Carbon fiber bottle cages occupy a peculiar space in the weight-savings conversation—the grams you shed are real, but so is the risk of cracking a cage when you're trying to grab a bottle mid-sprint. The S-Works Carbon Rib Cage III addresses this tension through Specialized's FACT carbon construction, which uses a unidirectional layup oriented specifically for the lateral flex pattern that bottle extraction demands. The result holds bottles securely over rough terrain while releasing cleanly when you reach down, without the brittleness that plagues some ultralight carbon cages.

The rib design isn't purely aesthetic. Those lateral ribs create grip points that contact the bottle at multiple heights, distributing retention force across a larger surface area than smooth-wall cage designs. This matters for bottle security over chattery pavement and trail debris, where a single contact point can allow bottles to walk upward and eject. The open architecture also makes it easier to see your bottle position at a glance—useful when you're grabbing for hydration without looking down.

Specialized designed the Rib Cage III around standard cycling bottle dimensions, so compatibility isn't a concern with any major bottle brand. The mounting holes use standard 64mm spacing, and the hardware accommodates both carbon and alloy frames without issue. If you're running an integrated storage solution or frame bag that crowds your bottle position, the cage's relatively compact footprint helps maintain clearance.... Read More