I found it. Having tried front systems (my Ergomo doesn’t play nice with front mounted hydration systems), several bike shop yestreday getting my little girl her SECOND bike - a TREK (A very cute pink, green and yellow job with go-fast streamers, front basket, SWEET white wheels, coaster & handbrake, and a kickstand!)
I’ve been using the Hydrotail for 2 months now. I never had the mounting problems or cage problems others have had. It went on easy to a NON-cut P2C seatpost and using simple metal cages everything stayed put.
I used to use 3 cages - two for nutrition and one that was modified to hold all manner of long distance get out of trouble fix it stuff.
The problem is the thing over the last 3 weeks has suffered mounting hardware(plasticware) failure. They just got loose and despite many attempts to secure it was always working its way loose (My local training roads, Harriman, and the course at LP a dozen times took it toll). To be honest it always felt pretty cheap anyway.
The Bontranger is super solid - metal bits for mounting, mounts directly to the seat rails, bomb proof. It was tricky to get on - had to remove the rail attachemnt and slide it through due to the Cervelo fin on the back of the seat post, but went on OK with a third hand from my son. All the CO2 attachment points work great, takes and Xnut, and has the sapce between bottles as a tray with velcro strap top hold all the rubber essentials. SO now I only have the 2 cages (plus frame one) and much less clutter.
Can you take some photos of your Bontrager setup and send them to me (BobV@aol.com)? I have a Hyfdrotail, but it is cracking at the bolt interface and might be lookin for something else. The Bontrager interested me. so I’d like to see your set up. Also, where do you put you inflation “chuck,” on the X-Nut or in the little “compartment” area behnid the bottles?
Photos forthcoming - I put the inflator on an Xnut in one of water bottle mount points at the direct rear of the unit - that still leaves me 3 mounts for CO2 cartridges.
Thanks! Also, is there any issue with swinging your leg over the bike when mounting or dismounting the bike? Also, can you adjust the cage so that the angle behind the seat is variable?
Angle is adjustable all the way to flat, since the holding hardware is metal it does stay put. I haven’t hit my leg yet But it does sit higher than the hydrotail.
I just bought this and had it mounted by my local LBS and the first time I put bottles in, it collapsed. I tightened and less than 5 minutes into my ride it collapsed again and both bottles fell out. Needless to say I am taking it back.
I’ve had 1 for about a month. Love the size and the storage space- but it has been some work. I use it with 2 metal cages on each side (custom bend - no launching) and an X lab nut on the back. I carry a tube, multitool, 3 co’s and an inflator (yeah a lot of crap)
I had to cut out a small channel on the plastic portion of under seat mount so it will fit (the seat post sat up too high). Channel has worked great.
Problem #2 is that I couldn’t get the rack/cages to stay upright. After many times tightening and re-tightening it always drooped.
I have tried to fix this by using some of that metal bonding “glue” to the metal locks on the inside of the angle adjustment. So far so good, but only time will tell.
Overall, like the set up, but it has taken some modifications.