Fidlock water bottles

[Veloo]

Just happen to come across this bottle system.
Anyone using it? Saw that the company also makes those magnetic helmet buckles which I do like better than the usual slide lock ones.

A little on the pricey side for a cage and bottle and I prefer to use insulated ones.

https://fidlock-bike.us/collections/twist/products/twist-bottle-600-bike-base

[fmradio516]

theve been an add-on option for the YT crowd for a while since they small front triangles can barely fit any water bottle. Though when I bought my bike from them, it wasnt available yet, so im stuck with a mini cage/bottle. My buddy likes his fidlock though!

[Michael Maddox]

I have a YT Jeffsy CF 29 Pro Race with a Fidlock. My emotions are mixed at best. While it IS a secure and viable water bottle mount, it is NOT the easiest thing to get to and replace during a ride. You will want to stop to use it.

It's easy to get it about halfway in while in motion, but it takes some time to figure out and internalize the procedure to replace it. Getting it out is no problem.

[fmradio516]

I have a YT Jeffsy CF 29 Pro Race with a Fidlock. My emotions are mixed at best. While it IS a secure and viable water bottle mount, it is NOT the easiest thing to get to and replace during a ride. You will want to stop to use it.

It's easy to get it about halfway in while in motion, but it takes some time to figure out and internalize the procedure to replace it. Getting it out is no problem.

I think (even if he wont admit), I saw my buddy struggling with this too. I wonder if it depends on the geo of the bike as well. Also maybe on a non-mountain bike it would be easier since youre not having to worry about dodging incoming roots/rocks.

[mistermo]

I have a YT Jeffsy CF 29 Pro Race with a Fidlock. My emotions are mixed at best. While it IS a secure and viable water bottle mount, it is NOT the easiest thing to get to and replace during a ride. You will want to stop to use it.

It's easy to get it about halfway in while in motion, but it takes some time to figure out and internalize the procedure to replace it. Getting it out is no problem.

I respectfully disagree. I have them on my Ritchey Breakaway Outback due to their lack of cages, freeing up space in the travel case. I've found them super easy to use, faaaaar easier than the Fabric cageless bottles I've linked below. I was in a gravel race and was bombing down the hill with some others. Their bottles flew out of their cages, but the Fidlocks stayed planted. I've found it pretty easy to pull the bottles off on the fly, then replace. I think it's a pretty good system, albeit costly.

https://fabric.cc/products/bottles/cageless-bottle-600ml/

[Veloo]

I've got the Vincero Design system. Never took it on super rough roads but it held up find otherwise. I didn't like the bottle though. Not a fan of the tapered nozzle. I think they changed it with a 2nd generation.

I don't see them when doing a search. Guess they went belly up.

[R3awak3n]

Doesn't fabric have something similar?

[Michael Maddox]

I respectfully disagree. I have them on my Ritchey Breakaway Outback due to their lack of cages, freeing up space in the travel case. I've found them super easy to use, faaaaar easier than the Fabric cageless bottles I've linked below. I was in a gravel race and was bombing down the hill with some others. Their bottles flew out of their cages, but the Fidlocks stayed planted. I've found it pretty easy to pull the bottles off on the fly, then replace. I think it's a pretty good system, albeit costly.

https://fabric.cc/products/bottles/cageless-bottle-600ml/

Oh, on a ROAD bike, no doubt. In the tiny space available on my YT, though...it's terrible. But at least I have a bottle.

[mulp]

Thats pretty cool this is the first time im seeing this, may have to try it out!

[Veloo]

Is there not spot that would have worked on the top tube? Or does it get in the way of the knees? You'd have to go with a strap style to secure the cage of course.

Oh, on a ROAD bike, no doubt. In the tiny space available on my YT, though...it's terrible. But at least I have a bottle.

[jfranci3]

WHat's the use case? I'd recommend Bontrager's quick disconnect bottle cage mount - https://www.bikeradar.com/reviews/bikes/cyclocross-bikes/trek-boone-race-shop-limited-disc-frameset-2018-long-term-review/ https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/equipment/cycling-accessories/bike-water-bottles-cages/bike-water-bottle-cages/bontrager-quick-connect-water-bottle-mount/p/23393/

They're like $30 ea, but work great.

Cyclingtips like the fidlock bottles, but I'm not a fan of bottle-specific setups.

[Veloo]

For that price they really should include a cage.
I'd even say include a cage that has an uber secure grip.

WHat's the use case? I'd recommend Bontrager's quick disconnect bottle cage mount - https://www.bikeradar.com/reviews/bikes/cyclocross-bikes/trek-boone-race-shop-limited-disc-frameset-2018-long-term-review/ https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/equipment/cycling-accessories/bike-water-bottles-cages/bike-water-bottle-cages/bontrager-quick-connect-water-bottle-mount/p/23393/

They're like $30 ea, but work great.

Cyclingtips like the fidlock bottles, but I'm not a fan of bottle-specific setups.

[jfranci3]

They get you with the complete lack of reasonable alternatives and excellent functionality.

I use these for my TT bag on my gravel bag. They’re a little bit fiddley to get on if you don’t have full access because the spinners need to be at full dangle, but once on they are as secure as a regular bolt. I was surprised they didn’t squeak.

IMO, Trek should put a spring behind the spinner and make a full lineup of these attachments for lights, bags, and bits, because the boss is so small that you can put it just about anywhere. For the price, I bet they need to pay off some patent or they didn’t think they would work so well.


They come with CX bike frames, so you might be able to find them in the service dept miss parts bin for $5

[Veloo]

I thought it was a snap or twist solution and you took the bottle and cage out together to take a drink. It's just a locking mechanism not to be fiddled with while riding.

[jfranci3]

No, these (the trek) are like regular bolts that you can disconnect without tools (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzvy7KLwb-c). You can use with 'any' cage. With them off, you've got stubs. These are good for something you want to remove every once in a while (like a 3rd bottle cage on a gravel bike or top tube bag or race bike bottle cages). Once installed, they are low profile and visually hidden.
https://www.trekstore.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/DSC_1010.jpg
https://www.cxmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/IMG_5584-ed-750x500.jpg

The fidlock is a specific mount, bottle. You can buy a strap on mount, a bottle strapon, or 2nd bottle, but you need to use those bits. If you forget your bottle at home, you're hosed. I think it also puts some distance between the bottle, which would be an issue if you've got a MTB or smaller road frame. They other issue is that they are magnetic, which might be an issue if you're a photographer and need to put the bottle and memory card in the same bag.


I did look at the fidlock system for my TT bag, but it was too hard to put the pieces together as a consumer. Apidura made a TT bag with these, but they stopped.
https://www.apidura.com/shop/backcountry-magnetic-top-tube-pack/