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Launch Control

NotAsFast's picture
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1004 days
started by NotAsFast on April 2, 2008

Well, I finally put a Hydro Tail on my bike since my rides now consistantly are over two hours. Very proud of the installation, loaded the goodies and off I went. First railway crossing........ Launch....... Water bottes in the back gone. First of four superman excursions for the bottles.

Anyone know how to secure them better so they dont go flying.........

CadenceGuy's picture
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CadenceGuy posted 15 weeks ago.

I use regular aluminum cages. They are by no means the coolest but in over a year and a half Ive never lost a bottle.

chekmarks's picture
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chekmarks posted 15 weeks ago.

+1 for bendable aluminum cages. +2 if you say aluMINIum

Anton's picture
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Anton posted 15 weeks ago.

Inexpensive, bendable aluMINImum cages. Period. Not chi-chi, but I've haven't lost a bottle in 30 years.

"What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?" - Vincent Van Gogh
My Blog: http://anton.trifuel.net

Iron Dan's picture
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Iron Dan posted 15 weeks ago.

I have used the hydro tail for a few months now and have never had an issue. Make sure that the cages you are using with the hydrotail hold the bottle tight. I have cages that hold the bottle really tight and they have a rubber lip that sticks out and grabs onto the bottle.

Sully800's picture
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Sully800 posted 15 weeks ago.

chekmarks wrote:
+1 for bendable aluminum cages. +2 if you say aluMINIum

Its funny that you have to spell it incorrectly so it matches how you say it. Must be proof that aluMINIum is wrong, eh?

I didn't have very good luck with a hyrdrotail. Even with bendable aluminum cages I lost a bottle on three occasions, twice during a race. That messed up my entire hydration plan on a very hot day, so I decided to switch back to frame mounted bottles and I bought a NeverReach rear mount system which I will try for my longer races.

kylie's picture
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kylie posted 15 weeks ago.

yeah try the bendy cages (no not even going to try to spell it! ;))

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NotAsFast's picture
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NotAsFast posted 15 weeks ago.

chekmarks wrote:
+1 for bendable aluminum cages. +2 if you say aluMINIum

I'm Australian, so I guess I get +2 for saying Aluminium (Al-U-Min-e-Um), not (Alloominum). LOL.

Al-U-Min-e-Um it is then.

Thanks All, and hopefully none will launch at Florida 70.3.

jsk85's picture
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jsk85 posted 15 weeks ago.

I just recently started using the profile design aqua rack, which is a similar setup I believe, except it holds the bottles a little more upright from what I've seen. I had some train tracks as well as some pavement breaks in my last long ride and didn't seem to have any issue with them even coming loose. Either the angle difference makes it much better, or I just chose correct water bottles. I tried to choose water bottles that would take a little effort to slide into the rack, but at the same time could be removed by reaching behind me (you obviously don't have a lot of leverage pulling things from that position). I'd say just look for snugger fitting water bottles, GL.

RV's picture
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RV posted 15 weeks ago.

jsk85 wrote:
I just recently started using the profile design aqua rack.

I use the aqua rack as well - I had one bottle launched and that was over some very rough tracks - the reason was because the rubber band around the lip that provides some pressure had previously broken.
I stopped using the elastics and wrapped the main part of the holder with some black tape. It really is not visible and holds the bottles very snugly. You can really make it as snug or loose as you want by how much pressure applied when putting on the tape. I haven't lost a bottle since - over 2 years.

RV

It takes a long time to get good. - Scott Molina
Slow is smooth; smooth is fast. - Rich Strauss

TriSooner's picture
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TriSooner posted 15 weeks ago.

Anton wrote:
Inexpensive, bendable aluMINImum cages. Period. Not chi-chi, but I've haven't lost a bottle in 30 years.

+1 The bendable feature is why we use them. Since a lot of people are talking about specific hydra-systems, I use the X-Lab. It hold two bottles, 2 CO2 cartridges, an inflate valve, straps for tubulars, and other crap:

http://www.trisports.com/xlsadekit.html

So 325 hours a year of training and a 13hr finish gets you into the 16th percentile at Ironman Germany? Dude, wait, what?

azstinger11's picture
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azstinger11 posted 15 weeks ago.

I can't say I like my hydrotail very much I can't get it tight enough so that it doesn't sag down with weight (with weight it looks like it should in the pictures, with weight, 2 water bottles, it sags so the very back bottom edge swings down and is almost on the tire/bike frame) I have it tightened to the specs by beaker using a torque wrench. Any tighter and I'm defiantly afraid of breaking the carbon but currently it's useless.

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xc800runner's picture
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xc800runner posted 15 weeks ago.

Idiots...

The original and proper name given to the alloy is Aluminum, as spoken correctly here in N. America, and not the bastardization found elsewhere in the world. The discoverer, Humphrey Davy (interestingly a Brit), denoted Aluminum, but his contemporaries felt this was not in line with the naming conventions of other discovered metals and unceremoniously re-dubbed it Aluminium to match more classically Lithium, Beryllium, Sodium, Magnesium, etc.

As an aside, Safari underlines Aluminium as a mark of incorrect spelling, whereas Aluminum passes just fine.

All this just to say that I agree with the malleable cages as the best solution. Bend them in super tight on the bottles and you'll be fine.

ggalvao's picture
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ggalvao posted 14 weeks ago.

What a nice attitude towards the others, xc800runner.