XLAB AERO CAGE OPTIMIZER Review | 2017 | Lower Bottle Cages
Recently I had an issue with my Felt AR 5’s seat tube and needed to send the frame back to Felt for warranty.
While taking the bike apart and switching bottle cages from the Felt to my wife’s Karbona frame, I realized that standard water bottles weren’t fitting in the Karbona’s down tube cage. I tried several different type bottles including the Specialized Purist, but the water bottles all hit the top tube.
Arrg! Now that’s frustrating.
Visiting a bike shop here in Austin (Austin Tri Cyclist – ATC) for a quick tuneup, they had mentioned that Xlab, a company that makes triathlon cycling equipment, had a possible solution called the XLAB AERO CAGE OPTIMIZER. Unfortunately they didn’t have any in stock, so it was off to the internet to order one. I found the Optimizer on Amazon and since I am a Prime member with free 2 day shipping, it arrived super fast.
XLAB AERO CAGE OPTIMIZER SPECIFICATIONS
Includes
- AERO CAGE OPTIMIZER plates
- 3 sets of different length screws – allowing for different clearance heights
- Set screw – used to secure plate position
- Nylock nuts to secure plates to TORPEDO MOUNTS
- Spacers – for aesthetics
- Retail – $21.95
Weight
30g
Warranty
3 YEAR WARRANTY
Because of our engineering and testing for this product we give it a 3 Year LIMITED Warranty to the original owner.
XLAB AERO CAGE OPTIMIZER OVERVIEW
The AERO CAGE OPTIMIZER allows you to adjust your cage up, down, forward or backwards up to 1.75″, meaning I could lower the water bottle cage down and eliminate the issue with the water bottle hitting the top tube. Pretty cool.
The Aero Cage Optimizer consists of 2 plates where the top plate slides on the tracks of the bottom plate.
To mount the Optimizer, you simply mount the AERO CAGE OPTIMIZER bottom plate where the water bottle screws would go. The top plate attaches and slides on the bottom plate’s track allowing you to slide it up or down. Once you’re satisfied with where you want the top plate to be, you tighten down the set screw to lock the plate in place.
You then mount your water bottle cage to the top plate and that’s it.
XLAB AERO CAGE OPTIMIZER BOTTOM LINE
The XLAB Aero Cage Optimizer solution worked perfectly with zero issues. I am sure there are other methods to lowering a bottle cage, but this worked for me and actually only cost $18 via Amazon, which is under the retail cost of $21.95 that XLAB changes on their website.
Check out XLAB and all their other products at (https://www.xlab-usa.com/)
