice & easy 
Anyone using the the longer / newer torpedo mount with the computer mount up front with a Garmin 500 / 510? I’m wondering how bouncy it is like that or is it stable enough to read well.
That’s the one I have (unless it’s changed in the last two months). Mine is pretty stable but you should consider that there are other factors at play such as how loose/tight you’ve mounted everything to your aero bars.
I installed the Profile HC system yesterday – haven’t been able to take it for a spin yet, but it looks solid and I think I’ll be happy with it. I took the computer mount off since I don’t have a bike computer. The system fits nicely despite the fact that my aerobar setup is very narrow, and also pretty short from bar ends to arm rests. The only mod I might make is to add a bite valve once I cut the straw down.
I’m mostly interested in it if it is easier to use while riding versus taking a bottle out to drink
It’s quite easy. And the bite valve doesn’t splash
Hi there,
Like you I have tried many aero front hydration systems. I recently switched to Torhans for long course racing and am very impressed. Easy to refill, it didn’t splash and didn’t move around at all. A really great option that comes in 2 sizes.
Regards,
Anna Cleaver
www.annacleaver.com
I’ve got the X-Lab mini-mount carbon with the X-lab carbon cage. I was originally using a regular water bottle there, but recently went to the X-Lab Torpedo bottle; very happy with it thus far and will use it for my IM in a few weeks.
It took a few rides and some practice, (like anything else) to get proficient at tucking the straw back under the little “dolphin tail” thing to keep the straw out of the wind. Now it is super easy, I don’t even need to look down to take it out, take a drink and tuck it back in. Very easy. I just started using the clear, full refill cover vs the cover that has the slots in it as I was tired of the splashing. I did find, however, than when the bottle is full, and you hit a big bump…I mean a big bump, the bottle can fly out. I now just have a rubber band around the bottle, just in front of the straw - problem solved.
I ended up putting my garmin mount for my Edge 500 on my aerobar extension, siting just ahead of the bottle and just behind my hand. I have to angle it a bit inward so as to not cause it to interfere with a comfortable arm and hand position. But this gets my watts right in front of my face.
I’ve heard the Profile Design bottle is NOT nearly as aero as the X-Lab Torpedo or the Torhans. From an aero perspective, a cylinder (round straw like the Profile Design and many other BTA bottles) in the wind is bad. The Torhans has that little airfoil shaped thing over the straw which is far better than a round straw sticking up…of course no straw sticking up is the best.
Finally, be sure the aero bottle sits down between your arms and is not sitting well above or below your arms for the best aero position.
(Credit to Jim Manton at ERO Sports for his help, guidance, fit and suggestions to me…Most of my above comments are as a result of the time I’ve spent with Jim over the course of a few sessions!)
Hi there,
Like you I have tried many aero front hydration systems. I recently switched to Torhans for long course racing and am very impressed. Easy to refill, it didn’t splash and didn’t move around at all. A really great option that comes in 2 sizes.
Regards,
Anna Cleaver
http://www.annacleaver.com
I’ll second Anna’s response. i’ve tried about all the front mount setups from profile designs and xlab for racing/training and the Torhans is the best by far for ease of use and being able to drink your fluids instead of bathing in them from every bump in the road. i use the garmin mount system that is optional for it as well and haven’t had any issues with it.
We’re trying to figure out what aero bottle to put on the wife’s new bike. Only issue is that she is pretty short and as expected from that, has pretty short forearms, so her aerobars are pretty short too. We’re trying to figure out of any of the torpedo systems will be short enough to not interfere with here grip at the front or be so far back behind the stem that she hits her knees on them.
I’ve got an A2 to measure, and we went to the LBS today and measured the Profile Aero HC, but no X-Lab in stock. Can somebody measure the overall length of the xlab bottle for me?
Thanks