Arundel STR/DTR side entry bottle cages

Arundel's lovely STR and DTR side-loading carbon fibre cages works wonderfully, with a vice-like grip on bottles, and are ideal for smaller frames or bikepacking with easier sideways access. They're beautifully made and very light, but you have to part with a lot of cash for one or a pair.

• Pros: Easy bottle insertion, secure grip, fit adjustment, beautifully made, light
• Cons: Very expensive

The STR (Seat Tube Right side entry) and DTR (Down Tube Right side entry) cages differ from the Mandible we've tested in the past by being – as you might already have guessed – designed for side-loading.

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You'll want a side-loading cage if your access to the bottle is restricted either by a small frame or a frame pack. And if you're into mountain biking, they're also useful on full-suspension frames with limited access because of low slung top tubes and suspension linkages.

With one designed for the down tube and one for the seat tube (swap 'em around if you're left-handed), getting bottles out when the front triangle is crammed with a frame pack is made much easier.

As I've become hooked on gravel and adventure riding, I've taken to using a frame pack on longer rides. You can stuff an awful lot of food into one, so there's never shortage of mid-ride snacks when your route on long lost forgotten bridleways doesn't take you past a shop/pub/cafe/petrol station.

These are beautifully made cages, as you'd hope for the money. They're made by wrapping carbon fibre over a foam core, and the quality is exceptional. There are no nasty sharp edges, it's all very smooth. You can choose from two finishes, a 3K weave or a unidirectional weave, and glossy or matt. Ours is a matt 3K weave.

To provide some adjustment to suit different frames there are four holes: two round and two slotted, so you can fit the cages higher or lower to suit your requirements.

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Sliding a bottle into each cage is extremely easy. I tried a wide variety of bottles (Camelbak Podium, Tacx, Elite, Specialized) and they all worked just fine, no compatibility issues to report. Once in the cage, the bottles were held in place very securely. No ejected bottles to report at all.

Getting the bottles out is easy enough, too, with both the STR and DTR relinquishing their octopus-like grip when you tug at the bottles.

I must say, even on the occasions when I didn't need the side-loading feature, slotting bottles into place was often easier with these than with a normal cage because the angle of entry lines up well with your hand. So even if you don't particularly need side-loading cages, they still work very well as regular cages.

You might well be choking at the price, but it's not far off the Topeak Shuttle Cage X at £55, and the SKS Pure Carbon bottle cage isn't cheap either, though it is 'only' £44.99.

If you want carbon and low weight and aren't taken by the looks of the Arundel, the Elite Rocko Carbon could be worth a look. That's 27g for £27.99.

Or if you want a side entry cage without paying a fortune, the Tacx Radar gets the job done reasonably well for £13.99.

I'm a sucker for a bit of carbon fibre and I do like a good looking bottle cage, and when it's done as well as this it's a struggle to resist the temptation. Yes, they are jolly expensive and value for money isn't that great when you pick out some more keenly priced carbon rivals, but if you want to treat your bike and fancy a bit of lovely bling, you can't really go wrong.

Verdict

Lovely carbon cages with secure grip and useful side entry for small frames or bikepackers