Granite Design Releases AUX Bottle Cage for Bikes That Can't Fit One in the Traditional Spot

Feb 8, 2021
by Alicia Leggett  
photo

A few years ago, I had a bike that didn’t have space for a bottle cage, and I caught a lot of shit from my friends for riding with a bottle cage ski strapped to my top tube. Now, I can tell myself I was just ahead of the curve.

Granite Design has released a carbon fiber side-loading bottle cage that’s designed to be strapped just about anywhere it will fit. The company bills it as the answer to our “Why can’t I fit a bottle cage on my bike?!” prayers.

Like tire inserts, this thing, or anything on this list, the AUX Bottle Cage is an example of a simple solution to what some tinkerer identified as a problem that needed solving.

The AUX Bottle Cage is available with or without the AUX Strap Kit, which includes a grippy silicone pad for frame protection and two sets of silicone-coated straps to fit tubes from 27.2 mm to 70 mm outer diameter.

The bottle cage alone weighs 23 g and sells for $20.99 USD. The full kit sells for $27.99 USD. More information is available on the AUX Bottle Cage webpage.

photo
The AUX also works as a standard bolt-on cage.


Posted In:
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103 Comments
  • 108 3
 ......“designed to be strapped just about anywhere it will fit.”

Strap on, eh?
  • 15 0
 Bro, don't get any ideas......
  • 17 0
 strap on hydration station for those extra sweaty nights
  • 18 2
 Not giving anyone ideas, but I am pretty sure a fleshlight would fit right there.... Barhumps will be a little extra from now on!
  • 4 0
 @conoat: Haha true true
  • 1 0
 @conoat: better tell my wife I’ll be busy in the garage for a bit...
  • 80 0
 Bell and other companies have made things like this for years, why is this news?
  • 17 0
 I was just thinking that. Hell, one of my kids bought me one made by Bell from Walmart, I think, for like father's day a year or two ago.
  • 3 0
 Yeah in the same part of the bike store that has a bottle cage you might also find this...
  • 4 0
 its new because its enduro carbon.. I have done this on my bikes for years, as many have.. marketing 101 here
  • 3 0
 @JakeEPooh: I bet it didn't cost him like $22, either. On my way, now.....
  • 36 0
 I've got a pretty sweet (100% plastic) helmet that can hold a can of hydration on either side and has hoses for non stop syphoning liquid refreshment. This is the future people.
  • 1 0
 Yeah my shop sells a J&B cage like this already... I think it's $18.
  • 4 0
 Bell making fleshlight carrriers...only me laughing oh crap!
  • 2 0
 Yup. You could get them from Walmart lol
  • 8 1
 @JakeEPooh: Your kid buys you bike parts for fathers day – have you considered writing a book about parenting? You're clearly doing something very, VERY right!
  • 2 0
 Had one on my Dyno BMX bike back in 1992, needed all the hydration I could get in order to ride across town and hit the one sketchy 8" jump I knew about.
  • 1 0
 Derrr because Pinkbike can only exist with advertising
  • 2 0
 @Lankycrank: I don't know if it's because of anything I've done, more likely it's in spite of my clumsy efforts at parenting, but I really am blessed and lucky.
  • 48 0
 Sweet, I can attach it to the stanchion of my fox 40 between the upper and lower crown!
  • 21 0
 @onemind123 You should do one on each side.
  • 29 0
 You're inventing a whole new era of DH bike bikepacking.
  • 23 0
 For additional dampening.
  • 2 0
 @RonSauce: that, was good Smile
  • 39 0
 Carbon fiber + velcro... what is this, the joint strike fighter?
  • 20 1
 would really be annoying tho to see that thing on my top tube, id rather use a waist hydro pack
  • 14 0
 Or just strap your bottle cage to your torso with this handy contraption...
  • 19 0
 @TobiasHandcock: Or just wear a beer helmet.
  • 13 0
 These sorts of things have existed for decades...its not a new idea. Here...SKS already had the exact same design of using velcro straps.... NSMB.com reviewed it 3 1/2 years ago...

nsmb.com/articles/sks-anywhere-mounts-stop-whingeing-about-bottles
  • 26 51
flag brianpark FL Editor (Feb 8, 2021 at 23:07) (Below Threshold)
 God forbid someone bring another option to market. I think this looks pretty good tbh. Smile
  • 6 7
 @brianpark: Same here. Good looking cage, elegant straps for what they are. Price is fine.
  • 2 0
 I use one of those anywhere mounts, zip ties and a Zee cage to squeeze a bottle into my Mega. Needs to be angled to just about fit hence just one anywhere... m.pinkbike.com/photo/18990673
  • 12 0
 Are they using a hardtail to show off the lack of water bottle clearance?
  • 1 2
 They’re using an Iron Horse, which is an aluminum bike.
  • 3 0
 @sriracha: pretty sure that bike's neither an Iron Horse nor aluminum.
  • 5 0
 Titanium Donkey?
  • 7 0
 This is carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastics, not "made of carbon fiber". While technically true there is carbon fibers in the construction saying its made of carbon fiber is like saying my hamburger is made of sesame seeds. It's just an ingredient in the whole burger.

Rant completed.
  • 5 0
 Let's see the huck to flat test with the water bottle cage. On second thought, during the huck to flat they should do tests on different water bottle cages and tire inserts too. Get three tests for the price of one.
  • 4 1
 I wanna see a huck test + which bike can fit the most aux bottle cages on it at once.
  • 2 0
 I think that this has been along time coming. Triathletes have used this style for years but with a straw out the top for easy drinking. I think that this might not go over well with mountain bikers but it definitely is an option for people who need it.
  • 29 0
 Careful, it might evolve into a higher-capacity pouch of some kind with a longer flexible straw system...
  • 1 0
 As mentioned in the couple of examples elsewhere, it's actually been here a long time if you really wanted it. The SKS version + your cage of preference will wrap just about anywhere. I know, I've had one for 3 years.
  • 5 0
 It should come with self tapping screws so I could install it on my head tube....
  • 2 0
 That is an idea. Self-tapping screws can install any cage anywhere on carbon frame.
  • 4 0
 Awesome, another thing to wrap around my frame and slowly grind away the paint. Just use a small hydro pack if you want something for short rides.
  • 1 0
 While i do understand why bike manufacturers design frames for their athletes with van full of redbull, this is kinda nice option for the commuter, ad barely could imagine strapping bottle to the top tube to smash balls when u missed the landing
  • 4 0
 If you really have to go this route, get the Fidlock Bottle Twist Uni Base Mount.
  • 3 0
 At first it seems like any other 'mount anywhere' SKS-type bottle holder. However, the AUX has a significantly lower profile. Interesting!
  • 3 0
 Yep I have an SKS and a Topeak versamount. Both are good but the lower profile of this one looks preferable. I like the fidlock version too but this one fits the bill for those who don’t want to commit to a fidlock system.
  • 4 2
 Do you even realize the importance given to a water bottle on a bike these days? It's an obsession!! Spend 1000 extra on a super carbon frame to save weight. Arrive home and attach a 1kg water bottle to it.
  • 1 0
 Go to their website and it says go to amazon, go to amazon and it says not available. I would actually like one for my Sight VLT which sadly has no cage mount but I had seen broadly the same thing from SKS online already but I dont think either of them has velcro straps long enough to go round the downtube. Stick with a back pack I guess.
  • 1 0
 If you want something that doesn't look like a temporary creative fix, but rather like a proper fixed and extremely stable mount, get the Elite VIP bottle cage clamp. I can tell from personal experience that it looks clean and that it sits super stable.
  • 2 0
 How much does this bottle holder weigh and does it come in carbon?...I need my bike to be as light as possible so I can carry 17 litres of water...
  • 3 0
 Definitely don't go to boomerdirect dot com and search for water bottle cages
  • 3 0
 My five year old has one of these on her bike - bought it last year. She loves it
  • 2 0
 Just about any e-bike i see around here with riders over 60 years old has one of these either on the top tube or on the bars...
  • 1 0
 It seems to me that most people who might be interested in this don't have a thin top tube like that. The fit might not be optimal, beginning by the strap lenght.
  • 1 0
 Yeah my top tube is quite thin but more rectangular than roundd
  • 3 0
 Chase vest. It's awesome.
  • 1 0
 This would be great on a bike like the Knolly Cache. Such a killer bike, but doesn’t have any fork mounts for more mounting options.
  • 2 1
 I am using the strap-on mount from FIDLOCK. Way better, no cage in the way. But it is not Enduro, sooner or later the bottle will fall off.
  • 2 0
 This is great news! Now Levy and Kaz can finally stop their non-stop whining about bottle cages.
  • 1 0
 Looks like the perfect finishing touch for Dangerholm’s new project. Didn’t see a water bottle cage on that rig. Needs one.
  • 1 0
 Probably not going to stay in there, is it!? Normal bottles fly out under bumps, breaking and berms so I don’t see this working unless you’re out with the family.
  • 3 0
 No more barspin then
  • 2 0
 This can't be a new thing, right?
  • 2 0
 Nope, a few budget brand solutions but fidlock already have it dialled
  • 1 0
 I have been using zip ties on my Nomad for 10 years to secure a bottle mount and it works great
  • 1 0
 Zip ties always do the job.
  • 1 0
 I don’t understand why there aren’t already bottle / tool mounts in this position already.
  • 2 0
 I LOVE this ...silly me for not inventing it ...
  • 2 4
 I took out the blatter in my camel back backpack that I purchased for $120 so my water bottle that I purchased for $30 would fit in my 2019 enduro water bottle holder. Anyone looking for a $150 water bottle holder for a 2019 enduro?
  • 16 0
 What?
  • 2 3
 @kungfupanda: a water bottle holder is redundant ffs
  • 13 0
 What?
  • 1 0
 @kungfupanda:

In your butt
  • 2 0
 Where am I going to put my front top tube mounted snack bag now?
  • 3 0
 Nothing new about this.
  • 1 0
 Overpriced....Zefal makes one for a quarter of the price albeit not as nice looking but gets the job done.
  • 2 0
 those bolts under the downtube... they're bottle mounts too, just saying.
  • 1 0
 If you *do* have extra bottle mounts on your bike, don't take them for granite.
  • 2 0
 Dear Pinkbike: Please do up a bike with as many water bottles as possible
  • 1 0
 This is also an easy way to squeeze a full size bottle in a smaller frame: Bottle Lowering Cage, www.kingcage.com.
  • 1 0
 I love seeing articles on pinkbike and then when you go to purchase they're out of stock for foreseeable future LOL
  • 1 0
 Can they make one with an attachment that locks it in please? Just a loop around the nozzle would do. Cool
  • 1 0
 @mikelevy Spec'd on the Grim Donut V2?
  • 1 0
 Still prefer the traditional spots
  • 2 0
 I like this.
  • 2 0
 Never.
  • 1 0
 Yeah, that looks awesome.
  • 1 0
 Mike needs some for the mini.
  • 2 0
 Sweat catcher yum!!!!!
  • 1 0
 Wow, engineer of the year!
  • 1 0
 At last you can actually place it somewhere practical
  • 1 0
 Looks like a castration device during a crash. I'm gonna pass.
  • 1 0
 What is the frame in the picture ?
  • 1 0
 Like the Two Fish mount from over a decade ago....
  • 2 0
 And Topeak, Elite, SKS, KCNC, B'twin, Zefal, Problem Solvers,Tacx, Ibera, and probably many many more. It's really nothing new.
  • 1 0
 100% functional
100% ugly
  • 1 0
 $36 Canadian...
  • 1 1
 What's next?? MILLENIAL BRANDS MAKES 2.1 TIRES FOR NARROW TRAILS!!!
  • 1 0
 Smart like lassie
  • 1 2
 Who fits green cables?







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