“2. The carrier ought not be pointed backward to any great degree, because you need to do everything you can to keep the bottle from launching.”
Actually in my somewhat extended experience (given that I ride a 48 cm P3 with very few options for carrying extra fluids), I have found that part of the bottle rocket launching equation is actually having the bottle behind the seat oriented too far vertically. This allows all the momentum from a road bump to vertically launch the bottle with minimum restraint from the cage. Bottles that are oriented at a 60 degree or less angle are never ejected as the momenteum from bumps directs the bottle into the cage, and the energy is absorbed. The only exeption occurs when one uses radically undersized bottles for the given cage size.
FWIW, I’ve used the Nashbar version of the side entry cage (which looks like an AL version of the one Dan reviewed) for a while now and I like it. It caosts 4 bucks, so its a pretty easy way to find out if you like the setup.
Could someone (perhaps Slowman) tell me the differences b/w this set-up:
And this one?
Of course…the obvious is that the bottles are higher (but they are actually bigger too, btw). 2nd obvious is that they sit more upright (which Slowman says he likes). I’m not implying Sergio has a large ass, but it does appear in would cover the bottles and not create a sail (to which Slowman’s referes to as well).
Here is my current bottle setup - subject to modification …
I cut an elastic band with a tab on it to go over the clip of the cage - Arundel cage in this case I think.
Cut the band from an old 2" mountain bike tire or similar source. The cage rack is standard X-Lab mounted using existing holes to set it up this way vs. usual set up.
The bottles are fairly aero - allowing flow under the seat - and when taking a full bottle from the back - put it in the downtube cage until empty - the empties do not need the elastic band to keep them in the cage on the back.
You can jump curbs with this setup and no bottles eject.
I 've used the x-lab flatwing with blackburn stainless cages for a couple years now and never lost a bottle. the stainless cages hold the bottles tight.
I like this. But I’m thinking they might be easier to get to if they pointed forward… Would have to tilt the cages down in the back so that they didn’t fall out… Any possibility of that?
