Fly Tex
Fly Tex from Elite – the World Tour’s most used bottle
Bidon or bottle, whatever you call it, cycling’s bottle is an iconic object. Although now as common on the commute, school run, or in the gym, everyone knows what a ‘bike bottle’ is. Early versions were originally whatever riders could find and then strapped precariously to the bike. In the 1950s aluminium bottles and bottle cages appeared, more robust and easier to use. Then plastic took over and finally we arrived at the Fly Tex from Elite. A feather-weight water carrier, used by almost all the big cycling stars.
The reason it’s one of the most used bottles in the pro peloton? Probably down to the fact that it’s incredibly light; only 51g for a 550ml version. Water is heavy, so if you do have to carry it up some ridiculous mountain road it makes sense to put it in something light.
Elite have reduced the weight of the Fly Tex by the simple expedient of reducing the amount of plastic used in its construction. This has two benefits, first it reduces the weight of the bottle. Secondly less plastic is used in the bottle’s construction. Elite says the Fly Tex uses 30% less plastic than a standard bottle; which we can all agree is a good thing!
When Elite designed this lightweight wonder, they didn’t just concentrate on weight. They poured – yes, I know! – over the design of the bottle to make it as user-friendly as possible. They looked at the nozzle and made it wider to ensure high liquid flow. A wider nozzle combined with a soft body – less plastic remember – means liquids flow faster through it. I do have a couple of bottles that are very rigid and require some serious suction; a real pain when riding at speed!
As well as a wider nozzle, the Fly Tex’s opening is nice and wide; 20% wider than previously. That makes filling it much easier. No more dumping half your powder over the counter-top in the morning. Another advantage with a bigger mouth is that cleaning is easier. The nozzle also comes apart, which means you can easily clean all the components. Elite say that have used “innovative, odorless, soft and resistant plastic materials” for the Fly Tex. All this should keep your bottle fresh from the first to the last drink.
A couple of accessories that will help keep your Fly Tex funk-free are bottle caps and a steriliser. The Neto Steriliser goes in your microwave and uses steam to eliminate 99.9% of bacteria. Another useful accessory is a simple cap, this sits on top of the bottle covering the nozzle. If you ride off-road or over muddy roads, you’ll know how unpleasant it can be taking a drink. Elite’s bottle caps make life so much better!
Another reason to choose the Fly Tex over a standard bottle are the colours! You can choose from fifteen colours, so matching your bike or team kit should be simple. The Fly Tex also comes in three sizes 550, 750 and 950ml. Take a look at the Fly Tex page on the Elite website. Elite also make the Jet Green, a bidon made from bio-plastic.
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