Speedplay Nanogram Water Bottle Cage (a.k.a bottle ejection device)

Ok, I’ve been meaning to write a quick review for this product for over a month but have been so busy at work that I couldn’t get it done. I’ve been a long time very satisfied user of Speedplay’s X-Series pedals. I use the ones with the titanium spindle and they are wonderful. Extremely easy entry without ever having to look down and zero pre or accidental release. I transitioned to these from Time pedals over eight years ago and have never looked back. The tensioning spring on the Time pedals eventually would wear out and get weak (happened on two sets of pedals) and then release on the upstroke in the middle of a sprint….yikes!!!

Anyway, enough praise for Speedplay’s pedals. Due to the respect I have for Speedplay, and its cool looks, I decided to buy a pricey new waterbottle cage to replace the American Classic cage that I have as the powdercoat on the Am. Classic is falling off and looks awful. So, why not splurge, I thought, and bought the Speedplay Nanogram cage from Excel Sports. I got the cage, put it on my bike and took off for work. I hadn’t gone two miles down the mountain before the bottle shot out of the cage. I had to turn around and pick it up and then constantly look down to check to make sure it wasn’t about to shoot out again. I gave it a good solid week of riding hoping that I’d be able to figure out a set up that was workable….down tube, seat tube…nothing worked. I ride a 58cm Airborne Torch (6/4 Titanium). It’s a relatively stiff bike but I’ve never had this kind of problem with bottles before. I was using the bottle that came with the cage but that didn’t seem to matter.

In the end I sent it back to Excel and they very cooperatively refunded my money. The Excel rep. did say that he was unable to replicate the problem….can’t imagine that it stayed in on his bike but….??

So, the point of the story is, avoid the Nanogram water bottle cage and buy from Excel. 🙂 Ironically, I noticed that Speedplay does not list the Nanogram bottle cage anywhere on their website.

Jason

P.S. I don’t work for Excel Sports 🙂