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review
Bottle cages
SKS SlidecageSKS Slidecage

SKS Slidecage

7
by Lara Dunn
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Feb 4, 2012

0
£7.99

VERDICT:

7
10
A neat solution to a niche problem
Weight: 
49g
Contact: 
www.madison.co.uk, www.chickencyclekit.com, www raleigh.co.uk
How we test

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Designed to be a response to problems encountered by users of traditional bottle cages who have smaller geometry frames or mountain bikers with rear suspension, the Slidecage is a fiendishly simple idea. As well as accessing the bottle from the top as per normal, the user can choose instead to slide it out of the side of the cage, thereby making it much easier when a lack of frame clearance doesn't allow for top loading.

The cage is constructed from fiberglass particle reinforced polyamide, to give high impact resistance combined with low weight. There's a fair bit of force going into the cage when popping a bottle in and out of the side, so this needs to be strong. The design is such that the cage can be positioned to allow for either left or right side access, which is handy for those with a preference.

It's incredibly easy to pop the bottle out of the side on the move, but not so easy you'd worry about accidental ejection. Getting it back in that way can prove a little more tricky, but it's a lot easier if you feed the bottle part way in from the top. this still solves the lack of space problem the cage is designed to address. Practice helps. The cage seems to put up with the abuse inherent in this process quite well, and hasn't shown any signs of snapping so far. It's straightforward to fit, and doesn't look out of place.

For some the weight will be a bit of a minus point, being somewhere between 5 and 15g heavier than many cages available on the market, although to put that in to perspective 15g is not very much - mind you I can also hear the retort that in percentage terms it is. However if you ride a small geometry frame that won't allow for a standard bottle cage the ability to fit a cage is probably a worthwhile trade off against a 15g weight penalty. It is also useful as a second cage on a tourer.

Verdict

A neat solution to a niche problem

road.cc test report

Make and model: SKS Slidecage

Size tested: One

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Aimed at those with small sized frames, or rear suspension that doesn't allow for traditional top-loading bottle cages to work

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Made from polyamide strengthened with fibreglass particles.

Designed to be positioned either to face left or right.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

Well made from seemingly sturdy materials.

Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10

Easy to remove bottle from side and replace.

Easily accessed from top still as well (provided you have the space)

Rate the product for durability:
 
6/10

Seems sturdy and resilient.

Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
5/10

On the weighty side in comparison with other bottle cages.

Rate the product for value:
 
6/10

Not bad value if you can's use a traditional style bottle cage.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Performed fine.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Design, functionality

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

It's heavier than the competition

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Possibly.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Possibly for those with small frames.

Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?

A well designed cage but lacking in distinguishing features for those with frames large enough for a standard bottle cage and a bit on the heavy side.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 37  Height: 1.65m  Weight: 67kg

I usually ride:   My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, touring, general fitness riding, mtb,

 

SKS Slidecage
SKS
Lara Dunn

Lara has been riding bikes for longer than she'd care to admit, and writing about them nearly as long. Since 2009 she has been working as part of the road.cc review team whilst championing women's cycling on the side, most notably via two years as editor of the, sadly now defunct, UK's first and only women's cycling mag, erm, Women's Cycling. 

Believing fervently that cycling will save the world, she wishes that more people would just ride a bike and be pleasant to each other. 

She will ride anything with two wheels, occasionally likes to go fast, definitely likes to go far and is always up for a bit of exploring somewhere new and exciting. 

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