I have a 2009 specialized transition and I am fine tuning things for my first 140.6. In the past, I have used a seat bag for flat kit, and one bottle between the arms and the specialized virtue bottle on the downtube. The specialized aero bottle and cage does not allow hand ups, so for Iron distance the specialized bottle is kind of useless for hydration.
The seat post design of my bike makes doing much behind the seat difficult. I have mulled this over and want to avoid big round bottles on the frame.
I have come across the solution of using BTA water bottle, and a cage zip tied to back of seat. I still need to carry tubes, CO2, and tire levers. I was thinking to convert my Specialized aero bottle to flat kit holder. This bottle supposedly gives no aero penalty at all. Has anyone thought along these same lines? If so, how did you do the mod? Thanks.
You can snake a tube in through the existing cap opening, and then add in a CO2 and levers.
Another option is to slit the bottle, and then tape it shut when full.
http://www.tritalk.co.uk/forums/userpix/9143_VirtueBentoBox_1.jpg
http://i46.tinypic.com/ur2mw.jpg
I cut mine straight down the middle on the outer side, shoved my flat stuff down in it and then used the lid to keep it held together. Will hold a tube, lever and co2, but doubt you could get much (anything?) else without it warping the shape too much.
I only cut mine far enough down to be able to shove the stuff into it… much more and you risk losing it over rough terrain I would think.
Thanks for the reply. I am glad I asked. I was planning on bi-valving the bottle and adding some type of of closer system (almost like a suitcase) but simpler is better. Maybe if I slit it to the opening the lid and tape would hold things together well enough? I do have a piece of velcro holding the bottle to the cage so snug fit in cage isn’t a big priority. I lost one once since they are kind of loose fit anyway
I was hoping to fit two tubes and a 2-3 CO2’s. It might be tight.
I use one of the Profile Design aero bottles for my flat kit on the down tube. I cut the top of it off so I can stuff a spare tubular and tire lever in there and then tape the top back on with gorilla tape. Works great. Got the idea from another post on here a while back that did the same thing.
The Torhans VR does even have a cut mark on the bottom of it in case you want to do that…in case you were looking to change the setup.
I have had good results just shoving the tube into the opening on the bottle. I can get a multi tool, 2 tire levers, a co2, and a tube in the bottle nice and snug. It doesn’t rattle around and is pretty easy to get the stuff out when you need to.