I launched four bottles today. Well, four separate launches of the same bottle. Clambered down in a ravine to retrieve one.
The trail / road where I ride is a bit choppy, but not all that bad, so I’m a bit surprised.
I’m using an X-Lab turbo with two gorilla cages and Camelbak podium 24s, older models.
Today, one of the bolts holding the right side cage sheered off, so there’s that. But it was the left side that kept ejecting.
Anyway, I’m wondering whether there is a better cage / bottle combo out there for rear carry?
Anyone done any research?
Or maybe I go down to 80 psi?
Rhe best 2 I’ve had are gorilla XT and tririg cages hands down either one will not ever let you launch another bottle for a while! Btw, I happen to have 2 extra XT black cages for sale 😎😎😎
+1 for a BTA configuration.
The behind the seat setups are notorious bottle ejectors. If I had to pick up, something like the XLAB Delta 105 would be a top choice. Single bottle seems to eject less than dual bottle
I launched four bottles today. Well, four separate launches of the same bottle. Clambered down in a ravine to retrieve one.
The trail / road where I ride is a bit choppy, but not all that bad, so I’m a bit surprised.
I’m using an X-Lab turbo with two gorilla cages and Camelbak podium 24s, older models.
Today, one of the bolts holding the right side cage sheered off, so there’s that. But it was the left side that kept ejecting.
Anyway, I’m wondering whether there is a better cage / bottle combo out there for rear carry?
Anyone done any research?
Or maybe I go down to 80 psi?
Your issue may be the bottle not the cage. I have essentially the same set up and my Camelbak bottles would launch because they don’t have that deep continuous indent around the top. I picked up two el cheapo non insulated bottles that did and it was all good. Also 21 oz bottles are a bit shorter and will work better.
This was my suspicion as well - i.e. that the bottles are the issue. I’m going to try some purist specialized bottles and see. Also, I realize now that my cages are not the XT version, so may try that. I’m adding BTA, but for long course, I want to carry bottles as well because I can’t take the on-course gaterade stuff.
x2. Those bottles have no groove so they create and issue; your setup is otherwise fine and should prevent launching and the vast majority of conditions with a grooved bottle.
Gorilla cages are great but if your bottle is angled and shock weight going over bumps spreads them open a little, they become loose and eject a bottle. I found a better shaped cage that supported the bottle right at the highest point and doesn’t spread open like the Elite Cannibal was the best performer.
https://www.elite-it.com/en/products/bottle-cages/fibre-reinforced-material-frp/cannibal-xc
Other option I would go with the Xlab Aeropouch
I use the same setup, but add a couple of rubber bands to the bottles. They never get ejected. A bit more time to take them out, but I’m doing it only to pour everything to the BTA storage.
Topeak TRI-CG Tri-Cage. It’s heavy, but won’t launch bottles (and it’s cheap:$10). Since the bottles come out of the cage toward the saddle (not towards the ground),bounces don’t pop the bottle out.
Thanks for asking this. I was about start a topic regarding the same thing. I went out for a metric century yesterday and ejected my bottle three times. Also a camelbak podium bottle. Another rider picked up my bottle for me once and suggested gorilla cages. A few miles down the road, he ejected his bottle!
I like the rubber band idea. We also use something called dycem in the therapy clinic. Thinking it may be too tacky, though.
Interesting idea.
75 grams for $12 versus 49 grams for $70 (Gorilla XT). No brainer for this MOPer.
Also, this is making me think (as well as something someone said above) that the fact that my cages are angled backwards isn’t helping.
I’m going to try these cages + bottles with a better lip and try to avoid the rubber band… see how it goes.
Haven’t used this in a rear mount but Tacx makes some cages that are super grippy, especially with the Specialized Pursuit bottles. They’re also cheap ($15) and relatively light (32g claimed)
https://road.cc/content/review/154517-tacx-deva-bottle-cage
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XNF3880/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Q8-kDbX088HMR
I put a little line of silicon sealant on the inside of my Gorilla cages and it helps a bit too. It seems the slick bottles give us all more issues.
I have the Blackburn Slick bottle cages (cheap and light) paired with the Camelbak Podium bottles. Never had an ejection and frankley they fit so well together even if I tried I’d guess it’s almost impossible.
This was my suspicion as well - i.e. that the bottles are the issue. I’m going to try some purist specialized bottles and see. Also, I realize now that my cages are not the XT version, so may try that. I’m adding BTA, but for long course, I want to carry bottles as well because I can’t take the on-course gaterade stuff.
I’ll tack on… I staff bike courses and pick up tons of Camelbacks and I’ve launched some of them as well.
Awful design for BTS/BTA mounted bottles… that twisty ridge they use is hot garbage… fan of the big mouth drink but I’d rather have a bottle that doesn’t launch, especially in a race.
I have a Gorilla XT on my BTS and it holds great… not real picky with bottles… everything BUT a Camelback.
I picked up 2 - $5 “classic” style alloy bottle cages after a year of ejecting bottles on every ride. They work really well and have not ejected a bottle yet this year (24oz(?) camelback, 26oz purist, or Xlab insluated bottles).
You can also bend them - I bent one to be a little more snug, which is helpful for aid station bottles.
Camelbak podium 24s are terrible and launch no matter what the rear cage. For your cage you need something like a Purist bottle that has a deep grooved neck for the cage to grab. That will stop a lot of the launches.
Best I ever had was a Minoura two-bottle mount on the back of the saddle, mounted UPSIDE DOWN so that the mounts were horizontal rather than vertical. Then mounted Profile Kages to them, facing forward. It did three things: (1) put the bottles right behind my thighs so that aerodynamically they were shielded, (2) the bottles would NOT launch, ever, and (3) it was easy to reach back and slide the bottle out, and return it, all while keeping the other hand on the aero bars. Wish I had some pictures to show…
Surprised nobody has mentioned Specialized Rib Cage yet… that has always been a favourite tip for this. I’ve got one BTA and BTS and neither have ever thrown a bottle, and I live in West Yorkshire in the UK where the roads are really shit.
Agree the bottle makes a difference also. I find the Elite Corsa works well, and also doesn’t drip when laid horizontal ie BTA.
Ta,
Rich.
I have Rib Cages and they are great but I think the OP’s problem is the bottles not the cages.