Neat solutions for bolting more than just a bottle to your frame
BIRZMAN UNCAGE SIDE DRAW BOTTLE CAGE COMBO KIT
£39.99 www.silverfish-uk.co.uk
SO GOOD…
This design can be switched from left- to right-entry with a single bolt. The mounting slots allow 25mm of adjustment. Included in the price are a CO 2 inflator and two canisters, mounted on the bottom. The good-length strap will also hold a tube, tool or banana. While the cage holds bottles securely, they’re easy to remove and insert.
NO GOOD…
It’s pricey for a cage without a multi-tool. The CO 2 canisters can foul the seat tube on some frames, and the bolt securing the accessory mount can work loose.
PRO SMART BOTTLE CAGE
£14.99 www.freewheel.co.uk
SO GOOD…
PRO’s keenly-priced cage is available in left, right or centre-pull flavours. A choice of two frame mounting points ensures compatibility with a range of bikes. It comes with tyre levers, and you can strap on a pump or 16g CO 2 canister (not included). You can also slot a PRO multi-tool into the base (from £24.99) and attach their 300ml storage pouch (£19.99), with room for a tube.
NO GOOD…
Mounting holes rather than slots limit adjustment and – along with the deep ‘hull’, which increases bottle height – prevent this system being truly universal. At 99g for the bare cage, it’s a bulky unit, too.
LEZYNE FLOW STORAGE CAGE
£23.99 www.upgradebikes.co.uk
SO GOOD…
Because the two side-mounted, strapped positions for CO 2 canisters (not included) or a pump aren’t size-specific, you can fit any brand/model. The integrated storage canister is conveniently shaped for Lezyne’s own V16 and V PRO-17 tools (but doesn’t come with one). There’s 30mm of mounting adjustment, which allows fitting on most frames, as does the side entry.
NO GOOD…
That storage canister isn’t very big, so unless you buy the appropriate tool with the cage, you may find yourself with a box you can’t use. It’s quite a stiff cage, too, so isn’t the easiest to get bottles in and out of.
TOPEAK NINJA MASTER+ CAGE X1 + TOOLBOX T16
£9.99 +£49.99 www.extrauk.co.uk
SO GOOD…
The bare cage is impressively light, at just 39g with its two clip-on tyre levers removed, and its 15mm mounting slots offer plenty of adjustment. A removable mount on the bottom allows you to attach Topeak Ninja Master+ accessories – here, the Toolbox T16, which is unobtrusively small yet contains a 16-function multi-tool with chain breaker.
NO GOOD…
With the accessory mount in place, there’s only 4mm of usable frameposition adjustment. The top-loading design won’t play well with some bikes, either.
SYNCROS IS COUPE CO2 CAGE
£54.99 www.scott-sports.com
SO GOOD…
That ‘bat wing’ shape gives a very secure hold, so you won’t lose your bottle. You get an integrated 10-piece multitool, which sits well-protected from the elements between bottle and frame. A CO 2 cartridge and regulated inflator head are also included, mounted on a non-driveside cradle. At 213g, the complete set-up doesn’t add much heft to your bike (61g for the cage alone), but saves weight on your back.
NO GOOD…
The shape and depth (due to the multi-tool) of the cage causes compatibility issues with some frames. It’s a shame you don’t get a chain breaker.
ZÉFAL PULSE Z2I CO2 KIT
£19.99 www.chickencyclekit.co.uk
SO GOOD…
With 25mm of mounting adjustment and a reversible design, this side-entry cage is compatible with most frames. While it looks fairly minimalist, it offers a good hold on a bottle, while maintaining easy entry and exit. It’s great value, too, with the price including two 25g CO2 canisters and Zéfal’s EZ Big Shot inflator head. These are mounted on either side of the cage; one can be replaced with a pump, should you prefer.
NO GOOD…
It’s quite a wide system, as the accessory ‘wings’ point straight out rather than curving around the frame tubing.