X-Lab MINI WING KIT vs Profile Design AQUA REAR
gunforhire
Posts: 457
in General Chat
Looking to get a rear twin bottle carrier for my bike, as I only have 1 bottle mount.
In the running is the X-Lab MINI WING KIT and the Profile Design AQUA REAR.
Anyone had experience of either of these?
X-LAB
[img:2pn0i0kl]http://img.artscyclery.com/product/XLMWK.jpg[/img:2pn0i0kl]
Profile
[img:2pn0i0kl]https://www.sigmasport.co.uk/app/Images/Brands/SubCategory/ChildSubCategory/rm1.jpg[/img:2pn0i0kl]
In the running is the X-Lab MINI WING KIT and the Profile Design AQUA REAR.
Anyone had experience of either of these?
X-LAB
[img:2pn0i0kl]http://img.artscyclery.com/product/XLMWK.jpg[/img:2pn0i0kl]
Profile
[img:2pn0i0kl]https://www.sigmasport.co.uk/app/Images/Brands/SubCategory/ChildSubCategory/rm1.jpg[/img:2pn0i0kl]
0
Comments
I have no experience of the X-Lab kit so Cant comment on that, but after having the profile one before and constantly having it undue itself and throw everything everywhere I binned it.
I also saw 4 of these set ups on the road during this years Beaver middle distance tri.
No experience of Xlab stuff, as I don;t earn enough to buy it
Isn't the turbo wing from Xlab the same price as the mini wing?
I think the turbo wing is about £40 and doesn't seem to throw bottles as much as other types of rear carriers do.
X-Lab it is.
Now need to log on to the other forum ... cannot remember the name ... to get the free bottle advice.
I'm waiting on my x-lab turbo wing coming as i got it for my birthday so I'm running the x-lab set-up with the side gripping bottle cages at IMUK. Although I tend to use my rear carrier for storing tubs, tools, CO2 etc
I have cycled from london to cornwall, all aroudn surrey, ironman switzerland, ironman uk countless other triathlons and never had a bottle come out.
I have not used the x wing but to me it looks over priced, overengineered and ridiculous.. perhaps its why it appeals to triathletes!
So I say buy the profile design one but the one that goes on the seatpost. (perhaps the angle the bottle is at is not so steep?)
If it came down to a choice I would take the x-lab, far too many people say the same thing about the profile with it shooting bottles but again it does depend on the style of bottle carrier attached.
I tried some locking compound on the threads and that didnt work either.
I then got rid and bought a Bontrager one, now it had 2 bolts of attachment and it used to sag down with all the weight no matter how tight i did them up.. I used locking washers, nyloc inserts and thread compound.... still no joy.
So what I did was drill 2 small holes through the carbon frame of the holder and 2 holes through the back of my saddle and attached Tie wraps to it, thus creating a Triangle and spreading the weight over 3 separate points. This worked a treat.
I decided to use my engineering skills and made a plate from Aluminium to make it more solid and that has solved the problem. Only down side is that It now takes about 20 mins to strip it all down if I want to put it on my other bike!
http://bontrager.com/model/07758
Got it online for £20 including 2 bottle cages. Tested it today on a 3 hour ride and it behaved flawlessly. The bottle cages have a lip on them that holds the bottles. Even managed to squeeze my existing Topeak micro in there.
Well chuffed!