Tacx Tao Cage

Price Paid:  $15.00 at Exeter Cycles

Favorite Ride:
Seacoast Coffee Century

Bike Setup:
Tarmac SL

Summary:
I have read the numerous bad reviews from cyclist after cyclist and don't understand how individuals think so harshly of these cages. I use fairly big bottles and have never had any problem minus one used cage that I got a hold of that was already broken on the upper tab and super glued back together. It broke quickly, but that's no surprise. The other cage I used for a year and had no problems. I have never ejected a water bottle, never had any of the tabs break, and none of the screws ever loosened up. Just as reference, I ride on your typical NE pot-holes and frost-heaved roads, and have even ridden single track with a cross bike and these cages and haven't had a problem.

Strengths:
Looks
Weight
Does the job

Weaknesses:
Holes for bolts are small and won't fit many different kinds.
A little expensive if bought MSRP

Similar Products Used:
Standard bottle cages

Price Paid:  $15.00 at online

Favorite Ride:
pch

Bike Setup:
Leopard L1
ultegra
240/OP

Summary:
cages work fine. bottles are not very tight in them so i'd be careful using most bottle in them on a mtb but for road riding they're fine. easy to find the opening without looking down. simple design is good looking. install isn't tricky really but not as easy as a ciussi.

Strengths:
simple design.
looks.
easy to insert bottle.

Weaknesses:
easy to lose bottle.
install not as easy as others.
**the black tab that holds bottle in cage (stops it from sliding thru) snapped on a ride and i found my bottle resting on my bottom bracket. i took the other cage off and replaced both with old plain Elite Ciussi's**

Similar Products Used:
elite ciussis
profile plastic
specialized plastic
NEXT UP king Steel

Price Paid:  $10.00 at www.rose.de

Favorite Ride:
Anywhere are Burscheid

Bike Setup:
Canyon Ultimate F10 CF with DA, 3 x Tacx Tao Cages, two on the frame for fuid and one behind the seat on a Tacx 'under seat' holder for my tool bottle (Nb. I have used a small piece of rubber from a cut up inner tube as a rubber band, to secure the tool bottle in place as the tool bottle is slightly smaller in diameter compared with a Tacx bottle) This works perfectly even over cobbelsones.

Summary:
Excellent product, great hold on the bottles, light for the money and I've found them to be very durable despite what others say. The thing to remember is these are designed for Tacx bottles (available for only 2.80 Euro from www.roseversand.de in plain colours). Just remember to check the tightness of the bolts every few rides and they will work perfectly. I even use these on my MTB with no issues.

Strengths:
Great hold with Tacx bottles, light weight for the price, looks good, I use them on my MTB and Road bike and no issues over the last 14 months and ~ 5000km. No breakages and I've never had a bottle come out accidentally, even when I fell off my bike on a descent.

Weaknesses:
Not designed for multiple different bottles. Use Tacx bottles (or perhaps Tune bottles)and you will have no issues. Screws also need to be checked for tightness every few rides but you should do this anyway.

Similar Products Used:
Other cheapo aluminimum holders which bend and don't hold the bottles well.

Price Paid:  $0.00 at The Pony Shop

Favorite Ride:
Anything in Colorado

Summary:
These are great cages for the price. One downside is that they seemed to loosen when I rode with them the first few times - nothing that 2cent washers from Ace Hardware couldn't solve. Otherwise, they look great, are easy in and out with a bottle, and weight very little.

Strengths:
Looks, weight, cost

Weaknesses:
Needed washers to ensure they didn't loosen.

Price Paid:  $14.00

Bike Setup:
Road bike w/ 2 bottle cages.

Summary:
Total garbage. When tightening the allen bolts to the frame, the shape distorted and twisted around. I nearly lost my bottle twice, in only two rides.

Strengths:
Looks nice.

Weaknesses:
Flimsy. No grip on bottles.

Similar Products Used:
Too many to list.