Sunday, September 6, 2009

Bike Tech: Aerobottles

I have watched various iterations of aerobottles be introduced to the market. I'll briefly introduce some here, with many more to come in the future:
The Profile Design Aerodrink
The standard bearer of bar mounted aerobottles, I would contend that the PD aerobottle is easily the most widely prevalent of the models in this review. Secured via a combination of velcro and rubber bands, or through a bracket system, the Aerodrink's very cumbersome and ineffective yellow sponge top has since been replaced with the improved rubber top visible above. This prevents splashback while facilitating mid-ride reloads. It is unfortunately not reverse compatible with the first generation model, but some very engineering consumers have created their own tops. I remember being very excited to purchase this bottle and still consider it a solid investment. I highly recommend these aerobar mounted bottles for tri bikes with a round headtube. 

The Profile Design AquaLite
Carrying 22oz (10 less than it's infamous big brother), the Aqualite features an attractive bulge reminiscent of the nose on Cervelo's P2 and P3 models. It also attaches via the same mechanisms as the Aerodrink, making it an excellent choice for those prefer the short course or just downright fancy the aerodynamic bulge. 
The Bontrager Aero Bottle
A very attractive and aerodynamic bottle that can be mounted within the main triangle or retrofitted to mount between the bars. Some have also customized it to contain the supplies for flat repair. Chris Lieto, a Trek/Bontrager sponsored athlete and one of America's top Ironmen, utilizes three on his bike: 1 for hydration, 1 for the flat kit, and 1 for additional aerodynamics. 

Chris Lieto's TTX equipped with 3 Bonty aero bottles


These bottles are just the tip of the iceberg, however, and many more (including what I consider to be the best option available) are yet to come. 

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