SIX OF THE BEST
The best way to it a water bottle on a frame that’s tight on space
We test side-loading bottle cages to see if they’re easy to fit, suitable for cramped frames and will hold your drink securely
Topeak Dualside Cage EX £9.99
SO GOOD… The Dualside only costs a tenner and comes with three different coloured mounting plates. It’s easy to swap between right- or left-hand access. Bottles are held securely, but are still easy to remove/replace while riding.
NO GOOD… While the slotted holes offer a small amount of fore/aft adjustment, you’ll need a decent stretch of flat down tube below your lowermost bottle mount for the cage to work. On curvier frames, the thick mounting plate can contact the tube, preventing the cage from sitting flush or being done up tightly. It’s the heaviest on test, at 59g. www.extrauk.co.uk
Syncros Tailor Cage 2.0 £8.99
SO GOOD… There’s no getting away from the fact that the Tailor Cage is a bit of a bargain. Its straightforward construction and 10mm bolt slots make fitting it super-easy, and at a scant 26g it’s the lightest on test by some way. Despite that low weight, it’s proven robust and never once ejected a bottle, even on some seriously choppy terrain. NO GOOD… Like the Lezyne, the Syncros cage can’t be flipped, so you need to be sure you’re buying the version with the correct-side entry/exit to suit your needs. Its firm grip means getting your bottle out isn’t as easy as with others here too. www.scott-sports.com
Bontrager Sideswipe RL £14.99
SO GOOD… Thanks to the curved end of the mounting base and the slotted holes, which add nearly 10mm of adjustment, the Sideswipe fits easily. The modular design means you can rotate the cage to access your bottle from either the left or right. We never once dropped a bottle and found them easy to grab hold of and replace on the move.
NO GOOD… The cage itself doesn’t snap into the mounting plate and its design hinders Allen key access to the mounting bolts, making fitting a little fiddly (though it’s still easy enough). At 57g it’s the second-heaviest here. www.trekbikes.com
Blackburn Wayside £14.99
SO GOOD… With its flippable, modular design, it’s easy to switch the Wayside between right- or left-hand use. Slotted bolt holes provide 12mm of adjustment, to sync with awkward tube shapes. The mounting plate snaps securely to the cage, which helps when fitting/removing. Its hold on the bottle is properly secure, yet grabbing or replacing your drink on the go doesn’t take much effort at all. At 49g, it’s light for a flippable design.
NO GOOD… The base is quite deep so the cage sits higher off the down tube than some designs – something to bear in mind if space is tight in your bike’s front triangle. www.zyrofisher.co.uk
Lezyne Flow Cage SL £10
SO GOOD… This simple yet effective design costs just a tenner. Its 12mm slots offer plenty of adjustment, so it works with a wide variety of frame shapes. The one-piece design makes fitting a doddle, with easy Allen key access. It clings to your bottle tightly but still allows easy access. Weight is reasonable, at 53g.
NO GOOD… You’ll need to be sure which hand you want to access your bottle with, because the Flow Cage comes in either left or right, so isn’t flippable. If you want to colour-match it or simply don’t fancy black or white, the price jumps up to £15. www.upgradebikes.co.uk
Specialized Roll Cage £15
SO GOOD… Although this uses a stamped aluminium cage and separate composite mounting plate, it still weighs just 48g. Because you can roll the cage around on the mounting plate before cinching it up, you can easily tailor the release angle, making it even more versatile than the reversible options here. That makes the Roll Cage ideal for frames that are awkwardly shaped or tight on space. Bottles are held securely, but remain easy to grab and replace. You can even bolt a Specialized SWAT EMT multi-tool to its base.
NO GOOD… The bolt holes don’t offer much forward/backward adjustment. www.specialized.com