Based on everyone’s critiques of Gigs position on his P3C, it seems like this forum is pretty Anti-X-Lab. I don’t particularly love having my bottles launched from my behind the seat rig, but it is pretty convenient. I only have 1 bottle holder on my frame. If you don’t use an X-Lab where do you all put your bottles/tubes/CO2 etc.? Please help!!!
Put it under the tail of your aero helmet
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there are other behind the seat holders that do a better job of holding bottles in than XLAb. Search through sites like trisports.com and other retailers to find them.
I like the Minoura, but it’s too cheap for this Forum.
I like the Minoura, but it’s too cheap for this Forum.
Yikes! Minoura for sale!
you are the man.
I prefer the x-lab flatwing over the other one…it sits lower and doesn’t bounce as much. I have used both and the flatwing rarely launches bottles. Regardless of opinions here, if you only have one frame mount like me, you need more liquids for long training rides. In races, I’ll use an aero bottle and just use the xlab for grabbing bottles at aid stations and holding them until I need a refill. I start most races with the xlab empty and I use the frame mount for my nutrition bottle.
Here’s how I solved my “ejecting” bottles the Lance way…
But I had to make some cut-out adjustments to be able to push in the seat/flatwing assembly.
I don’t think the flatwing is bad. I love it and have used it for years. The cage to use should have the top portion bend in to hold the bottles. Designs with just the arms around the bottle won’t work.
I find that as long as I dont run a super tall bottle, and I only fill the bottle 3/4 of the way, I dont have rocket issues. I usually run a bigger bottle in the mount on my frame. This will easily get me through a half-IM, and if you shell a bottle, the aid stations ave you covered. I have these bontrager cages, the plastic ones. The Profile Karbon cages hold bottles really really tightly, those are a bit $$ but they work.
Love my Minoura!
I use to the Specialized aluminum bottle cages from 3 yrs ago with the roller to hold the neck of the bottle.
There’s NO way my bottles will ever launch.
Not that sexy, but its nice not to have to feel for my bottles everytime I hit a bump.
I run a frame bottle and an aero bottle. Haven’t needed anything more. Tube co2 and tools in under seat pouch, don’t tbother with that for a arace.
I used a behind the seat holder and hated it. Now I only have one frame bottle and use a front, betweent he aero bottle for long races. For half-IM my frame bottle has all my calories for the race and the front bottle only holds clear water and is easily refillable. For races under three hours you don’t really need more than one 28 oz bottle anyway, so I mix my gel and endurolytes in that bottle.
Tubular tire is strapped to my aerobar along side where my arms rest. CO2 goes in the bento box.
I’m not a fan of behind the seat stuff after losing/dodging ejected bottles. I also find it hilarious that people pay thousands of dollars for allegedly “aero frames” and then stick two big bottles right up in the airstream that comes off their back. That one makes me scratch my head.
Chad
Here in the Philippines the races are very hot. If you had your gatorade on the down tube and water on the aero bars (the more logical arrangement), how do you pour water on your head when it gets reallly hot in the long races?
Thats why we need that water in the back.Being well hydrated can get me to the finish better against a slight aero disruption.
In my first year of racing, after I got my new bike, I had the X-wing on it. At one race, I had two bottles on it and, right in front of everyone, while mounting the bike in T1, I swung my leg over and knocked them both out! That was embarassing and I removed the damn thing before the next race.