Bottle Cages

Cyclists and even casual bike riders need to keep hydrated while on the road, especially when on a long ride. In other words, they need to have a supply of water available to them at all times. Since even slight dehydration can affect a cyclist's performance, water really is essential for replenishing minerals. This water needs to be easy to reach and easy to transport and that's where bottle cages come in. The cyclist places a well-filled water bottle into the cage and can then reach for the bottle when required.

Water bottle cages vary in terms of their size, meaning that cyclists can select a cage appropriate to the size of the water bottle they'll be using. Another factor in determining the required place for a bottle cage is where the cyclist wants to attach the cage on her bike. Some cyclists will want to put the bottle cage on their handlebars and an extension bracket can be purchased for just this task. Other bottle cages for road bikes are intended for the downtube on the front of the bike. Others still are designed for attachment to a position behind the bike seat, which some claim is the most aerodynamic place to put carbon bottle cages. Some cyclists may prefer a side cage, especially if their bike model of choice is smaller than average and makes grabbing the bottle from the cage more difficult.

Brands associated with bottle cages include Elite bottle cages, BBB and Minoura. The latter brand manufactures a large range of bike-related accessories, including bottle cages but also items such as maintenance stands and other tools.