Gear Review: Bontrager Race X Lite Rear Cage Holder

I recently purchased the Bontrager Race X Lite Rear Cage Holder for my triathlon bike. I have looked at several, including the Hydrotail and various models from X-lab. Before purchasing this setup, I had one cage on my frame and a Profile Design Aerodrink on the front.

Made of carbon fiber, it is very light. It mounts to many styles of seats and can be adjusted to various angles to suit the rider's preference. It holds 2 bottle cages, has 4 female threaded holes for CO2 cartridges, and a small "basket" area to hold tubes, tools, and most anything else. It also has an additional area to mount a seat bag underneath.

The downsides that I have found so far are that the bolts that control the vertical adjustment sometimes fail when hitting bumps in the road, leaving the rig hanging limp under your seat. This could mean losing vital items when you need them most. Also, there is not much product information or instruction on Bontrager's website or with the product. X-lab has a very comprehensive website that shows various way to set up numerous configurations, what all the parts are, and where all the parts go. Also, there is no X-nut type system to store your CO2 valve. I took a machine screw, cut it off, and mounted it under the seat. The strap that holds the items in the basket area is confusing and always seems to be in the way.

The one thing that I did like about it is the price for a carbon fiber setup. The other options are more expensive and have more accessories parts to purchase separately to complete the system. I purchased mine from Golden's Bike Shops with a couple stores in Georgia and Alabama. They are good guys and are willing to go the extra mile to get you ready to ride.

Photo from www.bontrager.com and graphic from www.goldensbikes.com

Wearing Thin

The Nike Max Moto 5+ were the shoes that I began my running season with last April. I ran cross country in high school and have run sporadically during the 15 years since that time. After the birth of our twin boys and a recent move, I decided to kick my butt in gear and take on some serious goals for 2008-09.

Before my first 5-K in these shoes in April, I had a pair of Asics Gel running shoes that were broken out occasionally but never worn in. I purchased the Nike Max Moto's in conjunction with an iPod Nano and Nike+ running kit. I thought, "finally running won't be so boring." Since that time, I have run in 5 5-K's, 3 10-K's, 1 10-miler, 1 half marathon, 2 marathons, and countless hours & miles by myself on long stretches of roads whose names have faded into memory. I am now hanging up the laces on the Max Moto's now that most of my long distance running is over for a while, and I am moving to more of a triathlon specific shoe. Plus, as you can see, I was starting to run the risk of a blow-out or altering my stride from deteriorating wear patterns.

I am still trying to figure out the wear patterns that developed on these shoes. On the forefoot, it is consistent with a neutral foot strike, neither on the outside or inside edges of the shoe. On the heel, there is something else entirely going on. This is the area of heaviest wear and looks to be more along the lines of a supinated gait pattern. I think that the bulk of this wear happened early on in my resurgence to running. I feel like I got into some bad habits that eventually lead to a lot of pain in my IT Band in November and December of last year. I took some time off and worked hard to correct this when I returned to running. For the most part, I have been pain free. During really long runs, I feel that I relapse into old habits, and sure enough, the pain returns.

From here on out, I have around seven triathlons in which I am going to complete before the close of the year. None of them over the International, or Olympic, Distance in length. That means the runs will be no more than a 10-k in competition. I have moved my training and competition show over to a triathlon specific shoe, the Zoot Ultra TT shoe. I have only ran in them a couple times, but so far so good. They allow for quick entry into the shoe, speedy fit adjustment (no-tying), reduced water retention, barefoot wear design, and many other features thought out with the triathlete in mind. I got mine for about half off the retail price on the 2008 models from a website called Running Warehouse. By the way it is only a coincidence that both pair of shoes are orange and blue (perhaps).