Elite Custom Race Bottle Cage Review

Water bottle cages come in more shapes and sizes than anyone would care to count. But, what about the most-used cages in the pro peloton? Look no further than the Elite Custom Race.

Elite Custom Race Bottle Cage Features:

• Custom Race is the bottle cage most used by Pro Tour Teams
• Painted fiber-reinforced (FRP) painted material
• Glass fibre-reinforced polyamide construction for durability
• Adjustable elastomer rubber, adapts to bottle shapes and absorbs vibration
• Available in a huge variety of colors to match your ride (Gloss black/white tested)
• Made in Italy
• Weight: 41 grams
• MSRP: $17.99

Of course, it fits an Elite water bottle like a glove.

From Italy, just to hold your bottles

Italians know a thing or two about bike racing. And, like much of Europe, they ride bikes a lot. Where do they ride them? Well, Dr. Seuss could write a book about where they ride them because they ride them on the road, they ride them on the cobbles, they ride them on gravel, they ride them inside, outside and upside down (well, not exactly). It just so happens that the Elite Custom Race is the most-used bottle cage in the pro peloton. Why is that? I’ve got some ideas.

I admit that I’m a weight weenie, but with bottle cages, you can’t scrimp on bottle security. All of us have had the unfortunate experience of a water bottle jettisoning out of the cage on a gravel ride or after hitting an unexpected pothole. It’s always at the lest opportune moment and can honestly pose a safety risk should it fly out into your spokes or into one of your mates on a local group ride.

The Specialized (left) is easiest in/out while the Camelbak (right) is super-snug.

With more and more of us venturing into gravel roads, bottle security is key and I’ll attest to that with the Elite Custom Race bottle cage. Bottles are held snugly in place and do require a firm pull and a solid push to get them in or out. But, the effort required to grab that bottle does vary based on bottle type. The Goldilocks fit is (of course) with Elite’s own bottles shown above. With a “standard” Specialized bottle, you get the easiest entry/exit, but with my favorite Camelbak Podium, you’ll have the hardest time of them all.

The Elite Custom Race cages have been aboard the Focus Paralane test bike I’ve been riding and appear to have been well-used. Regardless of usage, they still hold all bottles with a confident grip.

The Good

• Holds bottles securely in place — great for gravel or MTB
• Available in a huge variety of colors
• Durable and reliable
• Killer price point

The Bad

• Camelbak bottles are mighty snug in there

The Bottom Line: Elite Custom Race Bottle Cage

If secure bottle holding is tops on your list, the Elite Custom Race is the ticket. It’s super-affordable and will hold your bottles and match any color bike you have. What else would you expect from Italians?

Buy Now: Available at Amazon.com