I have one waiting to go on my bike, looks like it works.
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Hi Jim
The work (and videos) are always super interesting. But is this EZ system approved under the new regulations? I saw Hogenhaug in Frankfurt, but I have my doubts…
Aren’t you afraid that with two 500ml bottles, the system will break due to vibrations?Thanks
I MacGuyvered myself something similar (my bottles sit flush on the saddle), but I’ve been able to hold 2x2L bottles after a few iterations and adjustments. This one sits higher than that the one I made, so doesn’t have the ability to just rest weight on the saddle. I suspect that this one is lighter than mine.
Anyway, I’ve chronicled the system and adjustments I had to make here
My understanding is Gibli, the aero tester used here, has stated for accurate readings it needs to be centered above the wheel for accurate data
Does it look like it is centered above the wheel on either bike?
I built something similar for my bike as well, particularly focused on the Gebiomized Stride saddle, which has integrated mounting holes. I have yet to test it, but it seems I will have to make a small bracket to put two bottles side by side, rather than on top of one another.
For those interested, it’s CNC machined out of 7075 aluminium. I ordered 5, so I have some spare ones, which I’m willing to sell at cost price (about 65€ in this form). Going to a side by side bottle setup will be slightly more expensive, as I will have to design and fabricate the bracket for that.
I have the aero carbon wing from Xlab for two bottles. Not ideal. The original design had some flimsy ass tabs and I lost an entire bottle at Chatt 70.3 this year coming back into town. As in the tab snapped off and the cage and bottle killed self.
I emailed, and their “solution” was to re-“engineer” by machining the tabs out of 1/8 thick aluminum instead of using much smaller gauge steel cutouts and a bend. What a joke.
They also wanted me to buy a cage from them for a 30% discount because I guess I was supposed to go back onto the course after waiting 4 hours for everybody to finish. Jokes on me I guess, because I forgot, and bought an XT cage on amazon.
I also just ordered the ez gains one. Hopefully it gets here before I leave for Wales next week. Triathlon - the endless experiment.
What speeds were these tests conducted at?
Not sure if your setup will allow this, but an easier solution could just be this bracket. Its expensive on their site, but I was able to find it cheaper on Amazon
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There’s a similar bracket from m-wave which is about 1/3 of the price. Both face the wront direction unfortunatley. Luckily, for testing, I can easily print something.
They are typically conducted with riders holding their typical race watts, since in most test cases they are trying to get data that the tester can personally use (vs. generically test a product). I’m guessing these guys were in the 40kph range, but maybe Jim can chime in with numbers.
Jim mentioned the test speeds in the video. Tony was 43 kph and Adam 40 kph.
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its in the video.
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TY
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Thanks guys, I was watching it with audio off and with subtitles so must have missed it
Here’s our system which is super strong and has retention loops pre installed. Can be run with a single bottle on top or two stacked bottles
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Magnus has made a carbon plate to mount two bottles side by side with your saddle. Have you tested both setups?
His team did and it tests faster for him, while stacked bottles has tested better for others, and still yet, a single bottom below the saddle has tested faster for others. It is definitely individual, and a product of how accurate and valid the testing protocol is.
We’re most interested in providing a solution that can offer multiple bottle positions and allow the athlete to carry the nutrition they need securely with our pre-installed retention loops, without parts breaking off mid race.
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This is the dual bottle setup I’ve used in my last 2 Ironman distances (15th and 16th IM’s, Kona 2024 and Challenge Roth yesterday) and posted back to back IM bike split PB’s, both first time in the 4h40’s.
It must be a combination of factors, but it sure looks like riding this setup is part of a solution that works for me!
Love that it is integrated, very simple and needs minimal hardware to set it up. Also very sturdy.
Does need a some practice to get the bottles in and out - I train with the setup in the weeks before a race.
I had seen the setup Magnus was using and bought the material (carbon fiber sheet) and 3D printed a prototype shape to cut the CF into to make a 2 side-by-side bottle setup over the saddle but never finished… this video motivates me to finish the project haha!
I have this system. It is very solid and well designed. Also, it does meet the 30 x 30 rear hydration rules. I asked this question before purchasing.