for trek speed concept if that matters.
Is a aero cage really worth it?
I really like the torhans vr bottle. Although I use it on the seat tube but I know many a riders who use it on the downtube.
Small gains but free speed. Use one if you only need the one bottle on the frame for the race. I like Torhans VR as I have ejected aero bottles before on a rough course but it is supported well and definitely won’t eject.
Elite Chrono on the down tube. You’ll have to use the cage it’s designed to work with.
Highjack:
Before I buy a a goofy aero bottle, order of preference for the speed concept is (1) BTA, (2) single bottle BTS, (3) aero bottle on downtube, right?
None, next.
I’m currently using the X-Lab aero bottle for racing, and I use it on the seattube. It seems to fit a bit lower on my frame (Blue Triad SL) than on the downtube.
I’d prefer no bottle in that position, but I feel personally it’s better for my nutrition. I use one concentrated bottle of Infinit in a HIM and two for an IM. I’ve thought of putting the Infinit behind my seat, where I do have a cage, but taking a drink every 15-20 min is hard getting the bottle out of and back into the Gorilla cage. I generally start a race with a water BTA, one behind the seat as well as the X-Lab aero bottle.
For a real hilly course I would forgo the rear bottle at the start to save a bit of weight. The only advantage of starting with two water bottles is generally only having to slow down at one aid station in a HIM to get more water.
Elite Chrono on the down tube. You’ll have to use the cage it’s designed to work with.
This.
It’s very, very hard to go wrong with a BTA and often a BTS is pretty neutral
The SC is one of the few bikes we’ve made go faster with downtube/seattube bottles. But you need the right size SC otherwise there is a drag increase. On the other hand not having that nutrition, getting off the bike staggering through the run (or run/walk) on fumes is probably the slower option
I use an XLAB Aero TT on the down tube of my Trek SC. Not sure if it’s faster or slower than the Elite Crono, but it holds 25% more (at 20g heavier) if that matters.
It’s very, very hard to go wrong with a BTA and often a BTS is pretty neutral
The SC is one of the few bikes we’ve made go faster with downtube/seattube bottles. But you need the right size SC otherwise there is a drag increase. On the other hand not having that nutrition, getting off the bike staggering through the run (or run/walk) on fumes is probably the slower option
I found one of your old posts re: the subject and IIRC, small/medium there was no penalty for a round bottle, but with a large there was. Do you remember what gen those test were ran on? I’m on a medium 2012 (the older gen frame).
probably 1st gen since it was 4-6yr ago I’d guess
.
Elite Chrono on the down tube. You’ll have to use the cage it’s designed to work with.
Yep, I was told by Jan that didn’t change his drag on the Canyon at all.
As best as I can tell from field testing, it’s drag neutral for me as well.
It’s very, very hard to go wrong with a BTA and often a BTS is pretty neutral
The SC is one of the few bikes we’ve made go faster with downtube/seattube bottles. But you need the right size SC otherwise there is a drag increase. On the other hand not having that nutrition, getting off the bike staggering through the run (or run/walk) on fumes is probably the slower option
I have a SC - XL Gen2 that I like to run an Elite Crono2 on the downtube. Thoughts? No bottle seemed always best, but I have to run mine on the downtube as I drop it too often on the seattube.
Thanks everyone. Have a BTA horizontal-oriented Profile Design but wish it had an easy refill foam http://www.profile-design.com/product/hydration/aqualite/ cap like the old vertical Profile Design Aqualite BTA. Which makes me wonder-which of the suggested downtube aerobottles would be easiest/fastest to refill the flip open solid cap top of BTA I have now (horizontal) ?
I have been running the Specialized Virtue aero bottle on my Gen 2 SC. It fills the gap nicely between the downtime and seat tube. Don’t know if it is any faster than or slower than anything else.
I say Tim Reed running one and figured hey I have one why not? (I know, great reason right)
I would lean toward the X lab just because you can see how much fluid you still have compared to the Virtue or Chronos, just my worthless .02cents
I have been fond of the xlabs Torpedo BTA on my SC with the no longer sold Bontrager RXL BTS mount that holds 1 or 2 bottles. So I do not use a frame mount.
None, next.
This. You spend thousands on a totally aero tri bike carbon frame, and you’re gonna put a bottle on the downtube?. That’s just wrong. Hydration should go in the cockpit or behind the saddle on a tri bike.
And the Giant Trinity? Comes with a downtube bottle…
Nothing is ever so easy to reply to with a few word, and certainly not downtube bottle aerodynamics