Bicycle .net :: Product Review – Beaker Concepts HydroTail & Speedfold

Product Review – Beaker Concepts HydroTail & Speedfold

By VeloGuy on December 5th, 2007

I have always had a problem finding a hydration system that I am comfortable with on my Time Trial (Triathlon) bicycle. I have tried no less than 5 different hydration systems, all with less than desirable results.

With the Beaker Concepts HydroTail that has now been solved.

I tried the first generation “behind the saddle” hydration systems which seemed to be a good concept. But for me they were hard to use for a very surprising reason. I have bad, not very flexible shoulders, and found it very difficult to reach behind, and up, to place a water bottle into the bottle cage. The cages were placed too high behind me. It was a struggle to get the water bottle back into the cage quickly. Causing me to loose some precious seconds. Ever since I had Arthroscopic surgery on my right shoulder I have had pretty bad range of motion, which did not allow me to use this hydration system easily.

Next I tried the aero bottles that mount between aero bar extensions. This system works well, but the long straw that sticks out of the bottle was a constant distraction. I found myself more focused on that crazy straw then on getting the power to the road. Causing me to loose those precious seconds that are the difference between 1st place and 1st loser.

The last system I used was one that puts a large pod type bottle behind the saddle with a tube that runs to the aero bar cockpit. The first problem with this unit is that I again did not like the tube sticking up in my face. Second you had no way to easily refill the pod bottle. It was hard to clean and not very convenient.

But like I said above, the HydroTail changed my opinion of behind the saddle systems. The system mounts easily on your bike seats rails. It mounts lower than the other “behind the saddle” systems making it more aero dynamic. And the lower mounting makes it very easy to get your water bottle into the cages.

I have been using this system for two months now I am am sold. This is a great hydration system, and it is at a great price for a full carbon fiber unit. I highly recommend that you consider the HydroTail when you are looking for a aero dynamic and cost effective, easy to use, easy to mount “behind the saddle” hydration system.

As a added bonus Beaker Concepts sent me their “SpeedFold” which is nothing more than a nylon case to hold your ID, cash, credit card, and car key in one place. Once filled with your goodies, you zip it up, and put it into your jersey pocket. It is sweat proof and has held up well. I am now using it on every training ride I go on. I made a copy of my driver license to put in, put an extra debit card in, and a $20.00 bill. This is a very useful product and would make a great gift.