Water bottles and bottle cages: The perfect duo for long tours

The choice of bottle cages is certainly almost as large as the bottles themselves. However, the prices for particularly graceful and lightweight carbon bottle cages are significantly higher than the best of all bicycle bottles. Basically, however, we can identify the following models.

The classic among bottle holders

The classic bottle holder is bent from 6.5 millimetre thick aluminium wire and welded to the base plate for the fastening screws - that's it. The bottle is held in place by a bend with a diameter of around 70 millimetres and the retracted long end that grips the bottle waist. This part, which has been tried and tested a million times over, weighs a good 50 grams and costs around ten euros in the accessories trade. More expensive and somewhat lighter are more delicate metal models made of titanium. The advantage of the simple design is that the wire cage can be bent - carefully and moderately - to hold a non-standard-sized bottle without wobbling.

The lightweight drink holder

Carbon is the material of choice when it comes to being particularly light, even for bottle cages. The lightest models weigh less than 10 grams, a good average is 20 grams. Disadvantages: They are expensive and often scratch the bottle; very flexible holders that twist easily are also often reluctant to release the bottle.

Fibre mixer holder for the mixed drink

Glass fibre reinforced plastic holders are relatively light and available in many shapes. Due to the rigid cage, the bottle must fit the holder exactly for a secure fit and easy removal. Bottles with beverage residues quickly stick to the flat struts and can only be removed by force.

Water bottle holder with opening to the side

With very small frames or with frame bags fitted, there is hardly any space to insert the bottle into the holder from above. Bottle cages with side access can solve this problem. They are available with the opening to the left or right.

Bottle science

Apart from bike bottles, which give off that sour, chemical odour when you open them for the first time and which we prefer not to pick up anyway, there are also some important features to consider when it comes to drinking bottles. After all, it's not just the bike bottle and holder that have to match - people also have preferences.

The shape of the bicycle water bottle

The standard bottle has a cylindrical shape with a diameter of just under 74 millimetres; small bottles with a half-litre capacity are 153 millimetres high, large ones with 750 millilitres 215 millimetres. In both sizes, the waist of the bottle cage is 130 millimetres above the base of the bottle. With 0.5 litre bottles, it usually merges directly into the bottle neck; bidons with different dimensions, such as those from Tacx, do not fit into standard holders but only into special Tacx holders.

Which material is best for a drinking bottle?

Most manufacturers rely on polyethylene for the material, recognisable by the "PE" embossing on the base of the bottle. If this bears the suffix "LD" for low density, the material is particularly soft and can be squeezed easily, allowing a lot of liquid to shoot through the valve with little effort. Polypropylene (PP) bottles are also available, but are less common and are less easy to squeeze than their PE counterparts due to the stiffer material. In terms of sustainability, the range of bottles made from plastics with a proportion of renewable raw materials such as sugar cane is growing, for example from the Dutch supplier Euro Bottle. Whether this has advantages in terms of recycling is at least controversial among experts.

The shutter

The screw cap offers clear advantages over the snap-on cap as it is easier to use and seals better. If the snap-on lid sits at a slight angle on the sealing lip of the bottle, it spills out immediately. Drinking bottles with a separate screw cap are also easier to sort in the dishwasher. The mouthpiece always works in the same way, although the spouts that slide over the locking pin differ in terms of material and diameter. Because the comparatively hard spouts slide over the pin more easily than the soft, rubbery ones, they are easier to open with the teeth, which is an advantage.

Bicycle bottle care

For reasons of hygiene, drinking bottles should be cleaned immediately after use, especially the mouthpiece, where harmful bacteria are most easily harboured. PE bottles can be put in the dishwasher without hesitation, but the mouthpiece should be open. As microcracks form in the plastic over time through use and cleaning, in which bacteria can spread quickly, drinking bottles should be replaced once a year.

Magnetic attraction - Fidlock Twist

As if guided by magic, the drinking bottle flies into the slim holder almost by itself: this is due to the two integrated magnets, which attract the steel plates incorporated into the bottle. With a slight twist to the side, they release the magnets again, which works well after a little practice. Advantages: The holder holds the bottle absolutely securely and without rattling, even on bumpy roads; the system is also recommended for bikes with limited space. Small disadvantage: The set weighs 30 grams more than a standard bottle cage with a half-litre bottle and costs considerably more at 30 euros.