The Specialized Rib Cage II is, in the brand’s words, a bottle cage that is ‘designed to be fast in the wind’, as well as lightweight.
Well known as one of the big names in bicycle manufacturing, Specialized also makes a vast array of accessories, including a large range of bottle cages.
Specialized Rib Cage II design
The Rib Cage II sits in the middle of the brand’s range, above the entry-level Cascade II and below the Carbon Rib Cage III.
It’s made from reinforced composite materials and is designed to have a low bottle profile for aerodynamic performance.
It feels like a strong polymer cage in hand with some flex but not much. The material has been finished to a high quality, and has smooth edges and clearly printed decals.
The colour combination shown here is matte black and liquid silver, but the cage is also available in red, blue and white variations.
The high front barrier means easy access to the frame mount eyelets which allowed for quick installation, and has an adequate level of height adjustment on the frame.
The Rib Cage II is compatible with Specialized’s proprietary SWAT product range, with possible storage and tool attachments. The installation mount for SWAT multi-tools is on the bottom of the cage.
Specialized Rib Cage II performance
When used on the bike, the Rib Cage II held a range of bottles in a snug fit, which were mostly easy to remove though some bottles had quite a tight fit.
It’s more difficult to replace bottles however due to the cage’s low profile, as there’s little structure to guide the bottle into place.
Thanks to the smooth finishing, the cage did not mark any of the bottles, even those that ran quite tight.
The Rib Cage II weighs in at 34g on our scales, just 1g over the manufacturer’s stated weight, on average for composite material cages.
The price is also comparable to similar products, though the Rib Cage II has the nice addition of the SWAT mounting options as well.
The Specialized Rib Cage II would be a good choice for those already using the Specialized SWAT system, to fully utilise its capabilities, or those looking to match their cage with their Specialized bike.
Want to get techy about all things speedy? See our explainer on aero vs. lightweight bikes
Photos: Honor Elliot
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