Always be prepared for mechanical mishaps. Even if you are carrying three bottles, ideally you will have a spare one by the side of the road, just in case one does fall out. If you are doing standard bottles BTA make sure they seal up well even when open, have some older specialized ones I now just use for racing. As noted above an advantage to standard bottles is you can swap them out if needed. For a 70.3 I carry 2 with very dense carb mix and just take extra water, drink and toss, the bottle in the feed zones.

You do not want to choose a bike fueling system that is inadequate just to shave a few ounces off of your weight. On the other hand, you also do not want to add any unnecessary weight to sap even more of your energy during this endurance race. In this instance, it is more important that you identify how much, what type, and which mounting option your hydration system will use than its total weight. Conclusion Chain reaction Cycles and CRC are trading names of Wiggle Ltd (In Administration) registered in the United Kingdom at 1000 Lakeside, Suite 310, Third Floor N E Wing, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO6 3EN, By contrast the first time I used this Bontrager Rear Bottle Mounted Cage the bottle ejected 5 miles into the ECCA 100 mile, 2014. It is relatively cheap compared to others) Xlab Delta 400 An important note is to make sure the bottle is secured. I have had experiences with bottles ejecting themselves. Make sure you test over suitably bumpy roads – before the big race! Most aerodynamic position for a bottle

Prime Carbon Bike Bottle Cage

It is a pretty secure system. If you tighten to correct torque, you will have no problems. I got the Bontrager one to be higher up. The X-Lab Delta is more in the wind. (possibly due to shape of long Dash saddle.

This hydration system also features a low profile which makes it more aerodynamic, but it also leaves it less secure when riding over rough terrain. Unfortunately, compared to the Bontrager it holds the bottle lower down, exposing more of the water bottle to the air. So although it is lighter, better built and a lot more expensive, I am better off using the Bontrager because it will be more aerodynamic. Firstly have the bottle cage at 90 degrees, don’t risk anything like 45 degrees – even if it is easier to get to. The type of a triathlon hydration system is more a matter of personal preference than it is a do or die situation. I'm not a huge fan of seat-mounted bottles, but the best way to go is a single cage, zip tied right to the saddle.This is also another self-contained hydration system that is mounted on the front in a torpedo position. While not the flagship model, the FC System offers more than enough value, though it is a bit more expensive than most. Convenience Designed Rather than using aluminum alloy or carbon fiber like normal, XLAB opts for a Xenon nylon cage that is incredibly lightweight but also less durable. The difficulty I had is that with the Adamo saddle, there is limited room to fit. This means I had to have it at an angle of 45 degrees. I would preferred to have it at 90 degrees because the bottle would be less likely to fall out. The other issue is that this is a fairly heavy rear mount which will inherently increase your racing time. However, this is still the best budget rear mount that we saw with plenty of options. However You Want Rear – This is the original mounting position for bike fueling systems and is almost always a cage type of hydration system. This is mostly due to the fact that snaking a feeder tube along the entire length of the bike is not an efficient design.

For longer training rides, you can easily swap to a standard cage instead. But I don't recommend leaving them there on race day. There are other good places to put round bottles (between your bars and behind the saddle), you might want to consider other options than round bottles on the frame. On the other hand, Gerard Vroomen of Cervelo has publicly stated that in some cases, a standard bottle on the downtube can have a negligible aero penalty. But more recent data on modern frames (even by Cervelo) suggests that round bottles aren't the best option for frame hydration.When it comes to frame mounted aero water bottle, XLAB once again takes our top spot, though the competition is a bit more fierce. Considering that many new bikes are missing a pair of bottle bosses under the downtube, and there’s no such thing as a suspension fork bottle mount, the USB is a good option. It comes in four sizes: 1 1/8-inch for handlebars and seat stays, 1 3/8-inch for steel frames and forks, 1 5/8-inch for 32mm suspension forks, and 2-inch for aluminum tube bikes and 36mm suspension forks. Note that because the cage attaches via a post mount, the nut goes onto the cage and some bottle cages might not work if they don’t have a recessed channel. I’m using Bontrager water bottle cage, but I’m not entirely happy with it. It’s not 100% secure and I had to buy alternative water bottle cage (Gorilla). But, it does OK in aero testing. Finally, this hydration system maximizes its design with an aerodynamic profile as well as a non-slip grip. As it stands, we feel that it is the best all-around value, assuming you already have a cage and mount.

It can also be mounted in a variety of arrangements, though this hydration does not come with a cage. Rear Hydration Systems Be wary of using carbon fibre bottle cages which are more prone to breaking. You’re better off choosing a standard sturdy bottle cage rather than a 17gram special lightweight. A rear mounted bottle cage is generally a good aerodynamic place to carry an extra bottle. For long distance riding, it is a good option, though a little awkward (and un-aerodynamic) to get from behind saddle.

Topeak Cage Mount

On top of that, a frame mounted hydration system is within easy reach for a cage type and is easier to refill for the contained type of hydration system. This type also suffers less destabilization than a rear mounted hydration system but more vibration that a front mounted hydration system. There is no shortage of options for triathletes in terms of how to carry liquids on the bike. There are rear cage holders, aero bottles, aerobar-mounted bottles, aerobar-mounted cages, frame-mounted straw systems, saddle-mounted straw systems, and of course, the standard frame bottle cage. That's a big list. So what's the best way to go? This is great in case you want to keep your hydration and your nutrition separate, or if you prefer to have a bottle for cooling off mid-race.