Make no mistake, Speedfil is definitely not on par with some of the more prestigious brands on our list, but it does have the advantage of a significantly lower price than the other front mounted hydration systems too. On top of that, this rear mount can be mounted in a couple different ways, depending on whether you prefer aerodynamics or ease of reach. 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. Because of this, we recommend that you use the Speedfil as a practice hydration system rather than for competition. The balanced answer would be to evaluate different people's needs, and evaluating the merits of different systems in different scenarios. But my gut can't let me do that. Well, not completely. Ideal storage will indeed depend on distance (a 5-mile ride won't require any, while a 112-mile ride will need a lot). But I have some pretty solidified opinions about hydration storage, and I'm gonna give 'em to you. In the end, that's why you're reading this anyway, right?

The way that XLABs is able to keep a near clone of their flagship hydration system at such a low price is by using a nylon cage. 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. This is likely in part due to the fact that, aside from being made of carbon fiber, the mounting hardware is extremely light as well. Moreover, this frame mounted hydration system is also easy to install. I have chosen to have just one bottle cage. It’s fairly easy to set up and fairly sturdy. (It weighed 170gram with one water bottle.

Prime Aero TT Bottle and Cage Kit

The Speedfil might be a more budget-friendly option, but it still provides most of the features that you expect from a front mounted torpedo position hydration system. Arguably the best quality of the Gorilla XT is the fact that it is made of carbon fiber, though this comes with some caveats too. If you aren’t up for clamping, strapping, or taping mounts to your frame, there are two ways to permanently add bottle bosses to your frame or fork. Hire a Framebuilder As with all products used for a triathlon, the weight of the hydration system may be just as important as all of the other qualities combined, if not more so. This does not mean that there is one “right” answer, but it does mean that you need to have an acute understanding of your body’s needs ahead of time. Frame – The frame is one of the few mounts to use both the cage and the contained types of hydration systems. Most of the frame mounted hydration systems are the cage type, but there are a few contained types to go along with them too. The frame has some distinct advantages over the other types with the main one being that it is far less likely to be damaged during a crash or fall than the other types.

Test before a race! Go for a ride over bumpy terrain and see if your bottle stays in. If you test in a race you might find yourself one or two bottles down. 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. Still, this is one of the lightest hydration systems that we saw regardless of the mounting position. This hydration system also features an aerodynamic profile with a slip-free design so you do not have to worry about slowing down. This is also one of the larger frame mounted systems with a capacity of 24 oz and a bottle made of BPA-free plastic. 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.

Tacx Ciro Bike Bottle Cage

That said, we actually think this is a better practice bike frame mount rather than a competition-worthy option. The slight concern I have is that with two bottles sideways on, they are quite wide, but I am sure it is not significant.

Each Barnacle uses an M5 bolt and swivel nut to secure it to the tubing and a brass M5 threaded boss embedded into it. Although they can handle more, Jon suggests loading the Barnacles up with no more than 1,000 grams will have negative effects on the bike’s handling (when mounting to the fork), and should be avoided. Find more at our press release here. As it stands, we feel that it is the best all-around value, assuming you already have a cage and mount. While it’s possible to have a carbon expert drill and glue bottle mounts in a carbon frame, and there’s likely a way to weld in bosses on an aluminum frame, both of those scenarios get pretty complicated. We won’t even get into it. However, if you have a steel frame, it’s pretty straightforward. We had bosses added to the underside of two v1 Surly Trolls’ downtubes (before they became a standard feature). It works like a charm and doesn’t cost too much. However, framebuilders are a busy lot, so you might have to wait. In addition, when deciding where the bosses are going to go, consider tire clearance when your suspension fork is compressed, if you run one. And, realize that brazing will damage the finish on your bike, which might require a repaint, or at least a partial respray. Rivnut Bottle Bosses

So long as you do not crash or have to ride over rougher terrain, the Wiel should work out wonderfully. I run an xlab gorilla xt behind the seat mounted to a Tririg beta bottle carrier, setup as just one but it can do 2. 99.9% sure I have never lost a bottle with this setup but does take some practice getting in and out of. For 50m TTs (c 2hrs) I use 2x750. For 100m (c4h15m) TTs I use 3x750. Each 750 bottle has 94gm Carbs in c1:1 mix. However, you will want to make sure that you have the appropriate type of aero water bottle or else you are liable to lose it if you hit rough terrain. Still Solid 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.