Parts and equipment for motorcycles, quads, scooters and bicycles
HOW TO CHOOSE THE BOTTLE WELL ET THE BOTTLE CAGE ON HIS BIKE?
Hydration is essential for maintaining your health and performance. THE canteen is a key cycling accessory. It is important to choose a bike bottle suitable for use and outings. The choice of can will influence the choice of bottle cage.
Depending on whether you drive in winter par freezing temperatures or blazing summer sun, your water needs will vary. The level of effort (ride, endurance, competitive pace…) also interferes. In order to meet all expectations, manufacturers offer a wide range by playing on materials, textures and functions.
Which bottle to choose according to my practice of cycling?
Several criteria will guide your choice.
1 – Volume:
The volume contained is very variable, ranging from 400 ml to more than 1 liter of liquid, the most frequent capacities being between 500 and 750 ml.
- For short outings (more or less 1 hour): a bottle with a capacity of up to 600 ml is enough.
- For medium outputs (from 1 to 3 hours): from 600 to 750 ml.
- For long rides (more than 3 hours) a capacity of more than 750 ml, or even 2 canisters.
Some cans are made of compressible material allowing their volume to be reduced considerably (by around three/quarters) once their contents have been emptied.
2 - The diameter:
While a diameter of 66 mm can sometimes be encountered (bottles for children or for the pros on short rides), the standard is at 74 mm, for better grip when the volume is large. Compatibility with the bottle cage is therefore generally not a problem. All you have to do is choose a bottle cage adapted to the length of the bottle and its weight when filled.
3 – The cork:
The closure of the canister can be done via a snap-on cap or a screw-on cap. A cap is sometimes provided to avoid projections of earth, dust or insects. The valve, flexible or rigid depending on the model, is generally unlocked with the teeth, but some models have a nipple allowing you to drink with a simple suction.
If you are looking for a cap that requires little or no handling, some models are fitted with a cap with a straw or a button. If you prefer to drink during short breaks, a cap that unscrews will be fine. In summary, here are the types of caps available:
- Sports cap: It delivers a small quantity of water. Perfect for multi-step hydration.
- Easy stopper: Equipped with an integrated straw or a press button for a medium flow. Requires little handling.
- Screw cap: preferred for bike rides with breaks. Not indicated for cycling.
4 – The materials:
Plastic is a lightweight and inexpensive option. The greater or lesser flexibility of the container makes it easier to hold. On the other hand, it does not preserve the original temperature of the liquid.
Prefer a can without Bisphenol A (BPA): the preservation of taste will be better, without forgetting the harmful effects of BPA on health.
In aluminium, the cans are heavier but more resistant, most often with interesting isothermal properties. In addition, the taste is less likely to be distorted par this material. It is the most convenient to use while driving.
Some isothermal models high-end products have a double wall, with a plastic exterior and interior insulation in the form of gel or stainless steel. These cans thus combine the two advantages, namely great grip comfort and a drink which retains its initial temperature for several hours.
If you choose an insulated bottle model, it will allow you to limit the rapid heating or cooling of your drink during bike rides. An aluminum bicycle bottle has the advantage of being more resistant than a plastic bottle. Its other plus: preserving the flavor and temperature of the drink. On the other hand, it will be heavier than a plastic bicycle bottle and a little less practical for drinking while riding (you will not be able to squeeze it in the same way). You can then choose it for your VTC or mountain bike outings.
Our advice : It is necessary to drink about 500 ml par hour for sustained effort at a moderate temperature. This is an average. It is obviously more in the heat wave, in a pass and perhaps a little less in the middle of winter during an outing.
It is recommended to drink par small sip before getting thirsty and setting landmarks (every 5 kilometers par example, or every 15 minutes).
We too often see cyclists in the harbor of water, with bottles that are too small or only one for long outings with very few water points.
You can take a very rational approach to determining how much water you need. Also look in advance at the potential water points on your route, but this should not exempt you from taking enough water. The spotted fountain may in fact be dry or undrinkable, the shop closed or the water point finally untraceable. It is better to carry a little more water despite being overweight than to risk dehydration.
In general, we really advise against trying to gain a few grams by taking smaller bottles. It's water that you could really miss in the end. So opt for fairly bulky models if you plan to go on long rides or train seriously.
And if, however, you run out of fuel during a long outing, look for a cemetery: the water for watering the plants is always drinkable there!
Which bottle cage to choose?
Most bottle cages present on the bikes can accommodate 2 types of water bottles.
Do not hesitate to measure the diameter of it before ordering a water bottle so that it can be maintained without risk of falls.
- Diameter 66 mm: It is one of the smallest offered on the market. Often reserved for children's or women's bikes.
- Diameter 74 mm: The most common car it allows a better grip par the adults.
The bottle cage is the essential accessory to install on its frame! It allows you to grab your bottle with a quick gesture and to hydrate in safety, the other hand always on the handlebars, your eyes riveted on the road.
Beyond the capacity, it is important to check that the diameter of your bottle will adapt well to your bottle cage. You have to be able to grab the bottles easily on your bike without them being able to fall out of the bottle cage at the slightest hole in the road or the path.
For convenience, there are models with central, left or right entry.
1 – The bottle cage mountings:
Many bikes have a factory fitted bottle cage, or at least two screws (to attach one to the frame) located on the down tube and sometimes the top tube. saddle, or even on the top tube. This fixing system par screw is the most common. It is standardized and very reliable.
A fixing par straps, straps or tightening rings is possible if no screws are present. Simple to install and allowing you to position the bottle cage where you want it, this type of mounting does not, however, ensure such a rigid assembly.
The system par ring is certainly solid, but it can slip over time and damage the frame! Finally, there are models that attach to the handlebars or to the saddle rails, ideal for Triathlon enthusiasts looking for the fastest possible access to the bottle and a large transport capacity while maintaining the aerodynamics of their frame.
2 - The materials:
Thermoplastic, resin or polyamide are widely used on current bottle cages. These light materials allow manufacturers to draw varied and sometimes complex shapes, but remain fragile.
Aluminum or steel have shown great resistance. Their weight is higher and the shapes generally simple and more classic.
Finally, carbon finds its place on the lightest models, but on the other hand displays great vulnerability to shocks and impacts. This material offers great freedom of design to manufacturers, who sometimes play on the flexibility of the bottle cage to facilitate installation and removal of the bottle.
3 – Which bottle cage for which activity:
Some bottle cage models offer an integrated multi-tool or a pump mounting bracket.
The bottle cage represents, in any case, a good support to fix an inner tube or a CO2 cartridge using small Velcro straps, par example.
Competitors, on Road or MTB Cross-Country, will choose an ultralight carbon model. If being overweight is not a problem, a more resistant model, in aluminum par example, is a good choice.
In mountain biking more committed (Enduro, DH, Freeride), the bottle cage has made a comeback to allow riders to ride without a back hydration bladder. Due to the presence of a shock absorber that can take up a lot of space, care must be taken to choose a bottle cage that is sufficiently compact and why not with a side opening.
Also be sure to adapt the shape of the bottle cage to the size of the bottle transported car here more than elsewhere, maintenance is essential.
How to maintain your bottle?
Here are our tips for keeping a bottle in perfect condition.
What you should not do :
The mistake most regularly made is leaving your sugary or isotonic drink in your canister for several hours or days after training.
This will have two consequences on your canister:
The proliferation of bacteria: often at the bottom of your container, you see black or even colored dirt appear, leading to the proliferation of bacteria. Although mostly harmless to the human body, it is necessary not to let them proliferate in your container.
Appearance of an unpleasant odor inside the container: by leaving your sugary or isotonic drink in your bottle, the bottle will retain the smell of it, which will give a particular smell to the next drinks you will use in it.
Not regularly washing your container: even if we mainly drink water, it is essential to wash your canister regularly.
How to maintain your bottle?
First reflex, at the end of your bike ride: remove the cans from your bike to empty and rinse them. Par Thereafter, several solutions are available to you:
- Par the high heat of the water and the drying, washing in the dishwasher can damage the plastic containers in the long term.
- The washing-up liquid method with hot water and elbow grease.
- Baking soda with white vinegar: ecological, cheap and natural.
Be careful not to use baking soda for metal cans!
- The effervescent sterilization tablet for childcare equipment and baby bottles. If you have a toddler, you shouldn't have too much trouble finding this.
You have to insist on loosening the dirt by rubbing the inside walls of the container. Reaching the bottom of a container can be complicated, it is necessary to equip yourself with a cleaning brush adapted to the appearance of your container.
According to the cork system, some parts are inaccessible, it must then be soaked. Dry or wait until your bottle is completely dry before ranger.
Store it with the lid open and upside down.
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