Bontrager Race X Lite Rear Cage Holder + Boomer = 103

First, I'd like to start out saying congrats to Boomer at Project Exercise for being the 2nd member of our group to reach the 100 Push Up mark (103 actually).  All this despite knocking himself silly with a concussion over the weekend!  Awesome job Boomer, post the badge proudly upon your blog for you have earned it my friend.

I have been looking for a hydration solution that fits on the back of my ISM Adamo Racing saddle.  I have a few friends using the X-Labs Carbon Wing and it is pretty cool.  You can fit 2 bottles, 4 CO2 cartridges, a spare tube, and other small accessories on this particular unit.  And the location of this sucker makes it aero.  Being that I am a Triathlete and have chugged the kool-aid that is carbon AND aero this seemed like a perfect solution to me.  Only problem was the X-Lab- it is $129.  This seems excessive to pay for a bottle and tube holder, does it not?  I started looking around online and came across the Bontrager Race X Carbon Cage.  It also has the same features of the X-Lab but it wasn't all that much less priced at $114.  I thought, "No way am I paying this amount for a rear bottle holder!"

Well, a few weeks passed and I kind of forgot about the rear hydration system until today.  I stopped at my LBS on my way home from work to pick up some GU.  They had some Profile Design rear hydration systems but they just held the water bottles and had no room for storage.  I asked the owner if he had anything similar to the Bontrager model?  He said he had one Bontrager left in the back if I wanted it. I told him I didn't want to pay $114 for it so Thanks but no Thanks.  He got a big smile and said, "I'll give it to you for $44."  So I am now a proud owner of a Bontrager Race X Lite Rear Cage Holder.

I got home and was planning on a ride anyway so I mounted the cage.  The darn this is freaking beautiful.  I was able to get both bottles, a CO2 cracker, spare tube, CO2 cartridges, and a multi-purpose bike tool comfortably onto the Cage and it sits in a nice aero position!!!  I took it for a 17.5 mile ride and it performed beautifully.  I practiced grabbing the bottles from both sides and placing them back into the cage.  I am so glad I stopped at the LBS today and found this.  In hindsight it probably would be worth the $114!

A+ on the Bontrager Race X Lite Rear Cage Holder.

Tomorrow I will be back with my plans and goals for this weekend's Tri.

Thanks for Reading,

Jeff